They Took My Couch

Mommy and newborn napping on the couch

You all know I'm moving. I have been annoying you with the details for months now. This evening it really hit that life is moving forward and time is passing.

I gave my couch to my maid. I'm sure all of you are thinking "And?" The thing is that it was mine and Mr. Rant's first big purchase together, apart from the first apartment we bought.

That sofa supported us through many stages of life. It was the fabulously comfortable pull out my first American visitors slept on during my pregnancy with The Chatterbox. It stayed a pull out bed in our tiny living room for the first 3 months of The Chatterbox's life as we used it as our daytime bed/nighttime nursing spot.

We moved it with us to our new bigger place. It became the playroom couch. It's where The Menace laid as I played with the toddler version of The Chatterbox. It was my parent's bed, as well as anyone else who stayed here. And it managed to stay the same obnoxiously bright orange throughout chocolate milk spills, tent making, playing, movie watching, and guests.

Seeing it taken apart and leaving my place made me nostalgic. I felt myself saying goodbye to a piece of furniture that reminded me of the new adult Rachel, the new Mom Rachel, and the I hate this big freaking orange sofa Rachel.

I saw my skinny and hardly pregnant butt de-virginizing it upon it's arrival to our place. I can still remember the comfort of sitting on that sofa, over the old futon that it replaced, as my ass widened and my belly grew. It was where I was laying when my breast milk came it. I'm pretty sure there's still some in the cushions as I was a milk cow. It was the first important piece of furniture The Chatterbox peed all over as an infant, but definitely not the last.

Seeing it leave my place made me realize how far I have come from the girl that bought it. It's hard to say goodbye to her as I am quite fond of her sassy ways. And while I am looking forward to having a real "adult" apartment with planned and matching furniture, I look back fondly on the process of the first time furnishing a home. There is so much pride in your pieced together room, an appreciation we have a tendency of losing over time. Things just become things that can easily be thrown away. But when you are starting out and struggling to piece together a life you see the character behind the story of each item. I am going to miss that.

I will be following this with a ridiculous montage of photos of said couch in respect to our daily life. Enjoy:

Baby Chatterbox with his pet spoon and couch. Yes, he had a pet spoon. 

Playing hairdresser/dress up with Mommy in front of couch

Annoying napping Tio (uncle) with a friend as he napped on couch

The Menace chilling with Batman in a tent made on couch 

Do you have/had a piece of furniture that holds memories like this? If so, do tell! 

The Crowd Pleasing Recipe

I'm not claiming ownership of this recipe nor am I stating that there is any sort of nutritional value to it. I will tell you this though, you children will eat it! Hell, the large child we women call our husbands may eat it as well. Hell, it's fun.

And seeing that most things I make here in Brazil are from scratch (there are many pros and cons to that one), I am very excited when I find something easy to make on a Friday night as a treat. Ok, I'm totally lying there. I made it just last night for dinner at the request of my two little monkeys. What can I say? Mondays are a bitch, they ate AMAZINGLY well at lunch, and screw it.

So here is how you do it:

1. Chop up some raw defrosted hot dogs.
2. Get out some raw spaghetti pasta .
3. Feed the spaghetti through the raw pieces of hot dog. Think of it as making fake meat/unhealthy Shish kabobs. Of course if you were me you'd use either vitamin infused pasta or whole wheat. Just don't tell the kids you are ruining their crap by adding something good for them.
4. If you are particularly patient and have a lot of hot dogs to spare, have the kids help. My boys loved making these! FYI, you will lose 1/3 of the hot dogs in the "helping" process.
5. Put them in the pan and boil. It takes like 10 minutes.
6. Enjoy this quick, fun and cheap meal!

Web MD Gave Me Cancer

Photo by: http://cellaphonic.blogspot.com/2010/12/tale-of-giant-hive-monster.html

I worry about my health in a way I never did when I didn't have kids. It's as if I am overly aware of my own mortality. I can't help it.

The idea of something happening to me while my kids are small is my biggest fear! I get choked up just thinking about it. Losing your Mommy at any age is difficult. That and I selfishly want to be here forever just to see every single moment in their little lives.

