The Weaning Wars

Well, at long last, Jonathan is being weaned. I always knew I'd wean him around the age of 2, and since we were going to the beach during his birthday, I nursed him for the last time a few days before we went. I figured that the pool, beach, hotel room, etc. would be good distractions. Well, they were, but now we're home and he's not distracted anymore. Tonight he cried for 2 hours to nurse, although it's been 3 full weeks now. Even my older two girls were begging me just to nurse him! But, I will not give in!! He is weaned... he just doesn't want to admit it yet. Not sure exactly where I fit in the "mothering paradim" since I nurse way longer than conventional mothers, and at the same time don't just give in and nurse them once I've decided "enough is enough, you are weaned now!"... not sure where that lands me... I guess motherhood isn't something you can put into neatly labled boxes.

Bad Day...

Bill is in Arusha this weekend, and won't be back until Tuesday. When Bill has to travel, I like to take the kids out for an outing at least once while he's gone. So, today, being Saturday, I decided to brave Nairobi on my own with the kids.

I called a taxi's whose number I got from a friend but he didn't show up, so I walked out to the compound's gate and had the guard get a taxi for me. When he said 1,000 shillings, I agreed and we got it. Half-way there, I realized my mistake, I was thinking in Tanzanian shillings-- 1,000 is about $1.20, and in Kenya 1,000 shillings is about $15. A friend told me that one way should be no more than 300 shillings ($3.75). He quickly told me that the 1,000 covered the trip there and back, AND waiting for me while I shopped. Ok, that would be fair.


So, we get to the shopping center, that has a small resturant, playground and a grocery store. Our usual Saturday afternoon outing. I take the kids in and we order lunch. As we are finishing, and heading to the playground area, the taxi driver approaches me. He starts going on about how he's been looking for me, and how he can't be waiting for me for hours. It's been 20 minutes.

I tell him, "Fine, I'll pay you for your trip here and I'll find another taxi for my trip home." When I offer him 600 shillings ($7.50) for his one way trip, he refuses, saying he'll take nothing less than 700 shillings. I've already offered him more than half our original price for half of the original trip. I'm getting upset. So, I pay him the 600 shillings, which I think is more than fair and walk away from him. He follows me. I start yelling, "Leave me ALONE! GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

By now, a crowd is gathering. I approach a security guard and tell him that that man is harrassing me. Now, with several security guards and a crowd of on-lookers the taxi driver starts to say to everyone that I have cheated him out of his money, bla bla bla. Everyone starts taking HIS side, telling me just to pay him the 100 shillings. I am irate by this point and shout, "I'M NOT GIVING HIM ANY MONEY!!"

At this point, the store manager comes out and pays him 100 shillings just to go away and to end the disturbance in the front of his store. Fine by me. At least I wasn't the one who had to give him the money.
I walk around aimlessly in the store for awhile trying to cool off, and then call Bill to tell him what happened. That's when I notice the taxi guy is following me in the store! I say as much loudly to Bill in the phone and he leaves. I look around the store but didn't see him after that. What nerve to follow me into the store!!

I let the kids play on the playground for another hour until I have cooled off enough to try to get another taxi home. I approach the guard who I had gone to earlier and tell him I need a taxi. He comes right away, and this taxi driver asks for 600 shillings for the trip home, which proves I was paying the other one a fair price...
Anyway, home now and SO glad to be here. Ugh... wasn't worth the effort to go out today, should have stayed home.

Privacy? What's that?

I am annoyed.

It's Saturday, and my kids are playing in the backyard "swimming" in buckets of water. Which is nice.

Except that the kids in the apartment building next to us can see down into our yard and are yelling down at my kids, "Yeah! Hello! Stop playing in water!"(yes they speak English). Thankfully, my kids either can't hear them or they are just really good at ignoring them and don't seem bothered. I don't know why, but it bothers me. We just want to spend a Saturday afternoon in our own yard without being spied on.

Then, I remember that at least we have a yard. Those kids have nowhere to play except a tiny apartment balcony. And my kids don't even notice. So, my resentment changes to thankfulness. Thank you, Lord, for my 3 beautiful kids. Thank you that we have a nice house with a yard.

Love You!

Don't know if you can tell what he's saying, but Jonathan is saying "Love You".

New snack craze?

I'm not sure if you can make it out, but this *tasty* treat is Udongo, ingredients: edible soil... rich in calcium and iron! YUM... not sure about you, but I think I'll be skipping this snack in favor of, say, chips, or maybe some fruit. As you can see, it is little rocks, not even "soil". So, not sure how you are supposed to EAT it, wouldn't it break your teeth out?? But, hey, it could be the new snack fad. So, send me any requests, and I will buy you a bag of Edible Soil and mail it to you, if you promise to actually eat it and take a picture!

Friday Fun Night

We usually watch a Family Movie on Friday nights, but this last Friday I decided to have a Family FUN night, and play a game, eat snacks (popcorn, pretzels -from Eastview, and homemade french fries), and then watch a movie afterwards. I think I'd like to alternate Movie nights with Game nights, so we aren't always just watching movies. Games are fun too! We played Rummikub, which was a present from Eastview and lots of fun, once we figured it out.

Bagel-Making Adventure

Today, I tried something new and made bagels.

And the verdict... YUM!