It Works Until it Doesn't

The past six weeks have been really tough for me as a mother.  Stella was out of sorts.  At first I thought, correctly, it was just a touch of the flu.  But then it passed and the attitude didn't.

All the sudden my sweet girl was a bit of a sour puss.  I couldn't touch ANYTHING she wanted.  She insisted on doing EVERYTHING herself including making lunch.  She would cook an omelet every day by herself, under my supervision (but I was NOT allowed to touch her eggs).  She just was grouchy.  This was making me grouchy.  So we decided something needed to change.

I have always thought that full time school is a bit much for a four year old.  Yet, as each day passed and Stella was grouchy, it was making me grouchy, and vicariously Tiger was getting grouchy.  So we decided to bump up the amount of school Stella goes to, if for nothing else, my sanity.

Instead of just afternoons Stella now is goes to school in the morning, comes home for ninety minutes, eats lunch, chills a bit, and the goes back.  She has never been happier.  She is my sweet girl again.  Attitude Stella is gone and we are all happy.  When I talked to her about this change she told me she likes going to school more because it makes her feel like a big kid.   I love my that I have my happy girl again.  Who knew?  The kid just needed a bit more stimulation.

Ok, so back to Belgian St. Nicholas Day.  Check out this toy that was a gift to the kiddos:

No, you don't find that in the America.  Please note the boat says 'Madrid' we all know that Santa goes to Spain when he is done delivering toys.  Also note the Pete is holding a stick.  I am not quite sure what that is about.  I have heard it is used to punish naughty children but I have also heard it is just innocent.  The jury is out.

My kids loved Sinterklaas Day.  Minus the Zwarte Pietre we are keeping a Santa Day.

Now that Santa is done here Stella is learning about baby Jesus in school, once again another American taboo being broken.  Being Christian, obviously I don't mind the nativity story being taught, but once again it is odd to have a public school dealing with a religious subject.

And in my final subject change: Paris.  I may or may not take Seth to Paris for a day trip over the Christmas break.  If you had six hours in Paris what would your itinerary be?  Where would you go?  We won't bring the kids (hallelujah!)  Last time we were in Paris we saw the Eiffel Tower, Arc du Triomphe, and Notre Dame so those are not necessary this time.  Advice?  Recommendations?  We are going in December so think about nose hairs freezing when you make your dream plan for me.