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What to do?
24 Oct 2023 08:26 amHow hard it was to decide whether or not to stay in Lebanon as things escalate. Finally, J and I decided I would come to Cyprus with the kids. I am with a friend and her three kids, too, and we are waiting for news of what to do...Return to our husbands in Lebanon or take our kids back to our home countries (France for me and Switzerland for her).
The kids had the crud just before we decided to leave, I had the crud during the decision-making process but felt a bit better when we flew out, and now it seems the crud wants to hang around some more. (Fatigue and stress make great bedfellows with illness.) It makes it even harder to be lucid and definitely harder to parent well. Thank God, D and her kids are with us because it is a big help to have someone come alongside and share the burden.
Many of our friends left, but plenty stayed behind. I had planned to stay, too, but I feel I am needing to yield a bit more to the wisdom of others and not think I can know or handle everything. Especially not how much trauma is "good" for my kids. That might be an enigmatic statement, but I don't have the energy to unpack it right now. Anyhow, I left our home there with the intention of going back and now I regret the way I packed accordingly. C'est la vie. And we, unlike so many others, still have that life.
J had to remain in Lebanon for work. After Macron's visit to Tel Aviv, there will likely be more attacks on the French embassy in Beirut, but this time the Lebanese army and police should be better prepared for it. :/
Sprout turned 13 the day we arrived here. Well, we arrived--after much delay--on the 21st, but we were still at the airport when it ticked over to the 22nd. I wished her happy birthday, then, and we tried to make Sunday a bit special for her. I don't think it did much good. And J's birthday is today. The kids are bummed about not being with him.
And as I say each little whingy thing, I am eternally grateful that we are all well and have the funds and "right"* nationalities to get out of dodge. Although my nationality is not always well seen, and D always introduces me as being French, which flies a bit better in these parts than being American.
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*Lebanese nationals are refused in many countries, they tell me. So many that I know are always trying to get dual citizenship with another country. The guy I sat next to on the plane was telling me of all the countries where maybe he can buy a passport or him and his family.
The kids had the crud just before we decided to leave, I had the crud during the decision-making process but felt a bit better when we flew out, and now it seems the crud wants to hang around some more. (Fatigue and stress make great bedfellows with illness.) It makes it even harder to be lucid and definitely harder to parent well. Thank God, D and her kids are with us because it is a big help to have someone come alongside and share the burden.
Many of our friends left, but plenty stayed behind. I had planned to stay, too, but I feel I am needing to yield a bit more to the wisdom of others and not think I can know or handle everything. Especially not how much trauma is "good" for my kids. That might be an enigmatic statement, but I don't have the energy to unpack it right now. Anyhow, I left our home there with the intention of going back and now I regret the way I packed accordingly. C'est la vie. And we, unlike so many others, still have that life.
J had to remain in Lebanon for work. After Macron's visit to Tel Aviv, there will likely be more attacks on the French embassy in Beirut, but this time the Lebanese army and police should be better prepared for it. :/
Sprout turned 13 the day we arrived here. Well, we arrived--after much delay--on the 21st, but we were still at the airport when it ticked over to the 22nd. I wished her happy birthday, then, and we tried to make Sunday a bit special for her. I don't think it did much good. And J's birthday is today. The kids are bummed about not being with him.
And as I say each little whingy thing, I am eternally grateful that we are all well and have the funds and "right"* nationalities to get out of dodge. Although my nationality is not always well seen, and D always introduces me as being French, which flies a bit better in these parts than being American.
________________
*Lebanese nationals are refused in many countries, they tell me. So many that I know are always trying to get dual citizenship with another country. The guy I sat next to on the plane was telling me of all the countries where maybe he can buy a passport or him and his family.