Greener Pasture

The day came suddenly. Your dad said “I think I will start a new career at a nuclear power plant in Tokai village, Ibaraki prefecture.” I asked him, “WHAT?” He said,” I have been satisfied with my current job. However, the working conditions are so hard. I do overtime until midnight everyday. I have been ordered to go Aomori prefecture for a long time, so I have no time to spend with you and Tap. If I change my career my marriage would improved and I have enough time to take care of Tap.”

I shouted, “No kidding! Quitting your job without talking with me? Ha! Last year, I moved here Yokohama and you went to Aomori on business. It was very hard for me to raise Tap alone. However, the neighbors helped me a lot. Thanks to their kindness, I got used to living in Yokohama city and I keep good relationship with them. I enjoy this life. I want to live in this company apartment as long as I can. Why do I have to move? I never will !” And then, I burst into tears.

Your dad said,” I know, I know, but ... just let's stay calm, please. Listen to me, sorry for passing the interview without talking you. I thought if I failed, I would feel shame, so I didn’t tell you. I am already 34, so it might be the last chance to change careers . Fortunately, I worked there for 2 years and you lived there , so you already have friends. You don’t make them from scratch . We have enough time to think about it , so let’s think about our future together..."

However, I was so angry that there was no way for him to get close to me.

“NO! I will stay here.” I cried loudly at midnight. Sorry for neighbors

A few days later, to make matters worse…I had a car accident and destroyed my car.

In the parking lot at the dentist, I failed to park my car and scrapped the bottom of the car against the road. The car rattled along and I couldn't’t drive the car. I called to your dad. ”Oh I had a car accident. Please help me! ” I was so panicked and cried on the phone. He said to me softly. “Are you and Tap OK?” I said, “Yes. Nobody was hurt.” “OK, OK,” He said and told me how to deal with the accident.

That night he came home and said to me, “ The car repair bill might be one hundred thousand yen. Oh …”I cried.“Never mind. Unpredictable things happen in life. That’s life. And you and Tap are safe.” Your dad said kindly.

After the car accident, we talked about the merits and demerits and reached a conclusion; Quitting the job and starting a new career in a new place.

This car accident has had a quite a big influence on my outlook on life . I want to live life in Yokohama. However, I can’t really think about it too much. And I just have to get on with life, and just try and be myself wherever I live, and make sure I am still having a good time with your dad and you.

Used clothes

Dear Tap,

The other day, I worried.

One day Koike-san said to me “I have many used clothes for a 1-2 year old boy. They occupy space in our our closet. Do you get want them?” Oh boy, that’s great. I told her “I’m so pleased to hear that.” “OK. Please come to my house tomorrow.”

Koike-san is one of my neighboring mothers. Her only son is Yuma, a 4-year-old boy. She worked at NEC, and studied in the U.S. for one year. And then, she started a new career at a medical instrument trading company. After having Yuma, she lived in the U.S. for 2 years because of her husband business

The next day, we went to her home to get your clothes. There were many clothes- shirts, pants, and pajamas. They had cute designs , no stains , and had kept their shape.

While recalling her memory, she passed many clothes to me” Oh, Yuma wore it many times. It was one of his favorite shirts,” “This trainer was a present from my friend and those pants were a pair. Yuma liked these.” ” The color is so vivid. It might be suitable for Tap”

As I got so many clothes, I thought that I didn’t need to buy Tap’s clothes for two years to come. However, for a moment, I wondered “Will she have another child? Is it a taboo subject ?” I didn’t open my heart to her at the time. After getting your clothes, we enjoyed lunch at her house. Yuma-kun and you were playing well. I said to her “Thank you but if you have another child… you might need them…”

She laughed and said “Oh, never mind. I’m already 40. It might be possible to have children but it is hard to raise them up. Sometimes I think Yuma needs siblings but these days I’ve begun to feel my strength declining. It might be the best timing go let these things go.” For a while I worried. She said to me “If I have another child, oh, at that time I will retake. Don’t worry!”

