Moving with Kids with Emma Safarik

Today I'm chatting with Emma Safarik, a past Parker Baby employee, and longtime family friend, about moving with kids. Emma and her family moved to Germany with her husband, 3 kids, and two dogs. Tune in as we talk about the joys and struggles of moving to a new place with kids and building a community.

Transcript

Speaker 0:00

Hi, I'm Kirsten, fellow mom, and your biggest cheerleader in all things motherhood and parenting. My husband and I co-founded Parker Baby Co. with one mission in mind to nurture and grow strong families. And that mission continues right here on Rooted Conversations. So grab a cozy drink, take a deep breath, and remember you're not alone in this journey.

Speaker 1 0:24

Hey everyone, welcome back to Rooted Conversations. I'm so glad you're here. Um this week we have Emma Safaric with us, and she used to work for Parker Baby, and then her husband works. Okay, I'm gonna get it wrong. Star what is it called again? The Space Force. Yeah, Space Force. I wasn't saying Starlink, but that's not it.

Speaker 2 0:46

I mean Starlink is the internet we have.

Speaker 1 0:48

Okay, yes, that's what I'm thinking. Okay, Space Force. And they were with us in Colorado, and then they moved for work to Germany. And Emma's just she also is like family, like literally and figuratively. But um, yeah, she's got three kids and they're just beautiful. And you've been in Germany for two years?

Speaker 2 1:11

Two years, yeah.

Speaker 1 1:12

Yeah. So we're gonna today we're gonna talk about um and I'm moving just across the street. So I mean I did move from Colorado to here, and then now I'm moving from here to across the street. So lots of different moving POVs right now. Yes, and we're gonna talk about that today. So um thanks for being here, Emma.

Speaker 2 1:38

Yeah, thanks for having me on. It feels good to see you.

Speaker 1 1:41

I know, so good. Um, so I remember when you were moving to Germany, and that was just so much. There are so many moving parts with that.

Speaker 2 1:52

Yes, honestly, I was just talking about this with a girlfriend here. Like, we're so grateful that our husbands are competent because like all of the technical stuff, Daniel handled all that so that I could just focus on the other small things. Um because not small, but yes. Yeah, not small, big, big. Um, but I can still like was we just hit our two-year mark um at the end of June. So the memories popped up from us at the airport. And oh my gosh, that was a mess. It was the biggest mess, it was the biggest mess. So um, sorry, my dogs are barking, which actually the mess at the airport was their fault. So I feel like that's his myth that that's happening right now. Um yeah, so we we showed up to the airport, and granted, we had already shipped our car to Germany. Um, we had a rental car, and Daniel's younger sister and her husband actually bought our second car. So they drove us to the airport with two cats, two dogs, um, three full-size car seats, a stroller, um, three extra large suitcases, five backpacks, and five of those like big tote things that you can like buy at Costco and you can like put in your garage. And they they helped us get through check-in. Um, and we get to the ticket counter, and we've we've got it all like we you can just imagine like the carts that we have, they're just piled high. Um and it's blazing hot in the airport, of course. And the lady at the desk was like, I'm sorry, there's not room on this flight for your pets, so you can't get on. And did you cry? Like, actually, no, I didn't. I think I was just like so, I don't know, just like I couldn't believe it. It seemed like unreal. Yeah, yeah, yes, exactly. Like, I just all my emotions were gone. Um, and yeah, we had to basically take all of that stuff I just told you about and take it over to the hotel that's like at DIA. So we were just one at a time while Daniel was figured out the tickets. I took little luggage carts one at a time over there and set us up inside a one-bedroom or a one-room hotel with all four of the pets, and we had to have a little staycation in Denver for three nights before we could get on a flight three days later, four days later. It was crazy.

Speaker 1 4:28

It is like those types, and I told Sam, Sam and I've had a hard year, and I keep telling Sam and this for you too like on our deathbed, we're gonna look back at these times and be like, we got through it and like we did it together, and life is not easy, but we did it, and we did it together, and we didn't like thought a like a little bit, but it's not like it hurt our marriage. We didn't, I don't think I've said anything to Sam that I shouldn't have, you know, like right, and you don't remember that part, yeah.

Speaker 2 5:04

No, even if you maybe did you don't remember that part because it wasn't that serious, you know.

Speaker 1 5:08

Yes, it's totally what you said about having a competent husband husband, but also like a teammate of a husband, yeah, right. Like not just he's getting stuff done, but yes, like yeah, you're working together to accomplish.

