Recently Lana’s swim team decided to reduce their training schedule. With their season over it was a reasonable decision. Thing is, my kid is signed up to compete with her school (who does not train together…that’s another story). With this in mind we decided to find an alternative for the days she’d be off. We ended up being invited to have her try out for a team in the city. 

My daughter does not enjoy change. Her deciding to try out for another swim team was an indication how much she wants to improve. 

We attended a session. It was awful for her. She was a wreck. But after that ‘failed’ attempt she went back. 

The second time was not fun. There were tears. But she vowed to try again.  And she did. 

Here we are taking the train to her practice. It starts with 45 minutes of dry land training. Then there she swims for 1.5hrs. This kid….I’m just not sure I could be more proud of her. 

Education in Portugal is all about work.  To be more specific, it is all about working towards the tests. Period. 

I have no regrets that I enrolled my children in a Portuguese School. Goodness no. Their being bilingual and having a much stronger command of language than I do, is benefit enough for the experience. 

Let us not though speak of educational philosophy and pedagogy when referring to the Ministry of Education in this country.  My checklist of what I disagree with is just much too long. 

But here I am, on my first day of April break in my bed with my 4th grade son. The wee lad has at least 7 shortish books to read over this holiday period, with a short book summary to follow each. That’s not all of course. 

Our deal was that we’d read them together and I’d learn from him. I did. 

Portuguese Ministry of Education, I thank you for your required reading book list for the 4o Ano National Exam. Because of you, my son and I enjoyed a good read while having a great cuddle. Congrats on getting one thing right. 

Onto his book summary.  

I have failed at, and continue to err at many things in my role as a mother. But my children becoming readers is one great success. Photos like this make me so incredibly proud. 

Directly translated it means Day of the Woman. This is a holiday that I had never heard of before moving to Portugal. Here women use it at an excuse to celebrate and do something for themselves. Entrangeiros (foreigners) always notice that kids are welcome everywhere in Portugal. This is ABSOLUTELY the case. But what that means is that the mother is usually always out and about with said child or children.

Three years ago my village threw the first annual dinner fr the Dia da Mulher. The men in our village already had their own dinners, but surprisingly the women did not. My friends and I organized it, but I made the rule that you had to be 18-108 years of age to attend. Kids were not invited. Yes, I will admit I wanted us to be able to discuss anything and everything without worrying that an 8 year old might understand. But the other reason was that these ladies needed a night out.

It was a tremendous success. From 18-80+ all the ladies loved it.

Last year, my friend Nisa, you can also call her Wonder Woman, went a step beyond and created an annual dance. The evening still starts with a dinner. One room is ladies only, the other is mixed. But the night ends with dancing. Normally i would be working the event, but this year I invited my city friends to join us. And join us they did.

You never know how two communities will interact. Especially when language is a little bit of a barrier (my gringo city friends who are American & English can all speak some Portuguese). But the people in my village are all so gorgeously warm and friendly and of course I would only be friends with great people, so we ALL had a BLAST. Just another party night in my village.



With heaps of input from friends I have finally completed my CV, a cover letter and a references page. Phfeww…

Now I am requesting heaps of positive energy so that I can land a job!

Looking at my picture on my updated CV.

Nuno -Mom, that photo doesn´t look anything like you?

Moi – Really, you don´t think it looks like me?

Nuno – Well, yes, I can tell it´s you, but you look sophisticated.

Look around me and you’ll see 7 of them. 



The location is a bonus! This is the restaurant that the ladies & I gather at for each other’s birthdays. It’s an undisclosed location as my husband would never let me live down how darn lucky I am.

Arriving in Barcelona was thrilling. Even though these European trips are cheap and easy the excitement of it all is not lost on me.

After arriving at the airport I hopped on the blue bus that brought me to the center of town. After checking where our hotel was (I forgot to get that info before today), I decided to take in the gorgeous weather, throw my bag on my back and walk to it. The entire way I fell more in love with this city. The architecture, the new construction and the urban planning are all to be admired.

When I finally stumbled on our hotel I thought for sure I had the wrong place. This hotel is 5 star luxe! Tops my family does is 3 star, but clean. Rather than get excited I went into a panic. How would I pay for this?!?! I only tutor! Would Stephen get cross?

I dropped off my bag then walked to the waterfront. I found a place to get a glass of wine and a nibble. And I gave myself time to take a deep breathe.

I know that I bring value to my children’s lives, my family and my community by being a stay at home mother. It took me years to realize that. But I know it now. That being said I am at the point where I want to earn my own money again. I do not want to feel beholden to anyone when I choose to order a 12€ vs 4€ glass of wine. The decision will likely be the same, but the decision will be solely mine. It is time.

Not a bad spot to contemplate being a better me, mother & wife.