Mikaela's Lasts

Everyday this week I have said to Kaela "this is your last Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday etc." as we have driven to school.  She finally snapped on about Thursday and said "stop you are sounding like dad' - I am not sure what that means but come Friday I had to say "this is your last day of school".  For her school has finished except for exams which start next Wednesday, and continue to the 18th of May.  For her the journey has not been an easy one in the last two years. Her parents, thought it wise to drag her to a third world non English speaking communist country, sorry socialist country to finish school. Though that sounds something like parental negligence - she has handled it in a way far beyond her years.  She has adapted, she has learnt tolerance and acceptance, she has formed friendships which will stay with her forever not to mention her advanced chopstick skills - all this while studying a curriculum that is so different from our own.

Halloween 2012

 When you child goes off to Kindergarten, a school journey begins - that at times is joyful, at other times frustrating, how many times over the years have we said "just do your homework" or "I don't care that you will never need it again - just do it", or "it is due tomorrow!!" or for me "that's it we are going home".  But all too soon it comes to an end. The "all too soon" seems to be the parents perspective but for the kids they are more then ready to move on.  But moving on in my family has been taken to an extreme.  Zander "moved" on to study in the States, Kaela will "move" on to study in Australia!! and my family will be reduced to 4.  Whilst I am not looking forward to that, our children have the right to follow their dreams.  Speaking with another expat dad who once said to me that "home will always be wherever our family gathers around the table" (thanks Noel) - so it is this advice that I hope and pray our family will gather regularly - and hence be home together.  Good luck with your exams Kaela -we are proud of you.