Our Middle Son

Dear all,

With the end of October, we became the parents of another teenager.  So vividly I remember the days of wishing the kids could walk and tie their shoes on their own, bring us cold drinks and help find the remote.  Now we worry about decisions teenagers can make which have more dire outcomes than waiting too long to go to the loo.  

R’s twelfth year was a bit ugly.  He managed, in an unfailing yet somewhat admirable way, to consistently do the wrong thing.  If there was a shoe to be lost, he lost it.  If there was a fight to pick with an unsuspecting sibling, he did.  If there was homework to do, he didn’t.  If he thought his mother was imperfect, he chose all the wrong times to point it out (trust me).   

I am happy to report that R has had a great couple of months.  First of all, he performed Shakespeare’s Henry the Fifth at a professional theater in Birmingham.  What a fabulous night.  Four schools each performed a shortened version of a Shakespeare play for an All Schools Shakespeare Festival.  I was humbled thinking about the blessing of watching R perform Shakespeare in England. 

Although R had a small part, it made us beam to hear his two lines projected into the theater with his still strong American accent.  The performance was the usual over the top Cheltenham College Junior School production complete with costumes and choreography.  If only the drama teacher could captivate her English class in the same manner.

Days later, R went on a class trip to Iceland.  Yes, Iceland.  Aside from serious issues with its banks, Iceland is more beautiful than one might expect.  There is a stark beauty, but there are stunning blue glacier fed lagoons and rivers.  The kids swam in the blue lagoon while it was freezing outside, smearing themselves with mud that is bottled and sold for a high price for its anti-aging properties (it gave R a rash on his face).  They went whale watching (lots of barfing kids out on the sea) and visited a bunch of geysers. 

A highlight was climbing around and behind waterfalls in dangerously icy conditions. Thankfully, one mission was called off due to life threatening conditions (one kid next to R slipped on ice near the edge of one huge waterfall).  It snowed while they were there which was real treat for many of the kids who rarely see snow.  It was a brilliant time, the lucky dog.   Just seems that in return he could take out the garbage with a smile and walk the dog every once in awhile…

This magical geography trip was sold to parents as a trip highlighting geothermal heat and the environment, yet surprisingly, we have heard very little details of the environment.  Apparently, field reports and the Icelandic topography did not hold the children’s attention as much as the opposite sex.  I would never embarrass R, however, I am just going to say that he is now the IT boy in class and all the “fit” (read: hot) girls are totally diggin’ on him.

So he has that going for him.

R also announced recently that he wants to be a doctor, something a science teacher two years ago predicted. The teacher actually said, 'R is the kind of kid who is so clearly capable in science that it scares me.  I fear one day I will lay in surgery and look up to see R's face standing over me.'  

R thinks the medical profession is a pretty good gig if you are planning on owning Ferraris and flashy watches (I'm pretty sure R was either a magpie or pimp in a former life.  I have never seen anyone outside the rap industry who is drawn to bling in quite the way he is... We continue to explore the concept of 'understated' with him.).  Additionally, he is pretty sure he could have his choice of girls if he becomes a doctor.  As an afterthought, he thinks he could help people. 

Tonight, he is in anger management mode because his biology teacher gave him a 'B' on his recent exam despite having enough correct answers to have earned an 'A'.  His work was too sloppy she said.  Ya gotta love that:  a teacher with principles. 

R has a scrapped up face and a black eye from two nasty rugby hits (one collision with a knee, the other from someone stepping on his face with their cleats).  We took him last weekend to be fitted for a tux (dinner suit) for his first ball to be held the second week of December.  Daniel Craig should be very afraid of his competition.

All in all, we have decided to keep him.

With love from England,

T-Ann

Left of Barney

Dear all,

Our spectacular autumn ended abruptly.  We are officially into the grey and wet days of an English winter. Heating costs in this country are criminal and this beautiful, old, drafty stone house loses its charm in the winter.  Last year, our heating bills were close to mortgage payments.  Still, I have an optimism that warms my heart.

This is the secret of my warm heart:  the gift of an Obama win.  I am skipping through the cold rain with joy in every step. 

Last week, I sat with A on my lap and tearfully watched the Obamas vote. The next morning, we gathered as a family at 4:00 to watch the election results. It was history in the making and we were grateful to share the moment with the kids.

I cannot tell you how many people here stayed up all night or woke early to watch results of our election. I’d never lose sleep over election results France.  The American election matters to so many people around the world.  I had no idea just how seriously the world views it.  This time, the United States did not let them down. 

Most of you know that I am a bit liberal.  Much more liberal than J (Who, although a staunch democrat, seems to inch closer to The Right when I am not looking.  At one point last spring, I could have sworn I caught a glimpse of J moon walking like Michael Jackson, to The Right.  He crept back and our marriage absorbed his indiscretion.).   J reminds me that even Barney the Big Purple Dinosaur, who shares EVERYTHING, has to look left to see me. (For that reason, J opposed the children watching Barney-‘Too much sharing isn’t natural,’ he would quip.). 

Obama’s victory touched me deeply.

No matter what your party affiliation, there is no denying that Obama’s win has sparked an energy around the world.  I do hope that our great nation comes together to tackle all that troubles it.  Living abroad does not allow for the luxury of taking your country for granted.  By not being there, I am reminded every day of just how wonderful the United States of America is.

With love from England,

T-Ann