So all this is making me a bit of a hypochondriac. I'm exhausted beyond belief, as any Mother is, and part of me starts to wonder if I have cancer. I take longer to get over illnesses, I have heart palpitations, and I get winded easily. Of course this can all be easily explained:

Longer to get over illnesses: I hardly ever sleep and eating right is a day by day battle. That and I am getting older plus have two kids and a husband whose needs normally come first.

Heart Palpitations: Well if I am getting myself all stressed out about cancer than my anxiety level may be a bit high.

Winded easily: This one is simply called a lack of cardio. I used to be in such good shape. Key there: Used to be! Of course I could nip that in the butt with a little effort but the whole exhausted thing along with the family thing gives lack of motivation an unfair advantage over motivation.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not that person that sits on the computer looking over Web MD all day. I keep it occasional as dying from a heart attack in front of the computer while reading about heart attacks is just way to cliche for this girl.

Do any of you other Mothers ever think about this stuff? Do you ever wonder if your lack of self care is going to bite you and your family in the ass? Are you particularly good at taking care of everything and yourself? If so, got any tips? 

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? 


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5 Years Ago Today...

5 Years Ago Today My Life Changed:

He came out of me screaming like a 60 yr old drunk and slightly overweight Irish man. Momma was proud.

He was a late talking and I was concerned. Of course he did eventually start and never ever ever stopped, ie. the nickname Chatterbox. He obviously gets this from his Father.

He is a great partner in crime, often inspiring the crime itself.

He is a total suck up when it comes to teachers and such but I swear it is in an endearing way. That or as his Mother I just can't see it. Hmmmm, what would Freud say will come of this dynamic? Maybe...

"A man who has been the indisputable favorite of his mother keeps for life the feeling of a conqueror. "
Sigmund Freud (FYI, Totally NOT a Freud fan)

You should also know that he is obsessed with Fusilli pasta and not surprisingly has requested it as his birthday breakfast. 

Honestly, I could go on and on about this little man. I find him so unique and wonderful, even when he is being a total pain in the ass (he also gets that from his Father, I swear). My life changed dramatically when he entered into this world and 5 years later he is still one of the two best things I have ever done! 

Happy Birthday Chatterbox! 

Say What?!

I had a "Say What?!" moment this weekend.

On Sunday we all headed down to a charity Feijoada with the family. I was hanging with the kiddos making sure they only got into innocent trouble when some dude came up to chat with them. Of course he somehow knew that Chatterbox is half American. Random news travels fast when served over rice, beans, and sausage.

The funny part was his reaction. When he talked to Chatterbox, he spoke in Portuguese. Obviously Chatterbox, being surrounded by Brazilian children as well, responded in Portuguese. Then man's reaction:

"WOW! You speak Portuguese really well!"

Say what? The man knows my kid's entire Brazilian extended family.We live in Brazil. His Father is Brazilian. Of course he speaks Portuguese!

And I know maybe for some reason or other, he thought that I would completely ignore the language of my son's home country, the language of his father, and the language of his family. I get that.

But the guy continued with his amazement and then it came out that he was not surprised at all that Chatterbox speaks English. Portuguese, for the half Brazilian kid living in Brazil surrounded by a Brazilian family, was the surprise.

It's moments like these when I wish we were teaching him some random 3rd language and I could say "Sorry, he only speaks Mandarin." 

Vlog: Introducing Capt America

Party House: Noise like nothing else

The Menace doing his thing on the dance floor

I'm sure some of you are thinking that I'm talking about something cool like a baile funk (funk dance) or a new Rio de Janeiro club. Have you all forgotten that I have 2 children under 5 years of age?

These days my parties are ones that include balloons, even more obnoxious music than electronic, and plenty of screaming children.

I went to one of these parties last night and it was a good one as far as party house parties go. You see, here in Brazil you can rent a house that is fully pimped out to be a kid's dream and a parent's nightmare. It's like sugar and noise on crack. Honestly, I don't know what I would do with myself if they didn't serve beer in these places. Better idea yet, Valium cocktails for parents upon entry!

But the kiddos love it. Hell, what isn't to love. You can jump on everything, climb on everything, all snacks are fried or full of sugar, there are video games, and costumes are almost required. Not to mention the super lame loud children's music, 300 other kids to play with, and plenty of opportunities to lose your parents and freak them the hell out.

I have to say that I secretly do love these parties. While I lament with the other parents, I feel like a big kid while there. I eat absolutely everything. You know when you are choosing your hor d'oeuvres from the waiter's tray and you see an arm dart in, grab something, and disappear? Well, that is my arm. I am that person. It's sad, I know.

