Remembering I'll Leave Them Again

On my walk to work each morning -- after dropping off my kids at day care and my car at the train station -- I pass several schools and parks in Greenwhich Village. And because of this, I also pass parents and caretakers walking with cherubic little kids ... and I instantly miss my own.

I assume my girls will spend the rest of the day together, discovering new things, creating art and inside jokes, and laughing with friends and teachers. While I'm taking care of my to-do list for the day, interacting with adults and my active inbox at work - far away from them. And while I understand I choose to be a working mom, and I generally love it. And they're happy at day care. I still miss them.

This is the feeling I have to hold on to when I'm in a Berlin subway, with a screaming 2-year-old and a sobbing 4-year-old, holding desperately to my last wisp of sanity. Someday, very soon, we'll be spending our days apart again.

Wedding, Check!

It seems that half of the drama of this trip has been the weeks leading up to it.

Work is crazy (back to school time usually is), day care is closed for three days before Labor Day weekend, Dave's Sports Weekend trip (the weekend we leave - and he's still going!), Alice's 2nd birthday party, Alessandra's 1st birthday party ... and, the biggest event, Liza's wedding.

And for a family that is scattered around the country, there's nothing like a good wedding to get us all together for a fun time. We were mostly drama-free and well-organized. The wedding itself was beautiful and was the picture of Liza's style. We all had a fantastic time.

(And sorry this isn't a blog about weddings, but about our trip....) I have to say now that it's over, I'm pleased to have a little more head-space to think about our European adventure -- my packing lists that includes clothes, toys, books, electronics, kitchen supplies and anything else that's been buzzing around my head. As much as I will treasure my memories of that wedding, I'm glad to have another event crossed off the list of craziness that is the last few weeks. Phew.
Two more weeks and counting.

We're So "Continental"!

After asking around, Dave got a recommendation for a babysitter from a coworker in Berlin that spans the world.

One of Dave's German colleagues works with a woman who is Italian. She's married to a Danish man and they're raising their daughter bi-lingual. So they have a Mexican nanny who speaks English. She would be available for babysitting, when Dave and I want an evening out.

This may be normal in Europe, but I find it completely exciting!

Suitcase City

Suitcases are starting to assemble themselves in various rooms. Like little soldiers, they're standing at attention and awaiting use.

A toy bucket has been emptied and tucked into a corner, to hold items I don't want to forget. One less thing to add to a list.

Of course, I've mentally packed clothing dozens of times for myself and the children. Though, there are a few pieces of apparel I'm unsure about. One item I've decided worth the limited space is our wellies -- as I'm betting on soggy weather this fall and refuse to let it trap me indoors. Swimsuits are another must, though they take up substantially less space. (Hmm, does that mean I need sandals, too?)

My packing mantra so far is "What I forget, I can always buy there." It's not like we're traveling to the moon. There will be a plethora of stores and lots of time to track forgotten/needed things down.

Lastly, we've bought a few travel space bags -- the kind you can roll all of the air out of, and supposedly save a boat-load of room. We figure these will come in handy for the more wintery wear that we'll need at the end of October.

It's all about strategy when it comes to packing, right?

The PLAN

Gah! I just got a email from my Grams asking "Germany? Wah?" and I realized I may have been slightly lax in letting my own family in on the details of this exciting adventure we're embarking on in a few short weeks.

What: My lovely husband David requested an "exchange" to go work out of his company's Berlin headquarters and after about a year, they approved the move. It was originally four weeks and it quickly ballooned to seven weeks. I was fortunately granted a leave of absence from my full-time job.

Where: They're getting us corporate housing in the Mitte neighborhood of Berlin and a little car (complete with car seats).

More Where: David has meetings in Paris and Milan during that time, so we're going to tag-along. I had many times imagined trips traveling around Europe and those musings certainly didn't include a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, but it might make me appreciate it in a whole new way.

The Challenge: The aforementioned 4-year-old and 2-year-old -- keeping them happy and sane when their normal schedule will be totally blown away. Also, David will be working. A lot. Which leaves me, a confirmed Working Mom, "home" all day, every day with the kids.


Do you smell the fear?

Hello Paris!

It's official. We'll be going to the City of Lights for four whole days!

So, I ran out and bought a travel book and "Madeline" -- because a girl can't see Paris without reading that book first. It only took a week before Leah could identify the Eiffel Tower.

I'm also teaching them all the polite words - hello, goodbye, thank you, please. I just need to learn "I'm so sorry for my children," which will absolutely come in handy.

The Air France reservation lady was very nice. She commented about my husband's last name: "Can't get more German than that!" Heh! She also referred to my girls as "Irish twins." Ahh, the French!

Lastly, this isn't going to be the trip to Paris I have been planning since I was 16 and completely in love with Monet's garden. But, I'm quickly adjusting to the idea of slowly strolling the charming streets of Paris pushing a yellow stroller -- pointing out birds and boats to two little girls. I might be skipping the Louvre, but I'll probably see the zoo, aquarium and a few playgrounds.

And that's just as good.

Amsterdam - On the List

Have recently become obsessed with going to Amsterdam. Most because of this...

They're called "bakfiets" and you can rent them and peddle the lovely streets of Amsterdam. Stay tuned, as you'll definitely see a picture of me and the girls in one of these.

Also on the list of things to see there: Van Gogh museum and the big park, which I can't recall the name of right now but will have to log it up. Not on the list: Anne Frank's attic. Way too sad. Maybe I'll ride past it, just to get a glimpse.