It’s hard to believe but in less than one month, our first year as an AFS host family will be over. I am really in shock, as I think about it, that there’s so little time left—4 weeks, just 28 little days, and it’s over and done. Sheesh!
This has been an incredible experience in so many ways. I have been challenged as a person and as a parent. I feel I am better at parenting now that I’ve had to parent Penny. Aside from the couple of big dust ups we had, I can say that she has put us through our paces with normal teenage things, and I haven’t handled every challenge the way I should have, but it gave me a lot of insight into what I need to consider and change and do differently next time. One of the things Mike and I need to seriously consider is the idea of making expectations clear, following through when things don’t get done, and the resulting consequences. I don’t think Penny is a child who has had a lot of negative consequences in her life. We had a discussion not too long ago in which she said she likes my parenting style with Leah. If Leah falls off the jungle gym at the playground, she knows not to do it again. But Penny says that parents she knows in Thailand would likely blame the playground and never bring their child back. Still, there has been a part of me reluctant to discipline someone else’s 18 year old.
I have learned to be a better communicator, I’ve learned to be tough and say the tough things that need to be said, I’ve learned to try different ways of getting my point across, expressing opinions and being much more verbal than I have ever been in my life. Mike and I were talking today about hosting in the future from a country like Australia, and while we are not opposed to it, I very much like the challenge of attempting to communicate with someone who does not speak English well. There are of course frustrations, and toss on top of those frustrations the ones that come with a husband who can’t hear you half the time and has trouble always understanding a thick accent, and you’re in for some laughs!
Penny has gotten a couple of new experiences in this month. She got to do some volunteer hours, finally, in support a 5K to support the local food bank. It was tough on her—she had to be there at 5AM on a Saturday, and I left her there to figure things out for herself, but she eventually did it, did a great job volunteering, and made a new friend along the way.
Penny also got to experience the death of a pet as our rabbit, TomTom, had to be put to sleep. It was a very difficult experience for my husband and I, as we got TomTom as a baby bunny when we thought there might never be children in our home and so we basically coddled that rabbit and spoiled him rotten. In the end, he was in pretty rough shape and letting him go was the kind thing to do, but it was definitely hard and Penny shed a few tears over him, even though she does not like pets and animals much at all. I remember the first night she was here, as we were giving her a tour of the house, she went right over to the cage and said, “Hello, TomTom!” quite loudly, and it was the most she said for a week, and a sweet memory to this day.
Afterwards, Melissa dropped Penny off with my sister, Judy, and her family for Sunday. Judy took her to the local farmer’s market, which Penny liked a lot, although she felt it was expensive. My sister reported, “I know why you’ve had such a rough year!” when I picked Penny up today, as Penny reportedly refused to indicate an interest in anything or to participate in anything that a) cost money or b) involved being outside. Finally my sister splurged on movie tickets and they went to see Kung Fu Panda in 3D, and Penny loved it and maybe even cried at the end?
I think it was a good weekend for all of us. We got to get in a little practice at being a family of 3 again and seeing how that dynamic would work when things go back to being that way in a few weeks. I was very surprised—Leah really didn’t ask for Penny much at all, and Mike and I handled the division of labor quite nicely. We did miss Penny, and it brought into stark focus how quiet the house is going to be without her yelling and stomping around (she is a VERY heavy walker). And I think it was good for her. At my sister’s, she was sleeping on a broken futon, no cable TV, no internet, so the simple things she enjoys here were very much brought into focus for her and gave her a greater appreciation for what good things she has. We were reminded too of the good things she brings to our family, so it was a win-win. I will miss her, no denying it!
Next weekend she will head to Charlottesville on Saturday, and come back Sunday. The host family she stayed with during AFS orientation wanted to have her back, so she’s off to stay with them. The following weekend we will have an AFS picnic for our area and then on Sunday is Father’s Day and we will do a 5K. The following weekend she graduates! And then we’re off to the races. It may be that Penny is done with school on June 8th, so I am busily planning some last minute fun. She has requested one more mall trip (ugh! but I’ll do it for her. She explained the clothes in Thai malls rarely fit her and she just enjoys going and trying on clothes—should be fun trying to keep Leah corralled!), and I want to take both girls up to the Baltimore Aquarium. Penny is interested in King’s Dominion, we are thinking about Luray Caverns, and of course, our trip to NYC. Oh yeah, and she has to pack, will want to hang out with her friends, and we’re having a good-bye party for her!!! So I know this time is going to fly by, and I’m just going to savor every minute of it while I can.
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