Cito, this one is for you ...

5-8-2009

I spoke with my mother last night on the phone and she informed me that my grandmother, Cito, had told her that it seems like I never have to work. So, I have decided to outline a normal day's work for everyone who might get the feeling that it's all rainbows here in Italy. I know my blog posts highlight the good times, but I have actually been at work.

Yesterday, I woke early and helped Camilla get the kids to school. I helped put breakfast on the table and brushed the girl's hair. The morning rush is always hectic and Camilla mainly needs me to watch Peter while she walks the girls to school. She normally leaves around 8:15 a.m. and I stay with Peter. I dress him and play with him for an hour. He always cries when it's time to get dressed or change diapers. Any kind of change normally disturbs him especially if he was playing or interested in something.

When Camilla returned, I showered, dressed and left for my Italian class. I have been going to class for four hours in the morning on Mon, Wed and Thur. I like the class and am very happy to get away for a bit. My class ends at 1:30 and I have to rush to be home by 2 p.m. Sometimes I have a little bit of time to myself from 2 to 4:30 while Peter is napping, but most of the time Anna and Ludovica want me to play with them or help them with their homework ...

Yesterday, Peter did not sleep at all during nap time. Ludovica was out on a school field trip and I was home alone with Anna and Peter. Anna was supposed to finish her homework, but she doesn't listen to me. I've given up on trying to control her, so I organized some art project for us to do together during the afternoon. Peter played with his ball and dumped crayon shavings all over the carpet for me to clean up. When Camilla arrived home with Ludovica, she was upset with me that Anna did not finish the homework. I think she should be upset with Anna.

At 6:30 p.m. it's time for everyone to have a bath. I always give the children their bath and dress them in their pajamas. I don't mind this chore much. I have to find some time between the bath and dinner to clean up all the toys. The children never put away their own toys and they have a grand time dragging the toys all over the apartment. By 7:30 p.m. the children are sitting at the table eating dinner. I feed Peter and help set the table. After dinner I do the dishes and clean the kitchen.

Yesterday, Camilla went to the cinema with her friends, so I had to put all three children to bed. Peter is usually easy to put down. He is the only baby I have ever seen not cry when it is time for a nap, or to go to bed. The girls, however, always struggle to stay awake longer. Anna is especially difficult. Usually I have finished putting all the babies to bed by 9 p.m.

And there you have it. A day in the life of Tess in Rome. The day to day activities vary, as sometimes I take the children to the park in the afternoon, and we go to the swimming lesson on Monday and Wednesday. It's not that work is very difficult, and I enjoy the babies, but I am exhausted by the end of the day.