It has been so long since I have posted anything- almost a month I think. The kids have been at school for 4 weeks now. I can not believe how that time has flown! It’s been quite an intense month, predominantly for Kitty and consequently for me and Richard.

The first day of school was eventful for everyone. The principal phoned me after lunchtime to say that Bessie had been crying because she couldn’t find her classroom, then she was crying again because she was laughed at by an older girl. When I picked them up, Bessie cheerfully reported that she’d been bullied but she’s “fine with it” and that was that. Since then, she loves being a “little bit famous” around school and she’s been invited to someone’s birthday party which I think is awesome.

With Solomon, sometimes it’s hard to tell if he is really happy or perhaps a little unhappy or nervous or overwhelmed. He is often a young man of few words (fewer than the girls, anyway!), so Richard and I ask lots of questions and wait patiently for the answers. Now and then, Solomon shares stories from the day or the week and we were delighted to hear that he has been the class “effaceur” for two weeks (he wipes the board clean for the teacher) and now he is the “distributeur” (he helps hand stuff out). I was thrilled to hear that he was asked to answer a maths question on the board and that he was proud of himself for being able to solve it correctly. Those moments must be so good for the kids when all day long they are battling to keep up with the rest.

Kitty has had a really tough month, the poor little love. On her first day, she couldn’t find the canteen and didn’t know how to ask anyone where it was, so she had nothing to eat. When breakfast is at 7:30am and school doesn’t finish until 4:30pm, that’s a long time without food, especially for Kitty who looks forward to her meals. On the second day of school, the canteen ladies were yelling at her to “dépêchez-vous” (hurry up) and she thought they might have been asking her name, so she stood frozen and kept whispering her name to them in her shaky little voice, which seemed to make them yell even louder. Wednesday is an early day so the kids come home for lunch which gave Kitty more time for her anxiety to build. On the Thursday, Bessie misinterpreted a message from her teacher that she and Kitty were not allowed to go to the canteen on that day. She passed it on to Kitty, who tried to sneak out of the canteen line, was dragged back by her jacket hoodie, but made an escape to the toilets where she hid for most of lunchtime, again with an empty stomach. [Incidentally, Bessie realised her error and enjoyed a lovely lunch!] Needless to say there have been lots of tears  since then and mornings have been tricky at times. However, we ARE talking about Kitty Pearl Blazé, who I can happily report, attended the canteen without the help of her brother or sister for the first time yesterday! She is a strong little poppet and I knew that in time, she would overcome her fears. Go Kitty!

Richard has started his work at the hospital. He is really enjoying it so far and is delighted to have such an ideal training opportunity with lovely knowledgeable people who seem keen to give him time and hands-on experience. He has already seen some differences in the way the Parisians manage their Deep Brain Stimulation patients and this is exactly the sort of thing Richard is interested in observing. Lately, he has been quite frustrated at his lack of French comprehension (I can relate to that) and he and Kitty have frequently shared their woes on this subject. I hope to sign Richard up for a French course later today which hopefully will help a little, though we must be realistic and realise that learning to speak another language is a slow process. We have to stay positive and celebrate the small milestones.

My news is secondary to all of the above. I have been worried for my babies and have mostly spent my days setting things up for them so that their meals are prepared, the apartment is lovely and tidy, their clothes are clean and therefore I can give them as much attention and time as they need from the moment I pick them up from school until the time they are asleep. I have also had a significant cold that wiped me out for over a week but I’m fine now. I am avoiding conversations with anyone so my French is still shocking. Now that I feel so much “lighter” since my kids are on track, I can start to improve myself and take on the opportunities and challenges that are everywhere around me. I will try and be as brave as my kids.

Lastly, I would like to thank the kids’ friends for sending them letters in the mail. Finding letters in the mailbox has been entirely fabulous and it picks their spirits up more than anything else. Please keep them coming! We will too.

À bientôt.  x

Richard at work, loving the white lab coat!

Check out the weather! Best day since our arrival! 

Kitty’s gift that I carried around until her first visit to canteen without Solomon or Bessie.

At the wax museum- Museé Grévin

Jardin des Tuileries, near Louvre

The beanie-boos looking out of the bedroom window at the Eiffel Tower.

L’Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

Kitty at the very weird “King Of Pop” store, with the owner.