Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Little Things

I let a lot of little things bother me today. The small stuff added up and I wasn't in the best of moods and that tainted the way I looked at things.

For instance, it was freezing out today at the Jardin and my son, as usual, wasn't wearing his coat (he was running around). Watching my son, the mother of his friend said that since I'd given her son a wool sweater (part of the school uniform that my son refused to wear because wool is itchy) last year she would like to buy my son a jacket with a hood on it like the one her son was wearing today. She was just being nice, I'm sure, but I couldn't help feeling defensive because the French mothers don't understand why my children will not wear coats unless it is below freezing out.

Another little thing. My daughter has a friend at school that I wanted to invite to the Jardin today because my son always has his friend to golf with but she is stuck with just me. But I stopped myself because we have invited this child out to the Jardin a couple of times and over to our house many times and it hasn't been reciprocated. Is it the end of the world? Of course not, but it just bothered me.

At school today, the mothers were talking about a birthday party this afternoon with a classmate of my daughter. The French mothers were convinced everyone in class was invited. One said that her child's invitation was misplaced and she didn't get it until yesterday. They said I should check with the teacher (who handed them out). I told the French mother to ask the teacher if she wanted. She did. The teacher pops out of the classroom and says to me and all the other mothers near me "No, there wasn't an invitation for your daughter to the party! (in French, bien sur) Mortification. Why, why, why was I goaded into that?

An English speaking nanny of a classmate of my daughter approached today (she's never spoken to me before) in front of the kids and said "I'm free in July. Do you need me to work for you in July?" I felt like saying, I don't even know if I'll be here in July. I just said that I'd talk to my husband (which is always a wonderful fall back and taken very seriously in this country).

Let me say... I know I'm lucky. I know I have two beautiful children and a patient, loving husband. I know I live in an amazing city. I really do know and appreciate what I have.

Maybe I didn't get enough sleep last night (both kids were up at odd hours). Maybe it's the cold weather (forgive me for saying that bp)). Maybe I need to go out to a beauty salon for a massage. My husband told me to make an appointment for the massage. He's a keeper.

-- said Auntie M in Paris
11:30 PM

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