Tag Team Parenting

Tag Team Parenting August 31, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — Smuyen @ 8:20 pm

Has it been three months already since we updated the blog? We are losing followers, fast, I know but can’t keep up with watching kids, writing and photographing all the time. Good thing Stan is around to help. Bas is now 9 months and preparing to crawl. He keeps getting on all fours and preparing to launch himself at something, only to change his mind at the last minute and let his very rotund bottom sag . He’s still relaxed and happy as ever, even with constant teething, evident by two front teeth and ongoing dribbles of saliva. Anise is Ms. DRAMA now, always acting serious, concerned, happy, sleepy, whatever she thinks is funny at a moment. I think we need to save money for acting classes…or maybe now as she is dramatic enough on her own. No skill building needed on that front.

I (Nga) have been traveling like a maniac, and to very cool countries, if I say so myself. I was in Bhutan for a week in July, which was magical and then another week in neighboring Nepal in August. I will fly to the US next month to present on our program – all of this to spread the lessons from washing hands! Who knew, eh? But hey, if the HW vehicle leads me to Bhutan, then en shallah, I must go . Stan has been super with the kids at home but my absence has resulted in Anise asking if “mommy’s online” even when she is sitting on Mommy’s lap. Her gravest concern these days is who is “online.” But as payback for weeks of slaving in the field doing work, Stan decided to leave me with the kids and just go on a short R&R SANS FAMILIA to the hills of Dalat, Vietnam. He had a great time biking and walking around and seems thoroughly well rested after coming back, something that immediately went away after one night of being back with the kids .

We are still in limbo about our future and where we will be after December. Arrows are pointing to Bangkok but those could be easily turned to another country in this region if some of our job applications are successful. I am looking forward to consulting from Thailand and having more time with the kids. I think it will be a good year of spreading my professional wings beyond hygiene and using my behavior change background to look at other issues such as nutrition, child health, etc. Sounds exciting and all but moving a family of four is no longer a joyride. That’s about it for now. Hopefully we’ll have exciting work news to report before another 3 months goes by. Until then….I will be “online.”