What is the best age to have children? What is the appropriate number in a family? When females get higher education and start working, naturally they get married later. If a woman pursues her career, is there no choice but to have fewer children or give it up ?Almost all women must think of these things at least one time in their life. Unfortunately, women have a limit to give birth to children. On the otherhand, men don't have a limit. May be , Charlie Chaplin might have his last children over the age of 70. About 20 years ago, people believed that women cannot have children after reaching the menopause. However, this theory has been proven wrong due to medical advancement recently. I heard that a 60 year-old surrogate mother gave birth to a child. However, having children is only getting to the start line. It takes a long time, strength and patience to raise them up until they become adults .

Koike-san & Yuma-kun, thank you for your kindness. Tap always dirties his clothes with mud, so these clothes will help much. Next time, please come to my house!

Clean less in 2009

Oh, Tap. After good vacuuming, the floor looks clean, but after that you eat bread, a rice ball, and potato salad… On the floor there are lots of crumbs and a grain of rice immediately. When turning my eyes toward the living room, there are lots of toys. The space is always messy. Ha… How many times a day do I wipe the floor? How many times do I vacuum the carpet?

However, I read an interesting article in a magazine. The author is a famous charismatic cleaning advisor. Her advice is, to my surprise, “Clean less in 2009”.

After reading that I established three rules as follows:

1) 5 minutes
Every day, devote five minutes to the most cluttered room - dining or living room.

2) Micro-clean
Tackle only the most visible dust. Vacuum just under the dining room table and chairs. If I find another dust after vacuuming? Leave it.

3) Take a Commercial Break
Jump up during TV commercial and pick up at least two toys and put them into the toy box.

There is one resolution I definitely want to keep this year: Spend as little time tidying as possible! I can keep it, maybe…

Dezome-shiki

Sad to say, we spent the New Year holidays without your dad this year. Ha… Your dad was in Aomori for his work, so, I didn’t make osechi-ryori and clean up my house. I didn’t buy fukubukuro. I didn’t put on my kimono and visit local shrines because I didn’t feel like greeting the New Year. However, today I cheered up.

We went to the New Year’s parade of fire brigades,Dezome-shiki( 出初式). Dezome-shiki is a typical Japanese ceremony. Firefighters perform fire drills for citizens and pray for a safe year. Usually, it is held at the beginning of the New Year at the fire station. However, this year is the 150th Anniversary of the Opening of the Port of Yokohama. So, it was held at the bay of Yokohama in Isogo ward. I thought boys like fire engines and firemen so, I asked neighboring boys’ mothers to go to the ceremony with me . They said “It looks interesting. My son might be happy to see the ceremony.” The day came. The weather was so fine. The sky was so blue. The ceremony started at 10 a.m. Fire engines formed a line. “Wow! Many fire engines are there! Amaaaazing!” Boys were shouting.

Firefighters started their performance drills . They acted quickly. They hosed and water spread vigorously. And then, the life saving drill started. It was a distinguished performance. Suddenly a helicopter was flying and came closer to us. A fireman threw a rope into the sea. A drowning man in the sea grasped the rope and held the fireman. Soon, the rope was pulled up and the two men arrived at the helicopter. Mind blowing! People gave thunderous applause. After the ceremony, we could take pictures behind fire engines and firefighters . “Let’s take pictures!” Oh… Tap you were sleeping well. So, three boys were on the fire engines and you were on the baggy.


The beginning of the year means a fresh start, a blank page, for all of us.　Our first page was an unforgettable performance and a shot with Hama-chan, an emergency mascot of Yokohama.
A Happy New Year to all of you! I hope you enjoyed the holidays as much as we did.

Ｔｈｅ ｙｅａｒ ｅｎｄ ｐａｒｔｙ

After having children almost all mothers might say at least one time. “Men can always think of an excuse to go out drinking or something…But I…” However, tonight we got a chance.