Basically you show up at these parties with empty tummies and excited children. You leave said party with exhausted children, a slight beer buzz, a goodie bag, and full tummies (aka. no dinner preparations necessary that night). Not to mention the fact that you get to mingle with other parents as the children are fully occupied.

This girl right here gives Rio de Janeiro party houses a thumbs up as fun for the whole family!
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FYI: I was interviewed by a cool fellow expat Mummy in Provence and she posted it today. Go check it out: http://www.mummyinprovence.com/having-baby-brazil

Wordless Wednesday: Sick in Brazil

Sick Toddler :(

 All his meds...

Here you mix your own antibiotic suspensions. 

Add more water Mommy

Link up with your blog's Wordless Wednesday and show some Wordless Wednesday love to other bloggers! 

Above and Beyond

I have always known that the love for children in Brazil goes above and beyond. Today that was displayed to me in the simplest act.

The Menace's teacher called home to tell me he was feverish. Today is also The Chatterbox's night to do Capoeira as an after school activity. Normally The Menace and I wait around playing while Chatterbox Capoeiras his little butt off, but since Menace was sick that wasn't going to be possible.

You see, Mr. Rant could not guarantee that he'd be able to make it by pick up time and Menace was really sickly looking. I went up to Chatterbox's class to break the news, no capoeira today.

My boy was already in his little Capoeira uniform and excitedly talking to his friends about practice. Of course he broke down into tears upon the news because "Capoeira is my favorite thing Mommy!"

His teacher looked at me and asked if there really wasn't someone that could pick him up. That I knew of at the moment, no. Sadly, he would have to be disappointed.

She stepped up. The teacher, who has a 1 yr old at the school as well, said that they would stay an extra hour and walk him home. Both of us live near the school and it would be no problem.

I was so impressed that his teacher, just to take away the dramatic disappointment that only a 4 yr old can feel, was willing to stick around with her 1 yr old just to make him happier.

That, my friends, is dedication. It is above and beyond. It is exactly why I love this country. A little inconvenience to make someone else's day is not a big deal.

In the end some friends, whose child is in the same class, offered to take him home so that the teacher wouldn't have to wait around. Talk about all the love I was feeling. A little extra effort for them made all the difference in the world to my boy and I.

In the end Mr. Rant made it to the school and The Menace and I had to take a little trip to the emergency room. The Menace is ok. Bronchitis and a sinus infection decided that they were going to spike a fever and cause some breathing issues.

By the end of the night, both my boys were home and feeling better than they were earlier in the day, all because of the help of the good people around me. Amazing how a sick toddler, a disappointed preschooler, and  a Mother with her hand full managed to all get what they need. I suppose this story has a moral and if I had to guess what it is I'd say it was that the help of a neighbor can change a difficult moment into one where everyone walks away taken care of.

Thank you to all the wonderful people who made tonight just another good evening as opposed to a disappointment! 

He Told me Off!

You have to love that Brazilians really do feel like they live in a community with the people around them. Of course this also means that elders feel complete liberty to scold a person like a wayward child.

I was minding my own business while walking my kids to the park to meet with friends. This park is a 15 to 20 minute walk from my house, it was already 35 degrees (95 F), and my boys are freaking heavy in their sit and stand stroller. You can imagine how patient I was feeling.

The Menace dropped his pacie, of course, at the entrance of the park and it fell near an older man. He watched me as I picked it up and returned to the stroller.

What he didn't see was that I threw the dirty pacie into the cup holder while informing The Menace that it was dirty and reaching over to wipe the rivers of snot from his nose.

I know what you are thinking, what a glamorous life! Eat your heart out baby.

Anyway, the man started screaming at me! I turned to look at him with a confused 'what the hell is your problem' look on my face.

He preceded to tell me off. How dare I give that dirty pacie to my child. What the hell was my problem! What kind of Mother am I! Seriously, he said all those things to my face.

That is when I pulled the pacie out of the cup hold and asked "This pacie?" I also busted out a "Cara de pao!" And suggested that he first pay attention before he decides to yell at someone.

He apologized and I we went in. I will say this though, the man is lucky my 4 yr old was there. The Chatterbox has turned into the greatest sponge that ever lived and single-handedly absorbs all information that passes by his ears. It was guaranteed that if I used the words I wanted to that the little one would automatically add them to his ever expanding vocabulary.

