Lakshmi energy

Traditionally, during this time of the year I have three birthday boys and girls to celebrate translating into organising multiple birthday parties within 9 days to include all VIP crowds. We all love it, the planning, selecting the party theme, choosing the invitees etc. After the year-end celebrations sufficiently behind, we seem to be seeking again the positive energy and beauty of sharing, giving and receiving. I was a concerned how this years celebration will turn out, how would my soon 11 and 8 year old babies accept a simplified version of partying, giving that the covid restrictions are still full on and organizing group gatherings are out of question. We sat donwn one afternoon and I casually brought up the subject of birthday, proposing them to invite their best friend from class to an afternoon of games and cake, and held my breath. I was expecting tears or other signs of disappointment. What are the odds! The capacity and speed of adaptation of my youth to these new restrected circumstances left me speechless! "Oh, that is a great idea Mom, it will be so much fun!! Thank you!" Sigh and relief. There I was, living a moment of truth realizing and learning from my children in a very concrete and wonderful way, of stop living from the past and refraining the mind to now, just this moment only. We had an amazingly fun afternoon, ate lots of cake, danced along Just Dance and played magic games. Simple, yet abundant. Om shreem maha lakshmiyei namaha.

Re-connecting with the essential

I did not tell this before, but the house we are renting is full of symbols and -to me- messages to be taken home. The name of the house, Villa Zen along with the smiling buddha on the front yard welcoming visitors are just the entrée. On the first day, I noticed a small card board with sanscrit text and a graphic symbol in an unusual place, hardly visible on the kitchen corner, behind a cupboard. In the evening, I translated the sanscrit and it turned out to be a mantra to call for prosperity and wealth. I discover there is a whole parallell divine world available to us I had forgotten of! Ten forms of gods or planets, who can be called upon, through these mantras, in case of earthly needs or sorrows: for a broken heart, have faith in oneself and spiritual path, staying truthful to ones values, keeping a calm mind, protecting from all evil and so forth. We determined, there must be ten mantras hidden in this house, and, surely, in our holiday mood, started the card hunt with the kids. As it turned out, we did find them! Behind curtains on ceiling level, behind vases and pictures, on uncommon places such as the wardrope! Clearly, the family living in this house has created an energy field shielding them. I felt puzzled why would the family want to rent out such a wonderful house. My children have been enjoying the many expensive toys left here to play, have read the beautifully written English shortstories by the two children living in this house and admired their drawings, playing at their pool or danced with the ballet bar. My heart sunk, as I discovered the owners are going through a billion dollar divorce, the mother seeking to protect her children, risking at loosing possibly all earthly belongings. I fear sharing this house has not been by choice. I bless them dearly and pray for their protection and good fortune. I ask what witnessing all this triggered in me? Having been initially blinded by the beauty and wealthiness so abondant everywhere here, there is always the dark side to light, the complications, broken families and sorrow. Having 2020 behind me, as the best of years in terms of spending time together and being close to my family and loved ones, I feel all the more gratefule for what I have. There is no value to put on unconditional love, respect and sharing of the everyday life ups and downs of parenting, and yet find your partner next to you, every morning.

Marbeilla

We have all fallen for Marbeilla. How can you not not have your heart melting in front of the breathtaking scenery of sun lightning the sea against the dramatic mountains. During the past week, everyday has given reasons to like the region more. We have done hikings in villages of Ojen, Istan, Camino de Cuesta. All with the kids, although my husband has done a fair share of carrying the pushchair up the mountain It is such a contrast to the concentration of wealth of Marbeilla to immerge onself in the modest mountain villages, only 30min. drive from Marbeilla, as was the case for Ojen and Istan. The kids are as equally mesmerised by this Southern Spanish lifestyle. They have tasted the tapas, listened to traditional Spanish music and enjoyed of course the sun and heated pool of our house. Incidentally, we have rented a house at the best area of Marbeilla, the Bahia, in a close guarded residence, 5 min. from the beach. The house has everything a family with kids could wish for. As we learned, we have the priviledge of living in a russian oligarcs summer residence. Who would have thought as we hastily reserverd the place just two weeks before leaving. In honesty, it was the fenced pool and kids playground in the garden which blew me away. We took the dreaming to the next level by visiting a model house for sale not far from Bahia. We were welcomed by a warm serbian lady, who presented the house to us, with a pool and view to the sea and mountains alike. A three-year concierge service would be offered free on the 1.5 million house. We were all ready to swap our Belgian house for this tastefully designed dream house! All in all, as the sun sets on this last day of this particular year, I could not wish to be elsewhere. (Except of course with the extended family up North!). We will soon leave this decade behind, a decade for me of building my life and family, buying a house, changing career, giving birth and raising four beautiful children. I could not feel more grateful and blessed. With humbleness I bow to the next decade to bring us as many happy moments of sharing, love and health. Welcoming to us a prosperous New Year 2021!