Speaker 2 5:22

And you can like trust that the other person is not going to like close up and just like not do anything because they're well and then we can't forget we have children too, like with three little bodies who also are having emotions and they're experiencing wait, we've been talking about moving for however long, and now we're not getting on our plane, we're staying in a hotel. What like you have to also have a competent dad and a competent mom to help support them too.

Speaker 1 5:51

Because um, they think it was this huge adventure. She liked it. They probably think it was the coolest thing ever.

Speaker 2 5:58

You know what they remember about that? Um, is the swimming pool at the hotel because you can see the airplanes take off, and then they remember taking taking the light rail to downtown and picking out a stuffed animal. So, like that's what they remember.

Speaker 1 6:14

And look, I'm just so proud of you guys because you turned something and made it a magical experience for the kids, you know, and it's really not that hard. Um, mentally, it is for us, but like all you have to do is go get them a stuffed animal and it's cool, and it's also like lower your expectations, like have it be flexible.

Speaker 2 6:37

Like my mantra for this year as a preschool teacher has just been like, hey, it's not that serious. Like, right as long as these kids are loved, they know about Jesus, they come home with a smile, like life goes on, it's not it's not that serious. Like, yeah, I love that, and it's like the little moments with kids, that's what the big picture is about. It's not the big thing that you did or the big thing that happened, it's like what they're seeing through their eyes, like the stuffed animal or swimming, not you know, the mess of moving. The mess.

Speaker 1 7:14

I've I've seen a reel like that where it's like the mom's POV and it's like her like so stressed all the time, like lunch isn't ready, she didn't get dressed, she cried on the floor in the kitchen, and then like it's the kids' POV, and it's like my mom sat on the ground with me and like in the kitchen, and she was you know doing all these things. It's like right. If you can just give them some like that's all they magic that then that's all they like focus on.

Speaker 2 7:44

Yeah, no, it's so true. Like, they don't need a stressed-out parent, and they don't need a fancy-packed lunch, right? Like, I bet you throw smuckers in there, that's the best day of their life, you know. As long as you know, do what you need to do. Yeah, do what you need to do in this season of your life to or traveling or whatever, do what you need to do to to be happy yourself too, and not be stressed because you deserve that experience and they deserve to have a mom. That's that's not crazy.

Speaker 1 8:16

We've had so since we have older kids move like moving, so the twins are 11, Greta is nine, and Gus is gonna be eight in a couple weeks. Having older kids, like I know and talking to them through stuff, like they can understand a lot more, but it's also I've had to have I've like apologize to them at dinner a few times because my expectations for them have been really high because Sam and I are so busy with moving and stressed and stuff, and so like expressing gratitude to them and like being like this isn't forever, like we just need you to lock in for for you know a few weeks, temporary, and yeah, and just like expressing gratitude, but also then when you do have times as a family to really focus, don't have your phone out, like really focus on spending time together because it's just it goes by so fast, yeah, it goes by so fast, and even though these parts of life, like moving and change and school starting and just all of it, is hard, like you still gotta have good memories too.

Speaker 2 9:28

Yes, so yeah.

Speaker 1 9:30

I have a friend who has breast cancer, and um, I was talking to her about it's so important that even during the hard times that you really know that there's still good, you know, like and it's it doesn't need to take over your whole life, how hard or how stressful life is, that there is so much good still, and I think that's the burden that parents carry in all times of chaos and stress, is like the strive for for perfection, I think, too.

Speaker 2 10:09

Like for striving for perfection, and that's not what we need to strive for. It's the literal.

Speaker 1 10:15

How does that so in the United States we have social media and all these moms that are like doing everything to perfection? What's is Germany like that? Like, are the moms in Germany like that?

Speaker 2 10:27

No, actually, that was one of the very first things I noticed when we moved here. So, culture in Germany is all about being outside and being intentional, and like every playground here has like a small cafe where you can get pizza, brats, a beer, and sit with your family and be out, and the kids are playing and having a great time, and nobody is on their phones either taking photos of the kids, no one is sitting there um like on a phone call. Like, I never see people like on a phone call in public, like in the grocery store or like out and about. Um, and I feel like they're just very intentional about their time. And like Sundays, for example, is like a mandatory day of rest, um, not just like for religious reasons reasons, but everything here is shut down. Like no stores, no like no nothing. You can't shop, you can't get groceries, you can't, you're not allowed to um like mow your lawn or run your vacuum um because it's all about peace and being quiet and wow, it's relaxing. Do you find yourself looking forward to Sundays because of that? Yeah, yeah. Like I know typically on Sundays we have a slow morning as a family. We um usually go to this park near our house where it's really, really fun. There's like a forest next to it that the kids like run through, and we have like you know, a pizza together, and usually friends are meeting us there, and we're not thinking about oh, we need to put the laundry in, or I didn't finish the cleaning yesterday because you're not allowed to do that stuff. So just be in the moment and relax, and it's it's really nice.