Lucky for the old man, huh?

Rio de Janeiro's Newest Dealer

I have become Rio de Janeiro's newest dealer, but it's not what you think.

A couple of foreigner women have shown up at my apartment. Due to their schedules and such, I have met them in front of my building where we make the exchange. It's a very 'Do you the have money because I have the stuff' kind of situation. FYI, I only work with cash.

The stuff, used baby gear. I have become a hoarder of all things baby and American. I just can't help it. Call me cheap, resourceful, and maybe a bit crazy but this stuff is like gold! I refuse to pay the inflated Brazilian prices and have planned my purchases abroad accordingly!  Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

Foreigners as far as Leblon have ventured to the other side of the tracks to purchase these reasonably priced and delicately used items. While no Brazilians have taken a bite, foreigners have jumped on it. I'm starting to see a dolce de leite vs peanut butter kind of preference here.

Honestly though, I am amazed with this cultural difference. Brazilians do not like to buy things used. Sure Mercado livre (a Brazilian Amazon-ish site) is alive and well, but that is not the general public. There have been a couple of used baby gear stores in my neighborhood that have crashed and burned in months.

Brazilians will use their own stuff to death but what they accept used is very limited. Hell, I haven't had one person here say they have some old clothes from their kids to give to us but I have received bags from friends every single time I go back for a visit.

Foreigners are just different. If it's an item that your kid is going to use for a year top, why pay the crazy prices at Lojas Americanas! We'll take just about anything, clean it up, and put it in our house. Just look at garage sales. If you really think about it, it's a kind of creepy practice.

But things are different here. It is much more common to give your used items to your maid or doorman than to offer them to a friend. Why give things to someone who has the money to buy them themselves? I also find that middle class Brazilians are a smidgen paranoid when it comes to cleanliness. The fact that I was expected to iron my baby's clothes to "sterilize" them was beyond my comprehension. First, I don't think sterilization works like that. Secondly, if I don't even iron my clothes it's just best for baby to get into the program from birth. I wouldn't want him to expect things that just aren't going to happen.

And don't even get me started on Mr. Rant and his not sitting on things in street clothes issue! Street clothes? Who says that?!

It begs me to ask, is buying used vs new a cultural habit that is based on our home country's socioeconomic status? Or are we foreigners a bit dirty and cheap and are Brazilians selectively OCD? 

If I Had Listened to my Mother

When University came around my Mother declared that I needed to study English. I needed to become a teacher or a writer. I, however, couldn't imagine teaching at the time and writing just seemed too unstable.

I picked psychology. I have obviously made one hell of a career with that BA. I checked into returning it for a refund but they actually have some fine print somewhere saying that there are no refunds.  Go figure. So I have continued to be one of those people with a degree that they don't use. How very American of me. The funniest part was that I really didn't see it coming. Oh how the young are so blind to the obvious. 

Now I find myself wanting to be a writer. If only I had listened to my Mother! Then again, if I always listened to my Mother I would never wear a bikini (one-pieces are just so flattering on my long frame), be a Ghost Hunters fanatic, and would already have 4 babies. 

I suppose when weeding out good advice from bad, we sometimes accidentally pull out a few flowers. I do occasionally wonder what would have come of me if I had taken her advice. First off, I would have gone for that scholarship from that East Coast school (for a San Diego native to study on a full ride for 4 yrs) and I would have majored in English.  

Career wise, in my current life, I could have a permanent position at the American or British school. I could also already have a Writer's Portfolio. I would most definitely be a better speller! For all I know it could have been the breaking point in world peace. 

I suppose it is just one of those mysteries of life, the good old fashioned game of "what if." 

Rachel and the Electric Kettle

Bear and the Kettle having a Moment

One visit my Mom brought me an electric kettle as a gift. She had mentioned it, very excitedly, before she arrived. I was going to love it, or that's what she told me!

Personally I had thought 'what the hell kind of gift is that?!' Of all things you could bring me from the US you are bringing me an electric kettle?! Sure, it was great for Mom as she drinks as much tea as about 3 Brits a day. Myself, I just boil water for cooking. I would have preferred an electric kettle sized amount of licorice, thank you very much.

