Bad Case of Déjà vu

We had a great day-the beginning of a long, glorious, Moon Festival weekend. With a superfluous amount of family time on our hands we decided to check out the local sites. A short MRT ride away stands Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall which is flanked by the National Theater and National Concert Hall. Being that Wyatt fell asleep on the MRT ride, Will climbed the Memorial steps solo, though took a fantastic Lincoln-esque (Chiang Kai-Shek) pic from the top. Wyatt woke up, was pacified by some M&M's and ran through the fountain. All was well with the world, only getting better with a yummy meal at a burger/salad place called Forkers and  a sweet treat at Coldstone to wrap it all up. Could it get any better? I mean really!?
Oh, and the answer is no, no it really couldn't.

Why? Well, upon our return back to the SOGO where our bikes were parked and LOCKED up, Will's wasn't there. We looked. We searched. Are we stupid? Do we not see it? At this point Wyatt is becoming frantic (being as his new cup holder had just been installed hours earlier), I'm getting pissed and Will is completely calm. Too calm. The bike had been stolen. Three down. Unbelievable. I have a string of other things I would like to insert at this point, but again, I make it a point to make this blog as child friendly as possible. We go inside to the smashingly dressed information desk girls (I've been trying to nonchalantly take a picture of them since we've gotten here....still trying) and then work our way over to the police station, as is the protocol. *Sigh* Will is telling me to watch myself, as Wyatt is observing every itty bitty reaction of the both of us since the incident began. I mean, he's been through this before and for some reason, I feel as if he's watching me closer this time. Is this a test??????
Oh, and the answer to that one is Yes. As I'm learning, life with a child is always a test. Have I mentioned I'm not a quick learner? Anyway, we enter the police station, attempt a feeble explanation that there was a theft and wait for someone who can understand us. This occurs a bit later and we traipse back over to SOGO where the "incident" occurred. After some expert miming we walk back to the police station. Our officer is in plain clothes and I see Wyatt trying to run up beside him with 'The Wyatt' swagger. Here we go......Will and I can both see that Wyatt is trying to check out the guy's belt for a holster with a weapon of any kind. He ends up disappointed and instead begins telling the guy about his stolen cup holder. As I'm trying to reign my anger in about the theft and Will is apparently trying to not let any of his out; we are both trying to use this as another teaching moment. I am, however, struggling. Wyatt is discussing the specifics of what superhero he can become in order to go into this person's garage and get his bike back. I am trying to tell him that we don't take matters into our own hands, that this is why we have gotten law enforcement involved. We cannot become vigilantes!!!! The timing was also perfect as we have been discussing God's Rules (10 commandments) within our devotionals this past week. I asked Wyatt what one of the rules were. He stated Don't Steal. Yuppers. Will asked for a second one and Wyatt said, Don't Kill. I swear, it's as if this kid is in my head.
We get to the police station and after another long wait, the officers say, what do you want us to do..what do you want to happen? Not that I blame them, because Will and I both know there is nothing they can do. HOWEVER, I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs; It just isn't right!!!! #$*%&! It needs to be reported because people can't steal other people's things and get away with it dammit! (That felt better. My apologies kiddies). The officers really did try though. We even got to see the tape of the guy jacking our bike. Who are we looking for? Asian male, early twenties medium to average build. Uh, sure. The video that we watched no less than 5 times incited me to a slow boiling rage. This guy, who's face was unfortunately blurred, walked over with such confidence and unlocked Will's bike with a "bump"(is that the right lingo?) key. Then rode away. Jerk.
SO......I'm a work in progress and thus far Wyatt has not armored up...despite his grandiose plans to "sneak out" with Will in the middle of the night to uh, check things out. Fortunately for all of Taiwan he failed to set his alarm.