Going against the crowd at Christmas

"We are probably staying at home, although my husband still dreams of going somewhere warm." I tell my neighbourg asking our plans for Christmas. This is the enieme time I tell this, to other neighbours, teachers, our friends. Everybody are wondering what to do this year, after the year "Horribilis" as some have called it. So despite the recommendations and the inconvenience of having to get covid -tested, we decided to take the risk and buy flight tickets and rent a house in Spain. It turns out Marbeilla is the warmest bet thanks to its micro climate, snugged between the sea and mountains, just as we love it! I find a seemingly perfect house close to the beach with a heated swimming poo, kids playground in the garden and we hesitate no longer! For the first time, it was possible to put a euro figure to the risk we took. Should one of us get a positive result in the test, the trip was off. No insurence covers covid, at least not ours. In the next days, I meditated daily to get the negative tests. We filled in the bureacracy, booked a test time and on a Sunday morning 72h before our departure, we packed our babies and drove to the airport for a test. Kids were so excited and brave. Everything went smoothly. We celebrated the bravery by stopping at the boulangery to get some comfort pastries. It always makes a merry group. I refused to consider other alternatives and packed our suitcases. In the evening, we got the results, one by one getting the confrimation this is actually happening! I was so relieved! The night of our departure finally arrived. Kids were extremely concerned what would happen to their Christmas gifts, would Santa find his way to Spain? Well, as it turned out, he was thinking of all, and as we woke up the kids 3am to leave to the airport, they discovered all the presents already waiting for them under the Christmas tree. What a Joy!! The journey to Spain turned out to be horrible. Not because of covid or bureaucracy, everything went flawlessly: the airports empty, no lines to wait, personnel very friendly. It became a challenge, because of banal illnesses that had been staying put the whole year, and decided to emerge just now, at this day of travel. My son threw-up first time at home, second time in front of the security check ("euh, no symptoms of covid, this is just travel sickness"), third time at the plane. My daughter started to complain she had pain in the bladder. My baby threw up in the car and was already on antibiotics for an erupted ear the day before. So in a word, we were all sick. Fortunately, my usual medical arenal for traveling was as complete and came to a real use: we avoided going to the hospital. With a handful of sleep in our hand, we visited Malaga, drove to Marbeilla, went to do grocery shopping (including Christmas meal) and finally could go to our new home for the next two weeks. We entered by a guard by the gate to a luxourious residence area. Our house turned out to be gorgeus, the best actually we have ever had. A smiling buddha welcomed us at the front yard, sending blessings to us for our whole stay I hoped. Evening sun was casting last rays of light to the mountains, as we put our babies to bed and congratulated ourselves for the once again little heroic challenge we had taken. It seemed already worth it.

The last “Rentree”

