Bonding???

It's been 3 days since we got home. Bonding is… progressing slowly. That first night was really tough. Jet lag is rough and bundled up with homesickness and grieving, Emma's been getting up each night crying, missing her Taiwan mama. We've been playing musical beds each night. The bed you go to sleep in isn't necessarily the one you get to wake up in. Looking back, we were definitely tougher on Evan than we are with Emma. But every child is different and Emma is quite a bit older and much more aware of what's going on. And she's a girl. She's getting more coddling than Evan did (and Ah-ma ordered me to shosho her more). I think Evan's ability to adjust was also better than hers. We are very slowly getting them both adjusted to West coast time and into somewhat of a routine. I think things will get a little easier once we get there, if we ever get there.

I'm talking so much lately, having had to carry on 2, sometimes 3 different conversations in two languages at the same time! Sometimes, I have to say the same thing in two different languages, then I have to translate for both parties. Maybe after this I can go be an interpreter at the UN and bring world peace? I guess I'll try and start at our home first. There's no peace yet, just a lot of tears and even a tiny bit of blood. Let's just say somebody's fingernails need to be trimmed…. :o\

Emma is into the "why" phase. Everything is why, why, why? (為什麼?為什麼?為什麼?) Why are they digging up the road? Why is Blue shedding? Why is the sky still light (at 7:30 pm)? I'm explaining the rotation of the earth and how it rotates around the sun, etc. I had been thankful that Evan never had that phase. She's certainly making it up for both of them. 

Emma is somewhat interested in the cats. They sort of scurry away when she's around. She asks why. Gee, ya think maybe it's because you go "hya!" at them sometimes? She has managed to pet Chirpy a couple of times since she's the most desperate for attention. She loves Blue. But who wouldn't with his handsome good looks, he's a chic magnet (and my not-so-secret boyfriend)! She'd squeal every time he turns his head toward her, but she wants to go out and play with him and give him treats. And we play ball in the backyard.

Evan wanted to go back to school already. I meant to keep him home for another week, but I think he's ready (maybe just to get away from Emma). We went over in the afternoon just to visit since we still couldn't get up early enough for the regular school day. The class happened to be doing their Chinese lesson then. Emma was a bit overwhelmed and apprehensive (had on what we call the "stupor" face). She sat in the circle and took everything in. At the end, Ms. Helen (Chinese teacher) asked Evan to bring his sister up there to introduce her. She hesitantly went up with him. The teacher told the class that Emma knew a lot of Chinese, got her to say a couple of things (colors) in Chinese. We are so thankful that it's a partial Chinese immersion class. Hopefully, it'll ease her transition and help her like school.

The house is a MESS!! I'm not able to get much done with these two around. I wanna go back to work already!



Besides squabbling over stuff and "personal space" (Mama! Meimei's socks are touching mine!), sibling rivalry happens in subtle ways too. Here's a little exchange in the car one day (although I'll never understand the humor in farting).

Hubby: Who fang pi'd (farted)?

Me: Wo mei yo (I didn't).

Evan: Not me.

Emma: Wo ye mei  yo (I didn't either).

Evan (with a sly smile): ...... let's pretend meimei did it.