together

feeling a little frazzled

husband gone

2nd job

3 kiddos

school school school

picture

so I know

 we can handle this



International

While talking with my son's kindergarten teacher (who's amazing BTW)

I am explaining how I believe 

Al perceives the world around him

Al will often ask me --- "is this in my world?" 

referring to people in proximity

family and very close friends are considered
in "his world"

Things that are not in "his world"

anywhere more than 25 minutes away from our home
 anyone he doesn't know by name
and somewhere he's never been

This doesn't upset him -- it's just not in "his world"

 Think of Al as an "International Student"
here on an assignment

 learning and observing

our customs (eye contact)

our language (figurative speech)

"our rules" for personal space and levels of engagement

He's trying to absorb and take in all the scenery 

However

it's so loud and smells awful

people are annoying and often demanding

everything is either too fast or too slow

it's just not his "world"

Al steps back and takes a breathe

It overwhelms him

but he heads out there every single day

 with a HUGE smile on his face

and he tries so very hard to be in "our world"