Four school bags washed - check, four water bottles - check, 2 big picnics and 2 smaller ones -check, 5 diapers and spare clothes - check. It is 22 Sunday night and with these closing remarks I go upstairs, get next to my sleeping husband and lightly snoring 2 and-a-half-year old baby and by long I fall asleep. With this anticipation, I will have a smooth first morning of pre-school with my baby and her three siblings. I will even have time to do my morning sports.. I wake up 7:30. I will have 30 minutes to get my "big girls" 7 and 10 woken up, fed and out from the house, 15 luxuorious minutes more to prepare my 5 and 2 year olds. Ok, I can do it I tell my self while splashing water on my face, drinking a big glass of water with my omega 3, B2,6,12 and iron supplements. I put my training clothes and set the water boiling. Meanwhile, I pack the bags and set the table. 7:42, I have to wake up the girls. They are wonderful, peaceful, independent, elegantly flowing downstairs, eating their breakfast, brushing their teeth and out from the door with my husband. I remain with my two adorable pieces of challenge. The confinement has made my morning reflexes slower, my patience with hardship and resistance more fragile. My littles ones are not acting elegantly. They don't dress up in the proposed clothes (2 year old), or do it tooooo slowly (5 year old). They don't like to eat the porridge (2 yo)or eat it toooo slowly (5 yo). Brushing teeth: both like doing it, eating the tooth paste and throwing the brushes to wherever before my "control tour" starts. Ok 8:25. We really have to get out of the door. Now! Kids dressed I have to go to the ladies room knowing the risk I take. 45 sek is long enough for the 2 yo to have emptied her school bag and opened the water bottle which has now emptied on her brand new school items, neatly packed just 45 secs ago. I search a new school bag (fortunate thing so many kids you always find a bag!)and we are ready to go! Go go go! while we run to school I brief my baby about her day, how there will be a new lady wearing a mask to take her, but who is super nice, and she will meet her new class, and eat and play and sleep just as in the creche. And she would see her big brother during the breaks. And then mom will come (and rescue her). Oh my god I felt bad explaining this to her. I have flashbags from 8 years back having gone through the first "Rentree" with my eldest one. I was worried to sick. There seemingly are things that don't change, mom's concern and love for her babies. So I leave her there. Strategically my late arrival means they all leave immeadiately to classes, no frustrating lingering in tears at the gate. My baby cries in the arms of the lady looking at me upset.I turn around and start running towards the woods.
You all know what happens after these dramatic farewells. As I pick-up my babies in the afternoon, I get two wonderfully joyful bundles of love running towards me with the biggest smiles ever, as if they had en to the school forever! The teachers confirm the day had gon very well, it was rather my boy who had been worried about his little sister, whether she would get warm food, somebody to play outside and so forth. He had searched her first thing during the break and run with a big smile to cuddle her! My little prince!I received compliments for having such great kids. Wow, the big moment for the mom. And we leave home, happy and stronger, having the last first rentree behind. Amen, no more times.

Re-confinement

How does life look from the European epicentre of corona? Since weeks, Belgium has made the headlines having the propagation rates of covid the worst in Europe. Since the return from the summer holidays, the contamination rates started to rise again, and yet, the new government has been very slow to make but mild restrictions. I have been anxious and frustrated in these circumstances, where the inaptitude of the government has left the responsability to us, the parents. It is tiring to be the parent forbidding dance classes an scout camps. Should I let go and have faith in the system protecting us? 24 hours prior full confinement, with over 20 000 contaminations a day and Belgian hospitals being saturated, I still received the invitation for my daughters' scout day. Because it is permitted. Because there are parents who don't seem to be concerned about the risk they are putting their children and others. Fortunately, my children seem to understand the situation. "This is the worst virus mom in my life time" reflected my 7 -year old silently. "Mine too" I replied. I am always uplifting and confident with the kids, assuring this too will pass, trying to highlight the positives. Overall,I think we are doing fine in this new normal. Today we celebrated Halloween among us. We baked halloween cake, decorated the house, did a tour around the corner in the costumes and watched Charlie and chocolate factory to end the day. Kids seemed pleased. Having the confinement in perspective brings me a relief and I can finally say: "everybody are home honey".

Bretagne - summer 2020

Wonderful day of trekking and discovering the area. We headed to a close-by Port Crouesty. The names here in Bretagne are impossible to recall even for a Finn - too many exotic letters combined to consonants! As we approached the port, the girls were ecxtatique seeing the shops lined next to little crêperies and sea food restaurants. Side effects of the confinement. Their pocket money was clearly burning in their hands. We agreed to head first for our tour of the tip of the half-island, have lunch and then would be time for a well-deserved shopping tour. The trek turned out to be amazing. And popular. It climbed up on the falaises and offered breath-taking vistas to the sea, the busy port, the km long sand beaches. Others had discovered the same trail, but not to have crowds. Kids had snack and we decided to have them a swim at the beach before heading back to the village. The water line was full of sea life! My son came first thrilled holding a living crab in his hand, screaming of enthousiasm. My daughter caught also bare hand the sea worm. Incredible! It makes me so happy to see my kids so full of joy discovering new experiences. Our lunch consisted of THE local speciality: galette Bretonne. My kids have already a favorite one with cheese and ham. I found mine, the salad with salmon toast. My eldest discovered local hand-made scented soaps in beautiful floral shapes, perfect souvenir from Bretagne. After the siesta, we enjoyed still bathing int the evening sun, our home beach was still packed with people. The water seemed cooler, but the water donut was still a hit and I had to open stop-watch to share turns. The evening was special. We have enjoyed the French tv, a novelty to the kids and a documentary on the exotic corner of the world: a Saharian village drowning to the sand storms and the coldest town of the world in Siberia where temparatures descend to -60 Celsius! The kids found both places fascinating and the questions were endless. What a day discovering and expanding horizon for my little love bundles. I am ever grateful for the blessings we have, and being able to enjoy this beautiful house islandand spend time together as family.