Speaker 1 12:16

That's amazing. Um, so do you think like, can you guys are you gonna stay? What's your plan for that?

Speaker 2 12:23

Is like the the big question. If we could choose, we would we would love to stay here. Um, we you know, even though our move over here was hard, we have just like joined in on this community here, and we have built like this beautiful little family. Like, I feel like it's like a unicorn situation because uh there's three couples and we all get along super well, and our kids all get along and they're all the same age. What a blessing. And it's truly like we just we feel so grateful and like really blessed that we're here and we're experiencing this with them, and we have people to lean on. Um, right, but yeah, we would love to stay. Our kids love school. I'm working, um, it's a mostly American school that I work at, but it's actually like a German company. Um, and I'm really happy. I love being back in the teaching world, and I love my coworkers and my bosses, like the she's great. She's so I just I feel really happy. Um and we've just gotten to experience so much. It's it's it's it's unreal. Like sometimes Daniel and I just we really want to binge ourselves.

Speaker 1 13:32

I mean, but that all the traveling that you're doing is just so cool. And I whenever I see pictures, you guys just like your look like you're glowing and like look so happy and peaceful, peaceful. Because I do think that last like year that you were in Colorado was very stressful.

Speaker 2 13:50

It was very stressful. There was so much to do, so much going on with the kids, and and even moving here, like Instagram is a highlight reel, right? Um, right, there was a lot of really hard parts about once we got here, like feeling lonely. You know, we got here in the middle of summer. I had no way of making friends. Uh, we only had one vehicle that Daniel took to work. It was it's a million degrees here in the summer, and Germany does not believe in air conditioning, and our house felt like an oven, and we had no furniture for two months. So we basically just yeah, it was hard. It was a really hard time for me. And I there were so many times I told Danielle, I'm just packing my bags, I'm going home to Colorado. I can't be here because this this isn't what I thought. Like, I I feel like I kind of we had glorified, like moving to Europe. We're gonna have this amazing experience. But yeah, yeah, um, yeah, but no, it was not that, it was not that at all. It was horrible. There's murder hornets here swarming our backyard, like just crazy. But in those hard moments, we really had to lean on each other as a family, and we really found joy in like small things. Like, we did not have anything to entertain ourselves with, like, at all except our backyard, and where we live, we live in this really small village, um, very country, very slow-paced. We have two bakeries and like an Apple Techa, so like a uh pharmacy. Um, okay. But we have this beautiful trail, and it is like the perfect trail, it's like magical. Kids can ride scooters, we can walk, there's things to see, like mushrooms and sheep, and I don't know. It's it's great. So we found ourselves every day just walking to walking the trail and learning new things, and you know, it was I won't even lie. Um a little bit. Like I feel like uh I can read it and understand a lot of words, and like I know a ton of words and phrases. Um, but I don't know that much. The kids know more, I feel like, because they learn it in school a little bit. They learn they take a German class once a week, um, which I think is amazing. It's called host post nation class, and they learn about like German cultures and holidays and stuff like that. It's really cute.

Speaker 1 16:28

Do you get stressed out? Like, so do you think you're gonna have to move back?

Speaker 2 16:32

Eventually, yeah, we will have to move back.

Speaker 1 16:35

Technically, we're supposed to move back next summer, but we're in denial a little bit, and also say does that stress you out a little bit to think about coming back to the US?

Speaker 2 16:45

It stresses me out, especially thinking like this is our last summer here, right? Um, yeah, that part really stresses me out. And one of my closest friends here is having a baby in a few months, and so it's just gonna be so sad to say goodbye to her and our other friend, he's deploying between October and May, basically. So it's just time is limited. Stinks, yeah. Time is limited. Um, but the goal is to do our to try to stay here if we can, to try to stay here a little, maybe two more years if we could. Okay.

Speaker 1 17:22

I'll be praying about it.

Speaker 2 17:23

And the kids, yeah. Thank you.

Speaker 1 17:26

What do you what do you think you're gonna bring back to the United States of like what you've learned or um yeah, the like patterns, or you know, what what are you gonna bring back, you think?

