1) The Free Preschool Year
In Ireland, every child is entitled to a free preschool year. Daycares and creches (a playschool or nursery) are plentiful as many families have both parents working full-time, and nearly all of these offer a preschool option. We've found a great one near us where Ash goes every day for three hours (except for today, because he's a sickie with a bad cold and yellow snot problem). I love the idea that every child in Ireland can go to preschool absolutely free, encouraging friendships, group-play and creative learning.
Read moreEveryone dresses so well here. It is both adorable and infuriating. I'd fit in well among them as I'm under 5 foot 4 with this rusty brown hair... if it weren't for these boot-legged jeans or my new balance sneakers ("runners") or my hair being forever in a pony tail or my burgundy hoodie.
This is what Moms wear in the Midwest! Everyone just be cool about it, ok?
Read moreSo as I sat down to write yesterday's post, I didn't realise nearly everything "different" about our new home in Ireland involved heating water. It's amazing to me this one small thing affects so much of our every day life. I know it's a perk of the first world and I am always overflowing (get it?) with thankfulness that we have easy access to hot water. Many of my friends living in other parts of the world do not have the same luxury.
Now how about the quirks I love?
Read moreWhen Matt's parents came to visit us in our old place, they were amazed by many of our Irish conventions. His dad spent an afternoon documenting our bathrooms and cupboards and kitchen layout. Having lived here over a year at the time, it was a bit funny to see our Irish house through new American eyes. We tend to forget how foreign it all seemed at first glance, when today most everything feels familiar, if not normal.
There are a few things, though, that take a bit longer getting used to...
Read more
