We’ve had some great outings in Chile so far. Our hikes have been challenging physically but really delivered as far as views and feelings of accomplishment. We’ve gone to some fun museums and what feels like every park in a five mile radius. Our bikes have brought exploring and smiles, but there are for sure many hard moments emotionally in between the fun. Instagram vs. Reality if you will.
I know in many ways we’re “living a dream”, but for a 10 year old girl who just wants to be with friends, acting and facing the “normal” emotions that come with that life, it’s currently a challenge.
Jane has cried quite a few tears this week about missing home. I think mostly she knows that her friends are all together starting school and she’s 5,000 miles away. The FOMO is real. She’s done plenty of Face Timing and has a couple of their email addresses and that has seemed to help her a bunch, but goodness, this is just a different dynamic than we’re used to.
We figured this would happen. We’ve let her be upset and remind her that it’s totally acceptable to feel upset at missing home and friends. We discuss the things here she’s looking forward to and talk about the unimaginable experiences that await. She totally gets it – but it still hurts.
The upside is that it seems like the down in the dumps feeling hasn’t hit more than one of us at a time yet. So the other three of us are usually in a good enough headspace to lift the one that’s feeling down.
I’ll openly admit that the first two weeks put me through the emotional ringer. Jane was my sunshine during that time so I’m trying to be the same for her, but my parenting heart just hurts for her when she’s down.
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