Jakarta Rocks: Christmas in Canada

Guess what?

Today, we are heading off to Canada for christmas. I will be picking the kids up 1/2 hour before school is finished (that half hour makes 1 hour difference (traffic getting out of school).

We fly out of Jakarta at 5pm. On a reliable airline, so it will be on time - Yippee........

We will spend the night in Singapore in my favorite spot (little India). I am having proper indian for dinner tonight. We will even lash out and buy one dish each - even though we won't eat it all.....just so I can have my chillies/curries for the last time in 3 weeks.........I won't spice down my eating experience just for my heat challenged partner.

3 flights each way, 3 weeks in canada, 3 ski resorts, 1 overnight train adventure, 1 flight cross country, Sheraton in Vancouver...........sounds relaxing.

Last year it was 3 weeks, 4 countries, 22 trains (with full luggage and one connection being 3 minutes).

It is funny though, the pressure is on for our youngest, and yes, I hate that.

Although she is only 5 1/2 now, she has never acted her age. She always acts as old as her brother (who is now 7). But when she skis for 7 hours a day, 4 days in a row. Something changes in her. She starts to whine. We usually have a mid week break. But then we say, we will just ski the morning - then we think, well while we are here, let's keep going. But we really will have a break. We have already stated we are only skiing 5 days of the 7 full days we will be in Whistler. We aren't skiing in Jasper - just sight seeing and in Banff we will ski every day (only 6 days), but we will have a break one afternoon (you have to make the most of the opportunities while you have them.

My husband says - it will be a great holiday - if Munchkin doesn't whine. Baby - she is 5, we need to let her be 5, not 7 or 9 (who want to keep skiing every day until the lifts are shut).

So we have decided. She can have every 2nd afternoon off from skiing if she wants to. We will have to find her some sort of daycare or something she can do. We can't not ski (because with 2 other kids, it is easier if there are 2 parents). But we will cut her some slack. She is our baby after all. They will all still have classes for a few hours in the morning (only way to improve).

Hopefully, this will reduce the whining. Other than that - I cannot wait to be skiing down some freezing cold slopes on Monday - heck, I can't wait to be cold.

Harsh, yes. Unfair, maybe. But we have made the decision to not be the kind of parent that brings the nanny. If that means our children act their age for a little bit and we have to change something we are doing because of it. Fine - we knew that going into parenthood didn't we?

Notice, we aren't in any way worried about the 20 hours of flying each way......funny that. Even with a 1 1/2 leg without dvd. Got to love DS and ipods right? But seriously. I have done 21 international flights by myself with my kids (and about 20 domestic ones). They are great kids, especially on planes. And when it's both parents, it's actually a fun adventure (to go to new places).

We are even adding Korea to our list of countries today - bugger we won't be getting a stamp (only have an hour). But if there are delays - you better bet we will be getting that stamp in the passport.

We have great kids, I can't wait to spend 3 weeks with them.

I might keep you updated - don't hold your breath (but I am estatic that I have that Borneo crap out of the way).