¡Hola! ¡Hola!
Hello mommy and daddy community, I hope everything is going well in your lives and that you enjoy reading, experiencing and reflecting on what it means to say goodbye to your children and leave traces so that they will not forget you. Saying goodbye is not easy and even more so when one does not want to do it or does not understand why it happens that one day you have to leave for another place. Explaining it to children is more complicated because they are just forming an identity and family ties where they should feel protected, loved, cherished and can develop their character close to their extended family such as siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents and community. Leaving to a place where it is not like your culture, the mother tongue and even the schedule changes, we would say that for children it is a moment of easy adaptation like when they go to the beach and play with the children, but it is not like that; following the example of the beach, they play for a while, but they know that they return to a safe place which is home with their customs and habits. Leaving is different, because you are not coming back (at least not for a long time).
Migue and Ilan are my godchildren. They have lived through two migratory processes and although they have adapted in different ways, it has not been easy for their parents because of all that is involved in being in a country that is not yours. That is why, when they were visiting my country, I did not hesitate to make and leave them souvenirs that would leave traces in their path. And although I have shared them with you in different previous publications, today I want to make a compilation to remember those moments and reflect on the importance of always helping them to keep their “gentilicio” even if they go to other countries (borrowed) that will now be their new homes.
A day at the beach The first thing that came to my mind to entertain them was to go to the beach. It is one of the cheapest places around, it is very close to my city and Migue, who already knew it, hadn't visited it for a long time, so it was the perfect plan. Ilan, on the other hand, did not know it so the expectation of knowing if he would like it or not (as it happens with some children) was always latent:
¿El resultado?
The result? Everything turned out as expected. Ilan enjoyed it, Migue was entertained for a long time and his mommy and I caught up. The tendency for kids to be glued to their cell phones is due to the lack of creativity and habits that help them focus on other things and not stunt their growth dependent on a device. The first stage is over!
We went to the zoo Entertaining them was not easy, that's why every outing was accompanied by excitement, distraction, talking to them and as I said, making footprints in their memory that they would always remember me as “the cheerful godmother” 😊. It seemed like a vacation plan, but adapting to their needs was easier, because I also enjoyed the ride and learning about the animals together with them.
¿El resultado?
The result? Ilan still talks about animals and how he was on a horse 😊 and that's nice because in those memories I am there, accompanying them and supporting them in everything they propose that invites them to grow and know things that daddies will say No! for that I am the spoiled godmother 😍.
Other moments I cannot forget the fact that I became Ilan's official godmother since God is very important in our lives and knowing that they were going to a catholic country, where the faith is very strong and we as daughters of God must take care and cultivate it. It was an intimate, emotional moment and we sealed the pact of responsibility that unites us to raise them in the faith.
Some funny moments... During their stay here, they were present at my birthday and some Sunday visits that allowed us to continue to strengthen those bonds of familiarity so that they had some nice memories of our meetings.
Something anecdotal is that Migue had not tried any type of meat or sausage since his father is a vegetarian and has learned to eat that way; however, here he dared and we were able to share the taste and some foods to help him decide what he likes and what he doesn't like. For example, the meat from the grill, he loved it! heh,heh,heh.
The farewell And although it is nothing more than a goodbye, they had to leave for other lands to find a better future that my country cannot offer them today. Saying goodbye is difficult, it generates anxiety and the uncertainty of “if it will be the last time”, that is why I promised them that just as one day I visited them in their country, this time I could also do it, but “as long as things improve”, so although there were some tears, the meeting was full of smiles and good times. I asked them not to forget me, to be good men in the country they are going to and not to forget the arepas and sing happy birthday “Venezuelan style”😊. Children should not have to go through this, but in doing so let's try to make the process not so traumatic:
La portada la edité en Canvas, al igual que el separador.
El traductor usado fue DeepL.
Hasta un próximo encuentro
The photographs are my property. The cover was edited in Canvas, as well as the separator. The translator used was DeepL. See you next time