Speaker 2 17:37

I feel like that's a good question. Um, probably being more conscious of um our groceries and what we consume. Um, everything here just happens to be organic. Um, so that means like food spoils really fast, so we don't buy a lot of food. Like there's no such thing as Costco here. Um you you go to the store and you get you get like a small basket of groceries for like two or three days, cook your meals, and then so you know, being more conscious of that and intentional about what we're cooking and putting in our bodies. Um, I think being outside more, like we spend so much of our time outside. We are always outside here because there are truly there's no bad weather, it's just gotta dress right and have a good attitude. Yeah, um, I think probably appreciating our friends and family because especially our friends that become family, because like without them, you know, it truly takes a village, like probably let's see, I'll probably still keep using German words. Um, I feel like there's like little phrases you always say at the at the grocery store. Um, that just everybody says, and I feel like I'm gonna struggle when we come back not saying those things to like the checkout people. And I also think I'm gonna struggle with like how friendly everybody is at the store. Like at the store, there is no yap in to the cash out, cash cashier lady. Like you get your stuff, you bag it as quick as you can, and then you race out the store. There's no lingering, it is stressed to the max. So I'm gonna be probably taken aback by by how friendly everyone is in the US. Um I think there's just gonna be like a reverse culture shock, if I'm being honest. Like we don't have we don't have drive-thru coffee shops, we don't have huge parking lots, we don't have you know, just like things like that that are a part of my everyday that like yeah.

Speaker 1 19:49

Oh my gosh. Well, I'm like, don't like I want you back in the United States, but it's also like that sounds so nice there.

Speaker 2 19:55

I know.

Speaker 1 19:56

Is there any way that you could like live there forever?

Speaker 2 19:59

Um, probably not, probably not. At least while it's Daniel's fault for being in the Space Force because it's like such an it's like such a niche career field. Um that there just aren't a ton of opportunities out here. And right, yeah. But I do think this would have been cool. Most likely. I think most likely. Like we still have our house there, so that would be great. Um, so I don't know. I think we'll know more.

Speaker 1 20:28

What are the homes like there? Are you happy with your like little house? Or I don't know.

Speaker 2 20:35

Is it like it's a large house? We have a huge house actually. Um, German houses are really interesting because typically they're chopped up into all these little tiny rooms, um, and they're all built out of concrete, so that they're like indestructible. Um and our house is great because it has a ton of storage. Um, but most German houses like do not have a laundry room, they do not have a pantry, and they have no closets. Um, yeah. So like we have to have we have wardrobes in every room. Um, so it's just yeah, it's it's definitely different. Um, but our house has enough room for everybody in a guest room, and we have really, really great neighbors. We we live on a street with all these like elderly German people who are so sweet and they don't speak any English and we speak barely any German, so we just kind of like make hand gestures and use Google Translate with each other, and it's it works.

Speaker 1 21:31

That's so sweet, yeah. Yeah, um, that's awesome. Is there any like was there because I was thinking like my number one tip, which is probably what you didn't have, was when we moved here, I loved everyone on our street so much. We were super close with them. And so my kids would just run off and go play with them. And like that kept them distracted. I'm sure that was so stressful for you when you got there, trying to keep them all in. Hot house.

Speaker 2 22:01

Oh my goodness, it was but it but again we found things to do, right? Like we have a creek behind our house, so we'd go down to the creek and we would go on our trail and it's like wooded, so it's shaded, and then we'd all take naps in the afternoon because we were so hot that we just fall asleep.

Speaker 1 22:18

Do you miss air conditioning, or do you think that you're used to it now?

Speaker 2 22:23

I'm pretty used to it. I'm pretty used to it. There are days where it's pretty tough. There are days where it's pretty tough. Like we have these special windows here, they're called Roladen. Um, and they are and again, because the homes are concrete, they're really well insulated. So if you have your Roladen open and your doors and windows open in the very early morning, just let the cool air in, it's great. And then as soon as you start your day, you close them. So you're living in and they're pitch black, they're like electronic and they they come down like this. So like I'm up here because it's so bright, but downstairs in our down in our living area, it's actually quite dark because our whole room is windows, and we have them all closed to keep the house cool, and it it actually works like it's it's pretty cool down there.

Speaker 1 23:14

That's cool. Um, what's your favorite season in Germany?

Speaker 2 23:18

Probably spring because winter here is really hard and long and gray and wet, and then springtime comes and the way the flowers bloom, it's like incredible. And the mulleves come out, and it's like patio season again. You can go to the park and be in the sun. Um, and we have all these.

