Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad a todos...

Amazingly, we arrived in Guadalajara on the 23rd of December after having our flight cancelled the day before due to a bizzare one day blizzard that blew into Kansas leaving at least eight inches of snow before leaving later the same day. We almost missed our connection in Dallas on Sunday, and are still waiting for our lost luggage to be deliverd. Deciding on a barbie's outfit with one of Jaime's six year old cousins today felt rather ironic considering that I've been wearing the same clothes for the last three days. But hey, es la vida loca.

You've come a long way baby!

November was a rough month for me, and December didn't seem to be turning out much better until just recently. No news on Jaime's visa, but I feel that I've reached some major milestones as a mom and as a teacher.

As a mom, I am extremely proud and excited to finally be weaning Oliver at the ripe age of two years and two months. I had planned to do this much sooner after arriving to Kansas, but once my new full time teaching job was in full swing, weaning was quickly put on the back burner. Knowing that we would be in Mexico at the end of December was what really got me excited about the idea of weaning Oliver. Jaime and I are hoping to leave him with his abuela or tia for at least a few nights while we're in Guadalajara for Christmas. Now that he's weaned, that shouldn't be a problem.

My parents have been absolutely fantastic since we've been here. Last week, when I first started working on weaning Oliver either my mom or dad would drive him to sleep at night since the whole weaning thing totally messed up his perfect bedtime routine of breastfeeding to sleep and I was simply too tired to drive him around myself after a long day at work and an early morning awaiting me. They even babysat him a week ago, Friday, so that I could have an evening out--something I hadn't done in ages and thoroughly enjoyed. I went to our staff Christmas party, which was fine as staff parties go, but then my co-worker and fellow Spanish teacher invited me out with her and some other language teachers. That was wonderful; we went dancing! This week, I am proud to say that I've gotten Oliver to sleep on my own without the use of the car or num-nums. I'm sure my parents are happy about that too!

As a teacher, I am happy to say that I am actually feeling happy. Teaching Spanish to self-centered, moody, American middle schoolers in a diverse public school has been quite a culture shock for me after years of teaching English to polite, motivated adults in Mexico and New Zealand. Deep thought for the day: Being happy has a big effect on my teaching. I was a lousy teacher in November because I let the long slow visa process get to me. This month, I have hope. Knowing that I'll see Jaime in just a week certainly helps.

On an uphill climb

First things first, "Mexico mom" as a blog is not dead, but is in need of a major face change to match the major changes in my life in recent months.



A quick update:

• I moved to Kansas at the end of July with Oliver and moved in with my folks.


• Jaime is still in Mexico awaiting an interview for his US visa.


• My first week here I landed a job teaching middle school Spanish at a very diverse public school (more black students than whites) in the middle of a Kansas field on the edge of town.


• We went to visit Jaime for 5 days at the end of September. A wonderful, wonderful trip!


• Oliver turned two years old on October 11.

The most frustrating part of my life right now is the waiting for Jaime's visa. I played around with the idea of quitting my job at semester and heading back to Mexico once we knew he wouldn't get his visa by Christmas, but we decided to stick it out and see how long it will take to get his visa. It was a tough decision to make, but I'm now certain that it was the right one. If he doesn't get his visa this school year, It will mean 10 months of separation but at least I won't have any regrets about quitting my job at a difficult time.

When we first moved here I had high hopes that he'd be here before Christmas. However, in mid-November I called around to our congressman's office, the Catholic Charities and the National Visa Center and found out that it was unlikely that he'd get his interview before Christmas as we had hoped. At that point, I become an emotional wreck. This week, having made the decision to stay and tough it out, I'm feeling entirely more positive about my job, and life in general.

Truthfully, however, I know I'm still an emotional yo-yo, so if you're a friend and you have the chance, drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you! And, by the way, any ideas for a new name to this blog?