The Art of Fine Dining

Have you ever known you were going out to dinner and looked forward to it, like ALL week long? Or... had your favorite candy bar sitting in the fridge (Hello Lindts Double Milk...thank you Kati Kelly..)just waiting for that special moment of consumption? Anticipatory excitement.... It's like a novelty. Now imagine eating out every night or having to eat your favorite candy bar every day- kind of loses some of that initial appeal, right? Yeah this is the state I currently find myself in- ah yes the trials if being an ex-pat wife. Right. I know some of you may want to punch me in the face right now . I get it. I'm NOT complaining. It's my same old saga of trying to figure things out...out loud... No need to thank me. I've been hearing a bunch of mothers feeling the same way as their kids are heading off to school.
In this respect I feel men have the advantage   (disclaimer* MY opinion*).
Certainly not in every circumstance but in many, the guy goes to work, (working hard mind you), feeling the daily pressures of needing to make ends meet while ensuring that the financial obligations of his family are met. I completely get that that can be tremendously stressful. But the mother.....well that's a different animal entirely isn't it. I feel that men aren't as riddled with guilt or with as many concerns as they make their way into the workplace. Their role is more defined.....but moms? Me? Guilty. Pulled in so many directions- constantly wondering if we're making the right decisions, spending enough time with our kids. Did we give them a big enough hug this morning? Why did I have to yell so loud when he jumped on my head this morning at 6:15 AM? Why after school have we only spent a total of 20 minutes together before I'm disciplining and trying to maintain a shred of patience?  As mothers we tell ourselves, I know I need to work, but is there some other way to make ends meet? I know I really don't need to work....but I really want to......oh God, will he be in therapy because I didn't breastfeed?
And so it goes. On and on- it's endless. So much of our lives, energy and heart go into our kids. My heart is walking around the playground under someone else's watch while I spend yet another morning getting a cup of coffee and going to the gym. All the while knowing that I've GOT to do something else other than what I'm doing. This is approximately my second full week of school being in session and while fun and exciting at first, I'm getting full of the fine dining every day. I've caught up on the first season of Glee, joined a woman's bible study and consumed way more iced coffees than I'd care to share. My husband assures me that once my volunteer job kicks in more steadily, I'll feel more grounded. I sure hope so because I'm floundering, and ultimately I feel incredibly self centered; not to mention with as much time as I'm going to the gym,  I should be in WAY better shape. OH the iced coffees... Well it's a vicious cycle isn't it?
Highlight  of my Debbie downer post? Not sure how many of you know the book Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.- but there's a little song in there that I sing to Wyatt every now and then-
 I will love you forever
I'll like you for always as long as I'm living-
My baby you'll be.
Well this morning Wyatt, always sensing my moods and making the conscious choice to either assuage or exacerbate them, chose in this instance to look at me in all my depths of despair and sing the song to me.
Ahhhhhh my son, my heart.
That my friends, is fine dining and I ate it up. Every bite.

Keep your head up....

Last week was.... interesting. Such a funny word interesting, as it can denote a TON of meanings. Interesting can be taken at face value like, huh, that animal is really interesting looking. OR wow- that outfit with all those crazy colors was pretty interesting. OR ewwww did you see what that guy did over there? That was interesting. But I have to say my all time favorite is when I'm being myself and my Taiwanese friend says...interesting. Ahhhh yes. Anyway last week was....different...interesting if you will. Just as I was getting into the groove and trying to come up with some kind of schedule (gasp)or something for myself, we have a typhoon warning and school is cancelled. What is this, Virginia? The only reason I say that is because nothing happened..which don't get me wrong I'm thankful for, and I know precautionary measures needed to be taken, but.....it kind of threw me all off.
SOOOO Monday-I had a scheduled "interview/meet and greet" for a volunteer position I'm interested (there it is again) in, which had to be rescheduled, no gym, which perpetuated me into a cycle of not going there, (with the exception of Friday) for the rest of the week and really just overall restlessness and feeling kind of weird about Wyatt and this whole school, find a life thing. I really do miss my son people. I need to get over it. It's a part of growing up (for me, not him). I however digress....
The most interesting thing that happened this week? Wyatt armoring up, failing to pay attention to where he's going and running into a cobblestone post. It gave a whole new meaning to...well, that'll leave a mark.......