Speaker 1 23:40

So, what do you guys do in the winter?

Speaker 2 23:42

You suffer. No, I'm just kidding. You you know, there's like fall, which is also really lovely, and then it's like straight into Christmas market season. Christmas market season lasts until January 6th, and that's like the best ever. Okay, and then January 6th comes and you're kind of like riding the high of the holidays, and then February hits, yes, and you're like, No, we can't do this. So we're booking holiday to somewhere with sun. So you're going to Italy, you're going to Barcelona, like you're getting out of here because no.

Speaker 1 24:12

Yeah. But and is the school like days and times the same?

Speaker 2 24:18

Yeah.

Speaker 1 24:19

So it's like every day from like eight to three.

Speaker 2 24:23

Yeah, pretty much. And our Charlie and Hazel are two oldest, they um they go to American school on the military base. Um, and then Olive, because she's still in pre-K, she comes to work with me. So it's really good. Yeah, it's fun. It is.

Speaker 1 24:39

And they're liking it, they're doing well.

Speaker 2 24:41

Yeah, they really that is another thing, is um, you know, there's only so many options for school here. One, right? Like, we're so the school is incredible. Um, it shocked us like how prepared and like loving and caring. Like they have a whole team dedicated to like constantly checking up on all the kids to make sure they're adjusting and you know, if there's family members that are deployed, they're working with them. And um yeah, we yeah, I can get so emotional about the counselor that the kids had at school this year because she truly like she just was made for the job. She's such a big heart, and so it's just people like that that like just make me so grateful because this could be so hard sometimes, and it is, but there's so much good too.

Speaker 1 25:33

So, what would be like your advice for moms moving abroad or moving far or military moms like and wives? What's your what are some of your biggest tricks and just encouragement?

Speaker 2 25:47

Yeah, definitely um give yourself some grace first because there's a lot on your shoulders. Um be patient with yourself, your spouse, your kids, your dogs, because they're the most annoying. Lower those expectations as much as you can. Um, because like anything can happen. Like you can be stranded at the airport for three days, and like just do the most with what you can and remember, like, your kids love you no matter what. Um, you're the best parent to your kids. Um and like if you're there for them, that's that's all they need when they're traveling or um moving. Um, I feel like be prepared with snacks also always. Don't be afraid to like make mistakes either, because we're human. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, because I think sometimes as moms, we try to do it all, and we're strong and we are capable, but um sometimes we need people to lean on, and I think that's okay. Lean on each other, lean on your spouse.

Speaker 1 27:01

Yeah, I definitely I'm so thankful for like I think marriage is so interesting because so many times when I am low or discouraged, like Sam is not, and we like flip-flop that just constantly, especially at this time in life where we're moving, and I'm just so thankful for that. So I think too, just when your husband is down or frustrated, like it's your turn to be positive and carrying some of the weight, and and hopefully you have a spouse that will do the same for you, right? Um, and I think anything military specific, military specific, um, very similar tips.

Speaker 2 27:43

I feel like the military loves to wait till the last minute to do anything, they love to pull the rug out from under you. Um, they love to make things really difficult, but they also love to make things really great too. Um, yeah. So I think join Facebook groups. Um, like I'm a part of tons of Facebook groups um connected to the military base, like for babysitters, for um beauty tips, for like things around the area. Um, yeah, I think get connected as most as best as you can, try to find a church, try to find mom groups because they're everywhere. Um, and like to the military mom specifically, like work with your husband's leadership. Um, there's typically a what they call like a key spouse liaison, um, which helps you get like uh situated. Like usually they bring you a meal or things for your kids to do, um, and just like support and resources. And um, so yeah, so get connected if you can. I think that's probably my biggest tip.

Speaker 1 28:54

I want to know how the food is in Germany.

Speaker 2 28:58

German food is not that good. It's with a heavy, it's very heavy food. It's brats, it's cabbage, and other types of like boar and venison. It's like cold weather food, I feel like. It's like meat and potatoes and cabbage. Um, and it can be really good. Uh, but no, but I will say, like, food here overall is very good because like we never have tummy aches or like the ingredients. We don't ever feel like bloated, yeah. Like the ingredients everywhere are so good. So that that's really good.

Speaker 1 29:34

That's that will be an adjustment.

