AdventureDad

The AdventureDad household is calm and quiet again.  The Mexican part of our family left a couple of days ago and we’re adjusting our schedules again.  Quick summary.   My mother in law, sister in law, and her little kid spent four weeks with us in Sweden.  Their visit went well and I think they appreciated how easy everything is here in Stockholm.  Especially with a small child.  The city, and the whole country, is practically custom built to fit a family with small kids perfectly.  Weather was great and we did quite a few excursions.  I started working a week into their stay, after six weeks vacation, so they spent most of their time with Hot Wife. 

I should be awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for having my mother in law here for that long. But she’s never a problem.  Actually more of an asset.  She spent three months with us last year and I can’t say enough good things about her.  My main complaint is that she has a hard time to relax.  She’s always doing stuff in our kitchen, ironing shirts, cleaning, and taking care of Daniel.  Every day I have to tell her, "Guadalope, sit the hell down on the couch with a glass of wine and relax!!"  She really likes wine but only stays on the couch for a few minutes, then she’s up working again.  Our house is so clean heart surgery could be performed anywhere but I feel bad since this is supposed to be vacation and quality time with her daughter and grandchild.  Come to think of it, she’s the exact opposite of her daughter Patricia.

RANT WARNING!! I do have to rant a bit about sister in law. Sister in law is friggin lazy and has not done her baby home work.  And  her inability to plan and take care of things is simply impressive.  That includes her husband as well.  This did not affect me much, except the constant screaming from the kid and inability to ever leave the house on time.  It did affect mother in law a lot since she had to do 80 % of the work sister in law should have done.  Mother in law is absolutely exhausted after a months "vacation".  Everything is a struggle, takes forever, and is met by nothing but screaming from Ximena.  Waking up, eating, changing diapers, changing clothes, napping, or sleeping. All met with screaming.  And not just any screaming.  We are talking about the famous Ximenus.  She screamed for 12 hours straight on the flight over here and about half the time on the way back.  Everything is hard work.  Feeding her takes at least an hour, if she eats.  That’s at least an hour each for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinners.  Naps are not possible unless done in carriage while walking 3 miles.  Takes at least an hour to get her to nap.  She has not been taught to sleep by herself so evenings are filled with an hour and a half of screaming until she passes out.  I don’t know what actually goes on in that bedroom but it’s clearly not working.  So we got around 5-6 hours wasted on bullshit because there are no routines.  I wouldn’t rant about this but one of their major complaints is their constant lack of time.  Time for their company, their kid, and life.  Perhaps she reads this and gets pissed.  That’s fine.  Maybe it will lead to her  and her husband sharpening up and decreasing their work load a few hundred percent.  I’m the Godfather of the kid and want the best for all of them.  See my rant as a rant of love to improve their life quality instead of a complaint.  RANT OVER!!

EDIT:  I had just finished this post when we talked to the Mexicans.  They are back in Mexico City after a flight filled of screaming.  Sandra wanted them to stay at least a week longer in Sweden since we don’t see each other that often and the kids get along great.  Especially Lupita wanted to stay but leaving Patricia alone with Ximena on a along flight sounded too scary so she left as well.   The reason for their departure was some VERY URGENT work that had to be done in Baja California.  Here is the fun part.  Patricia didn’t confirm her flight which means she will have to stay in Mexico City  an extra TEN DAYS.  Turns out they could have stayed here an extra week and taken it easy if P had bothered to check with the airlines.  Hot Wife is fucking pissed not happy. EDIT

Thank God Hot Wife (and me) have  done some planning, and given Daniel  routines and discipline.  Sandra started this quite early in Daniels life after reading a lot about experiences from other mothers.  We don’t have any Gestapo routines but at least a rough schedule over when our offspring needs to eat and sleep.  What takes Patricia 6 hours takes us an hour and a half.  I get tired just watching her and Ximena.  Daniel sleeps by himself fairly quickly and eats at regular times without much fuss.  And he rarely screams unless he’s fallen down the stairs.  Leave the house?  Takes us 10 minutes including diaper change, dress ourselves and Daniel, pack his food, and get super duper carriage ready.  Takes sister in law at least an hour.  All this is of course a personal choice we all make.  We raise our kids the way we want.   But I’m scared she will hit the wall one day from all the work and totally freak out.  We’re pretty tired after a day with our offspring but I can’t even imagine how tired she must be.

Categories: Family, Kid stuff
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