Of course I wasn't going to tell her that. She had already bought it. Hell, at least Mom would be using it when she was here visiting. So when she arrived I unpacked it and plugged it in. It was cute to say the least and was much more practical for boiling water for coffee. Yes, I had to boil my own water for coffee since, at the time, I didn't use a coffee maker. We made coffee the Brazilian way (aka. impractically and inefficiently).

But just as the tides my opinion changed. I'm totally sold now! Seriously! I use that bad boy daily. I don't even boil water on the stove anymore. 1 minute and I have my boiled water for steaming veggies or cooking pasta! Hell, I even boil my water in it before making Brazilian rice. It takes at least 15 minutes off the cooking time!

I love that kettle so much that I'm blogging about it without even getting a free one! My question is though, how did Mother know I would fall for it? Is it because it's just that good or because I have already turned into her and will not admit it to myself? And if the latter is true, does the fact that Mr Rants has stayed with me make him a kinky bastard?

As for you people out there in Internet land, what is the one unlikely appliance you have fallen in love with?

I Have a Job

I am getting kind of tired of working Mothers asking me what my plans are. They look at me like I'm a Freshman in University dragging her feet when it comes to choosing a major. Maybe it's just in Brazil, where the vast majority of Mothers are working. I can't say for the states since I'm not there but it's starting to get annoying.

You don't see me asking them when they plan to start raising their children 95% of the time. I like to think that they are working to give the entire family a better life. Honestly though, the kids rarely notice the new car or how good their "top of the line" school is.

Yes, I'm lucky to have the opportunity to stay at home with my kids but it is not without sacrifice. First off, I'm staying home with the kids. My personal gratification at the job comes in the form of cuddles, kids not crapping on the floor, and getting a vegetable in a mouth without vomit following. It's not a pretty job but it's a job I take a hell of a lot of pride in.

I had kids to have kids. I went to college so my children would have an educated person raising them. A waste of a hell of a lot of money? Not so much. It is one job where it's somewhat useful to have a psychology degree, even if it's just a bachelors.

And I know I am damn lucky! Mr. Rant busts his ass to make sure that we can manage me at home, and sometimes (most times) it is just that, managing.

Yet I still get the deer in headlights syndrome when asked about my career, or lack there of. It's as if I'm unprepared for a test and my answers are not satisfactory. Well, I have my answer for you right here!

I don't know because right now is not about me. I have children and when I did that things became about them. For them stability is knowing that lunch is at noon everyday. Mom sits with us at the table and we talk about what we'll do at school that afternoon (in Rio anyway). You take them to soccer practice 3 times a week not because you have to but because your little people want you to see when they finally make that important pass.

It is your job to be inconvenienced. When your 4 year old will not stop talking, while annoying, it means that it's important to him that you hear what he has to say. It is important for you to hear it and you want to be the one he tells it to.

It comes down to one thing: No one puts a band-aid on like Mom and I am sure as hell going to be here to do it! Don't worry, I know how lucky I am every single time I peel those little tabs off. Maybe the questioning ones need to also realize it.

Motherhood?: Stream of Consciousness Sunday

You know, I'm not one to blog all the time about being a Mom. I try to keep this blog my place away from Motherhood. It's not that I don't love every minute of it because I do. It's just that it can be emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting. Even Moms need a break.

I felt that way this weekend but not because of my kids. It was all circumstantial. Things just went downhill from the cancellation of my kids going to my in-laws (random decision by Mr. Rant and I) to my husband getting stuck in São Paulo and me having to take the kids to the blogger meet up. 

Funny enough, none of that was a big deal. The deal was that I was feeling my role a little too much. The thing about being a Stay at Home Mom and wife is that your needs (the fun frivolous ones) get pushed to the bottom. Your daily job is take care of the needs of others, frivolous or not. It's a hard role not to get sucked into.

I am lucky that I get to stay at home with my kids. I love being the one taking care of them. I also love being able to take care of Mr. Rant after a long day at work. I think it makes a huge difference to have someone home full time. 

I have moment though with the whole Mother identity. I have my days that I just want to be Rachel, not the go to guy of the house. 

Sometimes Just Rachel would be pretty damn nice. 

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Rio de Janeiro has a Zoo!

"Mommy is the lion dead?!" They seriously asked!