Speaker 2 29:36

Yes. Well, every time, every time Daniel, he's come back to Colorado quite a few times for work, um, and every time he gets to the US, he just has the worst stomach aches for the whole week. He's like so bloated because it's just he's not used to the food.

Speaker 1 29:49

It makes me so sad for us, right? Ugh, I know. I've um I've seen like people on social media talk about how to figure out how to live in the United States, but like eat European standards. That's very intriguing to me.

Speaker 2 30:08

Yeah, it's like whole ingredients, no, there's like no um like chemicals or like pesticides or preservatives and stuff, and if there is, or like if it is sprayed, it's like very natural. Um and same with like their beauty products, their beauty products are their products are very clean, very cheap and affordable. Um and everything is like they're big on like ethically sourced things, and yeah, that's gonna be that's gonna be definitely a big cultural adjustment, I think. And it's not easy to get. So have you been back at all? No, I haven't. Me and the kids have not been back in two years. That's so wild.

Speaker 1 30:49

I know it's so crazy. I'm like sad for you. I like don't want you to come back. Like you sound so nice there.

Speaker 2 30:56

It it is, but again, there are moments. There are moments where I'm like, oh my gosh, I really need just a drive-through coffee, please.

Speaker 1 31:05

I really miss stuff from Costco. Have you made any German friends? Like, or are they pretty standoffish because they know you're not gonna stay that long?

Speaker 2 31:16

Um, definitely a combination of that. Like, um, I have a coworker, she's from Belgium, um, and she's amazing and incredible. I love her to death. Um, my hairdresser is German, and we have like this beautiful relationship. Like, she speaks pretty okay English, and um like we just she she just tells me all the things I need to know, like a local. And yeah, but typically nobody wants to get close to us because they know we're leaving, right? They know we're headed out soon, so that's kind of sad.

Speaker 1 31:54

Um that is that's that's hard. Yeah, that's hard. Yeah, I'm trying to think. My biggest tip and trick is like to just know people, but I know that's hard. Like, that's the hardest part when you're moving is to like because you need help when you get there, and you don't really have it, and so like getting involved in a church right away, or you know, talking to your neighbors and getting to know them right away, um, is important. Yeah, and getting the kids like comfortable, yeah.

Speaker 2 32:26

Again, just like not being afraid, like you have to put yours, you have to put yourself, you have to put yourself out there. Oh sorry, I think my headphones just turned off. Um, yeah, you you have to be brave, you have to be brave, and that can be really scary.

Speaker 1 32:41

Put yourself out there, right?

Speaker 2 32:42

Like we're always telling our kids like try, be brave, you could do it, but sometimes that's hard for us, yes, especially in the new place. You can go meet like your kids will run up and meet people and you can start talking, like and you can meet moms through, like like I started feeling much happier here when the kids started school because then I could actually meet people that were in a similar season of life as me.

Speaker 1 33:08

Yep, yep, exactly. Oh, that sounds just so nice. I wish we could come visit. You can, you can. I know, I know. You have a whole guest room.

Speaker 2 33:20

I know. We actually have technically two extra bedrooms, so oh my gosh, you do have a huge house. I don't we have a huge house for for German standards. Um that's great. It's awesome. How many square feet is it? Do you know? Oh my gosh, I could not tell you. Because, like, first of all, we don't use feet here anymore. Like, yeah, I don't know how I'm gonna everything is in centimeters.

Speaker 1 33:44

Oh, you're do you use their metrics? Yeah.

Speaker 2 33:48

Yes, yes, and no, because like the kids are still learning American stuff at school, right? But like everything we use here is like kilograms, centimeters, kilometers, like flipping back and forth all the time is insane.

Speaker 1 34:02

Yes. Oh, that's so great. Um, yeah, well, when you come back, I like want to know when you're gonna be back. Yeah, are you gonna planning on the fall? Like for visits? I don't know. Yeah, I don't think so. With your mom being out too.

Speaker 2 34:20

Yeah. Um I think if we knew we were staying longer, I think I'd probably try to come home for a visit because we have a really great community back in Colorado that we miss so so much. Daniel always gets to see people when he's there, and I get sad and jealous, I guess. I miss seeing my people. Um, that's that's the hardest part. It's the it's the hardest part and like the biggest blessing of being in this kind of like transient military life is you really do make some incredible friendships, and it's so hard to say goodbye or see you later. It's so hard on the kids to say goodbye. Charlie actually has a friend who's here. She and her family moved to Korea last year, and her and her family are here visiting for the summer, and so there are two other friends that it's like the four of them were just this little gang last year, and they keep in con like they keep in touch and talk to each other all the time, and so seeing them has just been like the sweetest, the sweetest reunion. It's so special, but it's like so sad because she's going back to Korea the next week, and yeah, that part is hard. It's hard when the kids are. Like, how did your kids?

