One of my dad's favourite sayings is: “Constant change is here to stay!” and that is particularly true of missionary life. On our wedding anniversary in August I said to Marc, “Wow – 5 years, 3 countries and 2 boys – not bad!” But I am hoping it won't be 10 years, 6 countries and 4 boys (and don't even get me started on 15 years, 9 countries and 6 boys!!!).
We have moved about so much in the past 2 years that I don't know any more what would really count as a “proper” move and what was just visiting! And that isn't about to end – we have another two moves planned in the next year … and by then it will be less than a year until our first Home Assignment! But we are used to it, and by the grace of God the boys seem to be coping well.
We parents had a class on transition in our Pastoral Studies course at All Nations. We looked at the cycle of transition (belonging, disengaging, leaving, entering, belonging) and the feelings and behaviours often associated with the different stages. It certainly helps to realise that your way of reacting to things is completely normal!
I suppose the danger for us is that we are so used to moving that we never really reach the belonging stage where we feel settled … but I hope that once we are living in Pèdè we will get there at some point!
This subject was on my mind last week because of changes which Simon has been experiencing. As I said, he has always taken change in his stride, and until now, as long as he had Papa and Mummy everything was fine. During the months of August and September, however, he got used to (yet) a(nother) new routine during our morning language lessons. He had a girl called Rachel looking after him, and 3 Beninese kids (aged 1, 4 and 6) who came to play with him while their mum worked for our neighbours. We often didn't see Simon all morning as they would go out onto our (large) compound to play, sing and dance!
Now Rachel has had to go back to school, as term started last Monday. Our neighbour has moved away, which means that Simon's little friends are no longer on the compound. This big change in routine hit Simon hard. Esther, our home help, was happy to keep an eye on Simon while she works, but he no longer had an adult at his disposal or friends his age to play with. Later in the week Esther brought her sister's daughter with her, and that cheered Simon up a lot. I did feel sorry for him on Tuesday morning though, as he sat sadly in our living room looking at Abraham, Marc and myself working on Monkolé (I took pity on him and read a book with him until Esther arrived).
He is too young to understand that as a missionary kid he is going to have to get used to big changes happening fairly regularly. I am just grateful that although he doesn't necessarily like changes to his routine, he does enjoy meeting and getting to know new people. And Benjy seems to be the same!
Extra note: This post has taken a while to be posted because of problems with the internet. We have probably found someone new to look after the boys – and she is even a Monkolé speaker! We thought there weren't any others in town!! She will start with us on Monday.
We have moved about so much in the past 2 years that I don't know any more what would really count as a “proper” move and what was just visiting! And that isn't about to end – we have another two moves planned in the next year … and by then it will be less than a year until our first Home Assignment! But we are used to it, and by the grace of God the boys seem to be coping well.
We parents had a class on transition in our Pastoral Studies course at All Nations. We looked at the cycle of transition (belonging, disengaging, leaving, entering, belonging) and the feelings and behaviours often associated with the different stages. It certainly helps to realise that your way of reacting to things is completely normal!
I suppose the danger for us is that we are so used to moving that we never really reach the belonging stage where we feel settled … but I hope that once we are living in Pèdè we will get there at some point!
This subject was on my mind last week because of changes which Simon has been experiencing. As I said, he has always taken change in his stride, and until now, as long as he had Papa and Mummy everything was fine. During the months of August and September, however, he got used to (yet) a(nother) new routine during our morning language lessons. He had a girl called Rachel looking after him, and 3 Beninese kids (aged 1, 4 and 6) who came to play with him while their mum worked for our neighbours. We often didn't see Simon all morning as they would go out onto our (large) compound to play, sing and dance!
Now Rachel has had to go back to school, as term started last Monday. Our neighbour has moved away, which means that Simon's little friends are no longer on the compound. This big change in routine hit Simon hard. Esther, our home help, was happy to keep an eye on Simon while she works, but he no longer had an adult at his disposal or friends his age to play with. Later in the week Esther brought her sister's daughter with her, and that cheered Simon up a lot. I did feel sorry for him on Tuesday morning though, as he sat sadly in our living room looking at Abraham, Marc and myself working on Monkolé (I took pity on him and read a book with him until Esther arrived).
He is too young to understand that as a missionary kid he is going to have to get used to big changes happening fairly regularly. I am just grateful that although he doesn't necessarily like changes to his routine, he does enjoy meeting and getting to know new people. And Benjy seems to be the same!
Extra note: This post has taken a while to be posted because of problems with the internet. We have probably found someone new to look after the boys – and she is even a Monkolé speaker! We thought there weren't any others in town!! She will start with us on Monday.
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