Now we are living in a company apartment. We all have a good relationship with each other. One day one of my neighbors suggested “Why don’t we go out drinking? How about holding a year-end party? While we are drinking, our husbands should take care of our children. They must realize the difficulty of child-caring. Isn’t it a good idea? ” Yes! Exactly Yes! So we planned to hold the party “Only women’s tikitiki year-end party (女だらけのチキチキ忘年会)" How many people do you think came together?25! Amazing!

At first we went to a bar and talked and talked…Their stress just keeps building up. Some mothers' personalities changed completely when they were drunk. After the first party, we went to the second party, and we also drank much and chatted a lot. And then, we went to a karaoke bar and sang so many songs and this relieved stress. My favorite singer are Seiko Matsuda. Her songs have good rhythms, are easy to sing, and popular.

We said "Tonight, in our apartments there were only dads and their children. There were no moms. How funny!" “By the way, what time is it now,” one of the mothers asked me. “Time flies! Do you know it’s past midnight? It is 1 a.m. already. Uh-oh! It’s late. I have to go home” I said. She replied, ” We have a right to stay out late once in a while! I was burned out but now I am refreshed" Me too!

Good night!

Relieved

Dear mischievous boy,


What a terrible week it was! Last week, you caught a cold. You had a high fever. You must have been in a lot of pain. You were crying and crying throughout the day. So, I held you from morning to midnight. I couldn’t do house chores at all. I couldn’t even take a bath.

I went the pediatrician to see you. The pediatrician said. " I prescribed him antibiotics. It might make him better in 3 days” However, things got worse and worse. On Thursday, You suffered from exanthem subitum. However, the next day, you seemed to be getting better. You stopped screaming and played. You had runny nose but you ate more food than the previous day. Did you recover?

Today, one of my neighbors, Eguchi-san asked me. “Did you call me?” “No. Why?” Eguchi-san smiled and said. ”OK. Don’t worry. My cell phone showed a record of missed call from you. So, I checked the answering machine and then listened to your baby’s voice. A-A-A… ♪ ”
Oh! I remembered that you spent the whole day playing with my cell phone.　Tap, it must have been your mischief. Did you recover enough to do mischief? What on earth? How did you select Eguchi-san’s telephone number? All right, all right. I felt relieved.


Good Night.

Imohori

Hi Tap!

For a while, your afternoon snack is speet potato snacks. Yesterday, we went sweet potato digging in Sagamihara, Tokyo.

One day, Matsumoto-san, a neighbour with two daughters, asked me "Why don't you go digging sweet potatoes? My parents-in- law are farmers. They have large fields and plant rice , vegetables and fruits." I said "Oh! I want to." She smiled "OK! I will ask other moms. Maybe , boy's mothers are out of hand with their son. I think digging potatoes might be a good opportunity for them to blow off their stress " Indeed... I accepted her kind offer.

I drove about one hour. Fellow passengers were Taduku-san and her 3-year-old mischievous boy, A-kun. We talked and talked. A-kun was singing songs for you. My car was filled with the fun voices of us. Matsumoto-san's parents -in-law gave us a warm welcome. Wow! Their house was so big with a large garden. Children were wondering around all parts of the house.


And then, we went to their field. We started digging potatoes. What big potatoes! Thick and fat like your legs. Parents enjoyed digging potatoes while children...They dug hole with shovels, scuffled and were covered with mud. And then, they were running and running in the field. Furthermore, her parents -in- law gave us many vegetables and fruits: carrots with leaves, green onions, ginger and persimmons. They were sooo fresh and juicy.


On our way home, Tap and A-kun fell asleep. You must have been so tired. I thought while driving. What will I cook? Sweet potatoes, potato breads, kanro-ni, potato pancakes? Steaming potatoes is simple and delicious. My mouth was watering for sweet potato cuisines.

Thank you Matsumoto-Family!