1. We grocery shop every few days instead of once or twice a month. My meat and veggies are usually prepared just a day or so from when they were purchased. This is MUCH different than the way I used to do it- buying in bulk from Sams or sales at other stores and having a small grocery store in my deep freeze in the garage.
2. We walk or take public transportation everywhere. I think we go in the car only once or twice a week and generally it is on the weekend when we want to go to the beach. I think we walk an average of 4 miles a day between going to and from school and running errands.
3. 9 pm is the average bed time for children. I have always been a huge fan of the early bedtime. My girls went to bed at 630p until they were a little over 2. Kids here don't get out of school until 5 so that makes a 630 bedtime impossible. The average dinner time is between 8-9. My girls go to bed early compared to some and they usually turn in between 8-830.
4. I bring my kids to bars. Yes, those kinds of bars! It is completely normal to bring kids of all ages to bars. They are just like the ones you are thinking of, but it is just as normal to order coffee or hot chocolate as it is to order an alcoholic beverage. It is nothing to see a mom and dad enjoying a beer or a glass of wine and the kids having a hot chocolate or a coke.
5. We live in an apartment. Our apartment is about 1300 sq. feet and we live in a building with about 16 units. We take our trash to the community dumpster and share a playground with anyone who walks by and wants to play. There are no back yards therefore, no private play areas.
There are pros and cons to everything listed. Most days I very much like living here. It would be nice, however, to send my kids out in the backyard and not have to worry about what I look like or if they have on matching socks. BUT, we are adjusting to most things alright and I think we are wired for this more relaxed schedule and for this kind of outdoor living.
In other news...school is going fine. Some days are good and some are bad. I am going to be having a conversation time with my nanny ,Barbara, once a week so I will get to practice what I am learning and work on not sounding like an American speaking spanish words. Ian is hoping to get a nice bike ride in over the next few days and I am encouraging him to take a surfing refresher class so he can get out there and do that as well. There is a nice size surfing community at the beach we go to each weekend- I say why just sit here an watch when you can get out there and do it!
Well, we love you all and thanks for your support!
Katie
No comments:
Post a Comment