Aroha…

Last night we had an international families pot luck supper at the school. They will be a regular thing, a chance to connect informally with the teachers, to socialize and support each other.

As we ate the sun was going down and a rainbow appeared, this photo does not do it justice, it was really quite spectacular!

I had been fretting about Luca and how he was adjusting to things. He is the only non Tico in his class, the others all know each other, have their groups sorted, and the language barrier definitely makes it difficult to integrate. Luca has been telling me that he is fine, that he loves his teachers, it will just take more time than usual, his Spanish is coming along and he is very happy. I still worried, because that is what I do 🙂 At the same time I did not want to interfere, as I think it is important for a child’s growth and development to negotiate difficult or new situation themselves, and that our role as parents is to provide support, watch from afar, and to be there when called upon. It is the letting go that is so hard, and I have made myself do it time and time again over the years. I did not want my fears projected onto Luca, I know he is a capable, and has proven so time and time again, but still I worry….

Then last night Rich and I spoke to his teachers, who all reinforced everything that Luca had been saying and more, that he is doing great! They had such wonderful things to say, and we both realized Luca has this, we need to trust that he will come to us, (as he always has), when he needs help and to let him get on with it. We are both so grateful that he is so happy, and that the decision to come here has proven to be the right one for all of us.

Anyway the supper was a great success, the kids of course had a blast. They had stayed on after school, then when all us parents arrived we ate, and while we chatted, the kids all tore off back to the playground again. Yep that slide it quite something and seems to go on forever. I love how the concept of risk taking has been embraced by this school. It is something I think is essential for kids development, and sadly missing in the fear based, over regulated, litigation focused schools, that seem to have become the norm in a lot of countries.

we all had trouble dragging them away after dark to go home 🙂

Rich had got up early that morning to make us all pancakes for breakfast. He has perfected the old fashioned, made from scratch recipe, much to Luca’s delight..

We are finding as life has slowed, and we are deliberately not scheduling in too much, have no TV, and simply have the time and energy, things like card games after supper are easily slotted in. Luca is fast becoming quite the expert 🙂

This has been on our kitchen table this week, flowers picked from what is growing wild around us, aren’t they gorgeous!?

Aroha means love in Maori, it is easy to feel love and peace down here from the very simple things that go on around us daily. Edwin just popped his head through our kitchen window and handed me a bunch of eggs. The hens, which were pullets when we first arrived, and who I give our scraps to, have just begun to lay. He has so many needy family members in this community that he could give them to, but he still shared some with us, he is such a kind, giving, thoughtful man. How lucky are we?!!!