Yes, it is true! We have a zoo here in Rio and I went to it today with the kiddos. I had been putting it off due to the discrepancies in reviews. On one hand people say it's a depressing place because the animals are not adequately taken care of. On the other hand people say that it's a great place to take the kids.

It was time for me to go see for myself. My review you ask? It's both! The entrance is very cute and you immediately walk into a lovely walkway lined with monkeys and birds. I'll tell you this, the place does not lack in monkeys or birds! Hell, you could say the same thing about turtles, snakes, and crocodiles.

But it is also depressing. While there are cute trees and well kept benches all over the place, the larger animals have a pathetic box of a habitat. It's just cruel. Personally, I'd be suicidal if I were one of them. Not to mention that they currently have a lot of empty habitats. Why they don't just knock down a wall and give a tiger some room, I have no clue. My kids were quite disappointed with all the empty "animal spots".

However, all and all I do think it's worth a visit. For starters, it's practically free to get in. R$6 for an adult and R$3 for a child over 3 or 4 or something like that. That is during the week though. The prices do go up a bit on weekends. They really should take note from the San Diego zoo and hike up the prices! That and get sponsors, there's a reason why it's world famous (the money to make it that way).

Anyway, the zoo is relatively close to zona sul, a great place to walk around with the kids, and close to an awesome park. I say check it out, unless you are from San Diego. If that is the case, stay away.

Here's the Rio Zoo site where you can find more information: http://www0.rio.rj.gov.br/riozoo/

Independence is Killing Me

I am so frustrated this morning I could just bite someone, and not in the sexy way. It's day 4 of my kids' winter vacation and I am wishing I were more Brazilian.

A Brazilian Mother who just returned after 20 yrs in Canada made a comment to me last week that it's impossible to be independent in Rio de Janeiro when you have children. That has been the biggest adaptation issue for them.

You know what, she is right. You end up suffering because of your independence and, at the same time, can't totally depend on someone unless you are paying them (even then it can be a bit questionable).

So school is out for a full 3 weeks, my only source of childcare, and while this is not that big of a deal the tasks are piling up. Between caring for 2 highly active boys, I have to hand hang laundry and make full meals. Come on, I can't get away with snacks and crap for 3 weeks straight! I also have the grocery store and other errands, all to do with two kids.

I know it shouldn't be that much of a bitch, but it is. The stores alone are a pain to get through with a stroller or two kids walking. Heaven forbid someone with a wheelchair down here doesn't have a maid to do the shopping at the neighborhood store!

It's just exhausting. I am having full days with no, and by no I mean zero, down time. Add to it that my darling Mr. Rant has decided to go back to physical therapy for his calf and scheduled his appointments at 8am. That means he is taking the car and disappearing at 745 and only returning at 8 at night. Party foul!

Oh well, my maid comes today! I am thanking all that is holy for that one! It means no basic clean up and no home cooking for me! Now I just need to collect 3 stool samples from the little one, convince the big one that a seriously bad stubbed toe does not mean he can not go out to play, and manage to get a glass of water somewhere in the middle.

At the very least, I am having some serious bonding time with the kiddos and my stomach has never looked flatter! Sitting down is totally overrated!

Brazilians & Love for Children

Let's be honest, kids are freaking annoying. All kids! This goes double if you haven't actually birthed/raised any. Kids have an amazing way of slowly increasing your tolerance for the intolerable. It's practically an art form.

That is why I'm always so impressed by my childless Brazilian friends. They actually adore other people's children! Really! Even kids of people they don't know. That last one is a huge kicker for me. Maybe it's just my friends but in my country the real love for a child comes with a relationship of some sort with a parent.

In Brazil, apparently, you just have to be a miniature. They love you no matter who you belong to, maybe even in spite of it.

So take our Brazilian friends, they practically smother my children with adoration and love. The patience, interest, and adorable love of them is enough to stop my heart in amazement. Any one of my non-parent Brazilian friends come over to play with my children. They'll talk to me once the kiddos are in bed. I mean, they pause in the middle of the sentence to answer a question like a seasoned Mom of 3.

Thus it comes as no surprise that I fall in love with Brazil all over again every single time with meet up with these guys. This weekend was no exception. We had an amazing lunch at my place on Saturday, where I made shrimp dishes for the first time thank you very much! They were awesome, in case you were wondering. Sunday was spent playing a park in Lagoa and then a great long lunch (actually more like snacking, picking, and beer drinking for a couple of hours) at Bar Lagoa.

