a love affair

a torrid love affair.

Hate, love, frustration, love, misery, love.

Sounds exciting doesn't it? Intoxicating?

It was how I felt when I lived in Oman. At times I hated it, and then I loved it. Sometimes it suffocated me and other times I felt freedom like never before. I didn't realize how much I loved that country or my life there until I moved to Doha and then to Rotterdam. Neither place feels closer to my home than Oman felt. I just didn't realize it at the time. It was my first overseas experience...I was in major culture shock and just learning how to live a new way other than what I had always known. I'm a bit wiser now and realize that what I was experiencing emotionwise was a type of love.

Recently there have been all sorts of uprisings in the middle east. Most call for democracy. Oman recently had a bout with the same issues...and it stuns me. Mostly because I know how very much the people there respect their leader. Here is a great article that addreses the Sultan's accomplishments, praises his ingenuity and calls to surface the fact that once this great man is gone, there really does need to be a decent replacement and there just might not be anyone as good as him out there.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/03/01/omans_renaissance_man

If living in Oman didn't mean having to be constantly separated from my husband, I would do it in a heart beat. I felt safe, secure and respected there. Sure there were stares that were discomforting and if you look back through my blog you will find some of the more annoying things, but what I have found is that everywhere has exasperating circumstances. It is just a matter of figuring out which ones you can live with and which ones you can't.

I am truly disturbed by the turmoil that has reached Oman. It isn't anywhere near what the other countries are experiencing and that is mostly because it is purposeless and petty. The youth causing these issues have idle hands and apparently their brains may have some cobwebs in them as well. They are demanding more land, more money, more jobs. All things that are already amply provided...but it is an epidemic worldwide...the younger generation simply doesn't know how to work and has entitlement issues.

As parents, how do we sidestep these issues when they are all around? In Holland, my 2nd and 3rd graders are surrounded by kids whose parents expect nothing of them, the dutch child's every want is catered for and IF you, heaven forbid, make your child actually eat their food then you are condemned. I'm waiting for the police to be called on me for not allowing my children to run amuck here - seriously. My kids sit quietly during church...how do I get them to do that? I tell them they must. WHAT?!?! You can't do that! Surely that is abuse! Sigh...

Why did the world stop teaching the children about consequences? When did we stop expecting them to try to be age appropriately responsible? When did we simply stop EXPECTING? And WHY?

Well, I expect my children to behave. I expect them to be compassionate and kind. I expect them to do their best. I expect my kids to be great. I'm hoping and keeping my fingers crossed that someday they aren't rioting in the streets for jobs they aren't willing to actually work (there are plenty of places hiring!) and free money and burning and destroying property. I can't guarantee it won't happen...and I'll be shocked if it ever does happen...I just have to EXPECT that it won't. I guess all of the expectations make me a bad parent. So be it!

Shhhh...don't tell, but I also expect them to have fun and eat lots of gelato!