Speaker 1 35:40

Um they that was the interesting part because we were in the country in Colorado and they didn't have people yet. So, I mean, obviously, we had some like family that was really hard to leave, but like they hadn't necessarily made friends in Colorado yet, and we didn't have neighborhood, um and that's a large part of why we moved to to Nebraska is to give them that life of like friendships on the street and the 90s summer life. Yes, that is what we live all the time.

Speaker 2 36:17

I feel yeah, I thought I was gonna say I feel like you guys like are embodying that so much.

Speaker 1 36:22

Like I love to see it. I'm ready for school to start so I know where my kids are. Right. 100%. I have no idea where Gus is right now.

Speaker 2 36:31

Yeah, like it's just like it's like I'm moving across the field at the neighbors.

Speaker 1 36:37

I know. So I'm like, yes, I told that story on the podcast either way. I love that story, but yeah, it's like I'm ready for school to start because like there's always in the back of my eye like I don't know where my kids are. And like I love it, but it almost it's also stressful. Yeah. So yeah, I feel that. I feel that.

Speaker 2 36:58

Have you ever read the book The Anxious Generation?

Speaker 1 37:02

Yes, yes, yes.

Speaker 2 37:03

That book has been a really big yes, that's like really big here too, is like independence for your children. Like you aren't, like I said, like the kids are off in the forest, and you're just like, whatever, they're doing their thing. Yeah, like let them be independent and build their trust.

Speaker 1 37:24

Like they'll be like my kids are big for back downtown. And they have like their little green light card, like they like have their little bank card, and then they go get lunch at this at Runza or whatever, yes, and Jimmy John. Go sh yeah, go to the bookstore. Like a Greta and Gus went on like a date, just the two of them the other day.

Speaker 2 37:49

So much. That is the cutest thing. Because like so that's they don't need they don't need more than that, right? Like, they don't need this big planned out perfect itinerary summer, like they just they're experiencing it exactly as they should be.

Speaker 1 38:06

Everyone laughs because the Seward Pool, which is this epic pool, you only have to be eight to be there alone.

Speaker 2 38:14

That is so interesting. That's crazy. Isn't that wild? That feels like like Charlie is just gonna be eight, like that.

Speaker 1 38:22

Gus is there all the time. They're still infants. I know, and I'm like, this is because you'll go to the pool like when I do go with them. I try to go when Gus is there, but there have been times when I don't, but going and there's just so many children and like no parents. That sounds like it's not like a super safe pool or like just straightforward pool. There's huge diving boards and platforms, and I don't know, it's just funny. It's just a different world here.

Speaker 2 38:52

Yeah, it's just a different world than it is like 90s, yeah, and that humidity.

Speaker 1 38:58

And that humidity, the kids don't notice it. Gus is just sweating.

Speaker 2 39:02

Speaking of pools, like when we first moved here as a family, that was like the first thing that we did was check out the local German pool, and we realized like Germans love rules, and we always joke and say there's no rules here because everyone just follows them. Like all these little kids are at the pool, there's no lifeguards. You're just expected to be smart and wall the rules. Like on the slide, there's no lifeguard telling the kid when to go. It's like they're just following the rules, like it's crazy. Like, no one's swarming the bottom, no one's running, no one's eating food where they shouldn't. Like they're just following the rules, which is very intimidating, but a very interesting cultural experience.

Speaker 1 39:48

So, what happens if they don't? Like, what happens to the kids if they don't follow the rules? A German grandma is gonna scold them.

Speaker 2 39:55

Okay, yeah, they're gonna yell at them in front of them. Um, I'm sure, I'm sure they have. And you're just like, yeah, yep. Yeah, yep, girl. You know what? They can't understand her, but they understand her.

Speaker 1 40:12

Yeah, I love that. I love that. That is kind of here too. Like everybody knows everybody, so we're all like and everybody parents kind of the same here. So we're all they all are all expected to act.

Speaker 2 40:27

You're like all parenting with each like you're all parenting together as one like our street parent unit.