My childless friends didn't shoot even one dirty look my way the entire time at the restaurant, even when I let my kids sit under the table. (I don't care if it is dirty just as long as they are quiet). Actually, my friends joked with them while under the table! People, that's just how Brazilians roll. You have got to love that!

Have you ever noticed a difference in acceptance of children from one country to the next?

Brazilian Nannies Realize Their Power

Nannies are a fact of life in Brazil and they are starting to realize the power in that. That's why it didn't surprise me too much to see an article about it in the New York Times.

While the article was based in São Paulo, I'll tell you that nanny prices are going up here in Rio de Janeiro. Things have changed quite a bit in the 4.5 yrs it's been since I had my oldest. I have seen friends fire their nannies (who were actually more my friends than the Mothers seeing that they were the ones who I met up with at the park) over money and time off.

Every once in a while you'll see the Mothers stomping into the playground with a new baba (nanny) in tow. You can just see the joy written all over their face.

One woman openly complained about her recently fired nanny's request for a R$400 a month raise and weekends off. The nerve of her! Seriously, she actually said that, the nerve of her. Let's look at the facts for a minute:

1. The daughter was 2 at that point and the nanny had raised her from birth. She stayed in the hospital with the Mother post delivery!
2. For 2 years the nanny stayed at the home 24hrs a day except for Sundays. She was allowed to leave at 10am on Sunday morning and had to be back Monday at 8am, and they were not pleased about giving her that.
3. She was making R$800 a month for all this.

Personally, I was rooting for the nanny and I told this friend that. At that moment the going rate had gone up to R$1200 for nannies and full time maids up to R$800. It's not cheap to have full time help and it shouldn't be.  Maids and nannies are taking care of your home. Hell, nannies are raising your children! I do believe this goes under one of the things you don't skimp on in life.

If it pisses you off that much, maybe you should raise your own children. Working parents can put them into school full time and be there in the evening to pick them up. Be the one to give them their dinner, bath, and put them to bed. And no, you won't be able to go out and see that movie because you don't have a live-in babysitter. Suck it up! It's called being a parent.

By the way, the nanny I mentioned found a new job right away with the pay and time off she deserved. The Mother put her daughter into full time school and expected the maid to do the rest.

On a side note, you should read the article. It's hilarious to read about women complaining that middle class families can not afford nannies. One woman even referred to the nannies as mafia, as she picked her child up from a private school. I'm amazed by the feeling of entitlement people have here when it comes to cheap labor. Do they really not realize that they are attempting to hold another person down?

How NOT to Feed an Infant

The conversation started out innocently enough. My maid, who saves my ass twice a week, asked me what I did for my youngest's gas when he was a baby. She remembers that we had a terrible time.

I told her this and that and asked what was going on. Turns out, her friend's 2 month old, who was born premature, is really suffering from gas and cramps.

The subject quickly turned to milk. He is not being breastfed, hospital stay nipped that in the butt, instead Momma is giving him regular boxed milk made for 2 year olds!

Say what?!

Well, I guess we've figured out the pain issue! Oh yes, my maid continued by telling me that the Mother said the baby didn't take to formula very well. Well, let's just give him milk fortified especially made for older children. That won't cause problems. And seeing that he is two months old, you've really been trying to get him to like it, haven't you.

And this is not abnormal here. Another friend of mine had to intervene when she found out a neighbor was giving the baby goat milk straight from the goat. I know that has been done before and kids turn out ok, but we know better now. Or we should.

The desire to give small babies real food here is ridiculous. People will give a 2 month old porridge made of cornmeal. They give the caldo do feijao (sauce created from making black beans) to little little babies. It's insanity. I get gas from that. What do you think will happen to a 4 month old? But people say they like it. Of course they like it! It's the most flavor they've experienced in their little lives, aside from that sip of Coca cola you just gave them.

And this isn't just a poverty thing. Ok, maybe the milk is but not the food. I had to smack hands away that were trying to shove cake frosting into my 3 month old's mouth. My feelings, he's 3 month olds people! Boob is the cat's pajamas for him.

So what did I do about all this? I went out and bought appropriate formula, made for sensitive tummies. It's expensive here but I figure maybe a couple of days of a happy baby will make Mommy open up her eyes.