"We cry for home, and for flowers on tables, and biscuits in little tins, and for mother; and we feel embarrassed, and foolish too, that we should be crying for such things; but we should not feel that way because all of us, in a sense, have strayed from home, and wish to return."
- The Dog Who Came in From the Cold, Alexander McCall Smith
This quote jumped out at me last night as I lay in bed reading my book. It was a sad day and I cried a lot, for little things that remind me of home and for my mother. She flew back to Canada yesterday, and I miss her already. This is the hard part about being an expat, the airport goodbyes and the months or years without seeing your people, your family, in person.
In the 4 weeks that my mom was here she cooked, shopped, cleaned, ran errands, did laundry, bathed and dressed the baby, and kept me company. She took Clementine, anytime, day or night to help me out. The early shift quickly became grandma time, allowing me a couple of blissful hours of extra sleep. Our days settled into a comfortable rhythm of late mornings followed by an outing, whether it was to run an errand or simply go for a walk and grab a coffee with a sweet treat. Afternoons were for naps and reading, and in the evening we would watch the news while I nursed Clementine and my mom cooked dinner. It was simple, and lovely.
I am so glad that my mom was able to spend so much quality time with her granddaughter, and so grateful for all the help she gave me. Thankfully it's just under 2 months until my husband, Clementine and I go to Canada for two whole months. I can't wait!
