pappa sleeping

Nils was away for 12 days and Charlotte tried each day to figure out where he could be. She understood first that he was on an airplane, but that explanation was only valid for one day. Then Charlotte would hear a sound outside and say "pappa home?" or on the weekends in the morning, "pappa sleeping?" To her delight, Pappa will return today.

light in the darkness

I learned from last winter not to underestimate the power of darkness. It is mostly dark here now. Sun comes up around 8:30 and starts to disappear around 3:30 PM. In December it will rise around 9 and set around 3. Sounds cozy and nice, but our bodies need sunlight. I learned from experienced Norwegians the importance of candles, fire in the fireplace, and a trip to the solarium once in a while. And cod liver oil! Need your vitamins and minerals.

car wash

I thought I struck gold when I went to get the car washed and found out that it was a Thursday special and I could get the deluxe #8 for the same price as a basic #1! Yes, please, one deluxe #8. And a bolle for the little girl. We will cozy up in the car, listen to our favorite music, nibble on a bolle, and enjoy a little car washing. What I struck was not gold, but rather entrapment. A terrified toddler screaming "no, no!" and begging "finish! finish!" as the contraption encircled our car with spraying water, flapping brushes and foaming soap. I apparently have broken rule #1 of parenting. Never torture your own child with the things that tortured you as a child. As I saw fear come over Charlotte, I quickly recalled my car wash fear as a child, and how I tried to get out of my seat belt and huddle under the glove compartment to escape the scariness. Now I have to repair my broken heart for scaring my little girl, and repair her faith that Mamma can be trusted. My conscience may not be clean, but the car sure is!