Speaker 1 40:32

Our street we call it like we're all co-parents, like yeah, there's the Bloombergs across the street, and then this our really good friends live like three houses down, like right here over here. I can see them, and then another family on this side, and it's so cool. Like, I'm just I don't know where they are, but they're always on our street. Yeah, but there's rules, but there's no rules. There's rules. Yep, exactly. I love that. I'm gonna start saying that. Yes, I love it, and it's so funny because my kids don't now they're like there'll be nights when like I say no, like we have to have family dinner, and they're like, You never let me play with my friends. Like, oh my gosh. Do you understand? Do you remember your life in the country when you didn't have anybody?

Speaker 2 41:21

We they know that I joke about that all the time. Like, our kids are having a very different childhood right now than we did. Like their vacations are like sipping a baby chino in a cafe in Italy and going to the Leading Tower of Pizza, right? Like our vacations were being stuffed in the minivan going campaign. Yes, and it stinks like these kids, and then yeah, they get mad at you when they've already had gelato two times and you finally tell them no, and they're like, You've never allowed me to have it. You're the part, and then I'm like, don't make a scene because European kids are not having fits in the streets, perfect. Yeah. Yeah. The dripping grandma's gonna get you.

Speaker 1 42:03

I'd I just be like, yep, you can raise my kids to do it. They're scared of me. In fact, do you babysit? Oh my gosh, I love that. Well, Emma is so nice to catch up.

Speaker 2 42:15

Um, I could just talk to you for hours. I missed it.

Speaker 1 42:17

No, I had so many questions. I can just keep them. You can just text Nebraska misses you guys.

Speaker 2 42:24

Oh, I know. Oh, I could go for some sweet corn. That sounds so good. It is sweet corn.

Speaker 1 42:29

I don't have sweet right now.

Speaker 2 42:30

Yeah, it's sweet corn and see when you said red.

Speaker 1 42:34

Beef and cabbage there.

Speaker 2 42:36

It's not the same.

Speaker 1 42:37

But yeah, it it's like here I have the sweet corn, but I'm missing the Palisade peaches from Colorado right now. That's true.

Speaker 2 42:45

And those cool, dry nights.

Speaker 1 42:48

Yes, yeah, don't have that.

Speaker 2 42:50

Yeah, what's like what's like I know you're probably like you need to go, but I'm like, what do you miss about Colorado versus Nebraska? I know you're not super far, but yeah.

Speaker 1 42:59

Um, family, yeah, and um the weather, but I'm getting more used to the weather here. Yeah, I hate the gray of winter here. Yeah, that's been that's hard. We actually had a really mild winter, so it wasn't that bad.

Speaker 2 43:17

Um the sun from in Colorado, yeah.

Speaker 1 43:20

But the sun in Colorado is just different. The air in Colorado is different. Like um, it truly the as a child, you don't it doesn't affect you, but as an adult, like having sunshine changes everything.

Speaker 2 43:35

Like the driving somewhere you're happier because the sun is shining and you can roll your windows down and that's like the first thing they tell you when you move here is to get the biggest bottle of vitamin D that you can find and start taking it because everybody here has a deficiency in vitamin D. Like oh my gosh, it's because it's so gray, it's so gray for most of the year. So, yeah, that's a good that's so hard.

Speaker 1 44:02

The sun in Colorado is so great. Um, and I'm like I'd miss and I don't miss the access to so many things. Like here, if it's more than five minutes, I I don't want to go. So, like even going to Lincoln is not appealing. Because it's a trek.

Speaker 2 44:21

Yeah.

Speaker 1 44:22

Um when in Colorado, I live 20 minutes away from everything.

Speaker 2 44:26

Right.

Speaker 1 44:27

Um, and it was like no big deal. Yeah, and everything at your fingertips. Yeah, in the in the suburbs. Like literally, I that's also what I it's what I love and what I hate about the suburbs is like literally, literally, literally, everything you could ever need is in like a five-minute radius. It's so perfect. Like I love that, but also in like coffee shop, yeah. What else do you need? I know a nail place. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So yeah, it's it's been an adjustment, but the kids love it here.

Speaker 2 45:00

Yeah because they're like, I feel like it's such a blessing for them. Like they're gonna remember this for the rest of their life, like truly.

Speaker 1 45:07

Yes.

Speaker 2 45:08

You guys have really I hope so like good for you guys for making because this wasn't an easy jump or easy decision. And I feel like you're really building a beautiful life for them and for yourselves ultimately, which I think is really, really cool.

Speaker 45:24

Thank you so much for tuning in to Rooted Conversations. I hope this episode reminded you that you're growing, you're growing a strong family, and you're growing as a parent. One moment, one choice, and one hug at a time. I'll see you next time.