We're on the cusp of embracing our last
week here in Spain. As I sit here in
my dark bedroom escaping the early evening heat streaming into our living room,
I have sporadic surges of guilt running through my veins thinking of all
the things I could be doing right now in Barcelona. Elliott and Eli are
fulfilling their dream and at this moment basking in soccer heaven watching
Barcelona demolish their opponents in their first game of the season at home.
Jules being 10 years old, and knowing his limits, chose not to attend the
soccer match and instead wanted to have "down time" with me at home.
This situation epitomizes our whole
trip. Traveling with kids is a completely different ball game. If I
were on my own, I'd be out and about, discovering and reveling in every new
experience, knowing full well the limits of life and that this could well be my last
visit to Catalonia, to Spain, to Europe....
I've had to make so many compromises on
this trip and so have my husband and kids. I've learned so much about
myself and them: I've learned that transitions are tough and we all need
time to adjust to new surroundings; I've learned that we all need downtime and
not just go, go, go; I've learned that no matter how much we love each other, we
really need our own space too; I’ve learned that I greatly admire my kids' relationship
with each other and how easy they move on and don't hold on to grudges with each other. I'm still trying to learn that we are all
different and don't necessarily like the same things and to have patience with
that; and I'm trying desperately to learn that fine line of where I do have
control and where I need to let go --
the hardest lesson of all.
I’ve also learned that I've fallen madly in love with Spain and
Catalonia. When I was growing up
in Scotland my opinions were tainted by the commercial brouhaha around places
like Benidorm and Lloret de Mar. This trip has been
an education about the other side of Spain. We have had the amazing
opportunity to live like locals. I love Madrid for its social spirit: the
food, the people, the socializing that happens in the late evening in the
amazing restaurants, bars and plazas. I love the small Costa Brava towns
and beaches for their raw natural beauty and history and I love Barcelona for its
creativity, its independent spirit and for its art.
Tomorrow Eli and Jules will attend
another tennis camp for a week, giving Elliott and I the opportunity to work
and sneak in a little extra Spanish culture, as we are fully aware that when
their exhausted little bodies return to our apartment, they will no doubt
prefer to have me cook barbecued chicken and watch a movie than go out to see a
band play at the Festival Major de Gracia
or discover another great Tapas restaurant. So I will fully embrace these
stolen moments, knowing that although my kids' preferences are not mine right
now, that they are taking it all in and will be grateful one day for having
been exposed to such an amazing country.
Enjoy your last days of summer...
x
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| Me and my boys, Monjuic Castle, Barcelona |
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