It's true. We play games at the dinner table. There was one Thanksgiving when we let the kids have a mashed potato fight and sometimes we eat pizza at the coffee table over a game of Wii bowling, but the game we play consistently while suppering is Roses and Thorns. Between bites, each person shares a rose and thorn about the day. A rose can be something kind you did, a moment that made you smile, or anything you are grateful for. A thorn is a disappointment, something that made you frown, or a worry. Nolan loves to explain the rules to dinner guests and Greta likes to make up new rules along the way. I just like hearing about everyone's day.
When Margaret, Chris's youngest sister, lived with us last fall, we assigned days of the week to each person in the family, beginning on Sunday with the oldest (Chris) and ending on Thursday with the youngest (Nolan). Tuesday was Margaret's day. She's been back in the States for months now, but we still pretend that Margaret goes first on Tuesday. "Margaret, where are you? It's your turn," I say. No answer. "Margaret, we're playing Roses and Thorns," Chris says. Nothing. The kids laugh every time.
I've worked hard to be an optimist, so I say my Thorn first and end on a Rose.
Here are my Roses and Thorns for this year abroad:
THORNS
Our stress levels have been higher this year because of our expectations of ourselves have increased
My grade one muscle injury during a softball game (who collapses while running to first base and has to get a piggy-back ride off the field and to her car?)
That I still feel disorganized in our Doha house (desk, toys, wrapping paper drawer, still haven't found proper storage for our towels and magazines, think yellow walls in the dining room was a mistake)
More nights of poor sleep this year than last
Sometimes hard to be away from family and friends
Losing most of my saved documents from last year and starting the year without them
Working full time means less time involved in our kids' day to day schooling even though we now have more time with them overall (summers, weekends, holidays)
ROSES
Greta is much happier this year (making friends, Girl Scouts, more confident). Perhaps the biggest rose of all!
Visitors: Gary, Chris's dad, for a week in September; Margaret for four months; my parents for three weeks
We ventured out more this year than last (and hope to do more next year)
Andorra and Vietnam
Nolan lost a tooth and learned to read and to swim underwater (next: bicycle on two wheels)
Bryan Adams, Pro women's tennis, McEnroe and Borg, seeing Messi score a goal from not so far away, Ahmed Ahmed's comedy show, full moon yoga, days at the Intercontinental Hotel pool
Chris's renewed passion for playing tennis (and he went snowboarding in Andorra, first time in years)
Chris's Habitat for Humanity trip to Romania (planning one for next year in Thailand)
Playing softball for the Sons of Pitches
We still love our jobs and we still feel lucky to be here
Friends here in Doha
Weekends with the kids (unless we have massive amounts of grading, like we do right now)
.
We signed on for another year here, and let go of Chris's leave of absence on the island. At some point, he will need to teach in Washington state again in order to retrieve his pension. It feels too risky to move back to the States without secure jobs lined up for both of us, so, for now, we will continue this little adventure, wading through the thorns and soaking up the roses.
When Margaret, Chris's youngest sister, lived with us last fall, we assigned days of the week to each person in the family, beginning on Sunday with the oldest (Chris) and ending on Thursday with the youngest (Nolan). Tuesday was Margaret's day. She's been back in the States for months now, but we still pretend that Margaret goes first on Tuesday. "Margaret, where are you? It's your turn," I say. No answer. "Margaret, we're playing Roses and Thorns," Chris says. Nothing. The kids laugh every time.
I've worked hard to be an optimist, so I say my Thorn first and end on a Rose.
Here are my Roses and Thorns for this year abroad:
THORNS
Our stress levels have been higher this year because of our expectations of ourselves have increased
My grade one muscle injury during a softball game (who collapses while running to first base and has to get a piggy-back ride off the field and to her car?)
That I still feel disorganized in our Doha house (desk, toys, wrapping paper drawer, still haven't found proper storage for our towels and magazines, think yellow walls in the dining room was a mistake)
More nights of poor sleep this year than last
Sometimes hard to be away from family and friends
Losing most of my saved documents from last year and starting the year without them
Working full time means less time involved in our kids' day to day schooling even though we now have more time with them overall (summers, weekends, holidays)
ROSES
Greta is much happier this year (making friends, Girl Scouts, more confident). Perhaps the biggest rose of all!
Visitors: Gary, Chris's dad, for a week in September; Margaret for four months; my parents for three weeks
We ventured out more this year than last (and hope to do more next year)
Andorra and Vietnam
Nolan lost a tooth and learned to read and to swim underwater (next: bicycle on two wheels)
Bryan Adams, Pro women's tennis, McEnroe and Borg, seeing Messi score a goal from not so far away, Ahmed Ahmed's comedy show, full moon yoga, days at the Intercontinental Hotel pool
Chris's renewed passion for playing tennis (and he went snowboarding in Andorra, first time in years)
Chris's Habitat for Humanity trip to Romania (planning one for next year in Thailand)
Playing softball for the Sons of Pitches
We still love our jobs and we still feel lucky to be here
Friends here in Doha
Weekends with the kids (unless we have massive amounts of grading, like we do right now)
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| Our last day in Vietnam |
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| Margaret joined Chris on the Habitat for Humanity trip to Romania. Here they are in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul during a long layover back to Doha. Chris is sporting his Movember mustache to raise money for charity. |
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| Margaret's first attempt at sandboarding. |
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| Grandma Doris giving the kids a drawing lesson. |
We signed on for another year here, and let go of Chris's leave of absence on the island. At some point, he will need to teach in Washington state again in order to retrieve his pension. It feels too risky to move back to the States without secure jobs lined up for both of us, so, for now, we will continue this little adventure, wading through the thorns and soaking up the roses.
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