Spring Break #3! Energetic New First Grader!
Our third guest for the spring break was a mother and an energetic new first grader boy. During their five-day, four-night stay, I feel we built a great relationship.
During their stay, we went to the popular dinosaur course for elementary school students, visiting Tamba Dinosaur Park and Namikimichi Central Park, as well as having lunch at the Kuromame-no-Yakata. I got quite busy preparing for a group of American university exchange students arriving on March 28-29, but the guests still got to spend time with John and my son. The guests also enjoyed a trip to the local onsen by themselves too.
Seeing this mother, who is around the same age as my eldest daughter, is struggling with parenting almost on her own, made me want to help her somehow all the more. We talked a lot. Even though we are a generation apart and our parenting environments are completely different, I tried to offer various suggestions, hoping that our experiences could be of some help. Parenting doesn't have a "correct" answer; parents can only do their best to teach what each child needs. I'm truly grateful that our five children have all grown into independent adults even if we had our own share of struggling along the way.
This mother was a wonderful person who was very perceptive and considerate. I could tell she often put others' needs before hers and also very careful not to offend others, which made me think how tough that must be. I wanted to cheer her on. Although I've heard that saying "Gambatte (do your best)" could be stressful to the ones who is already doing their best, I meant it in a way that encourages her to keep moving forward for her son, taking breaks when needed.
Talking with the young mothers who visit us, I'm always impressed by how amazing they are. Each one struggles with their own worries but often doesn't know where to turn with those feelings and yet they have to face daily battles…
If you ever feel like sharing your heart to unburden yourselves, we're always here to listen! 💖😊
After this homestay, the mother sent me a review, which I'd like to share with you below.
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"My son and I stayed for a homestay! At home, he often spends time in front of the TV or playing on the Switch, and I was concerned about whether that was okay. I learned about rural homestays on the internet and became interested. I saw about the wonderful host family, John and Yoko, and impulsively made a reservation! During our ZOOM meeting, I felt very comfortable seeing such a lovely couple.
My son has many dislikes and quirks, and I mentioned in advance that he might cause some trouble, but they welcomed us warmly, for which I was very grateful.
On the day of arrival, I wasn't too anxious, just excited as we headed to the location! The moment we arrived and met, Yoko and John greeted us with smiles and warmth. My son was a bit nervous but quickly settled in, playing with them with the LEGO we borrowed. My son, who loves animals, was thrilled to see chickens at their home, and every morning he would rush to check for eggs and feed them, inviting John along!
We also had a craft time at John's workspace. I was surprised to see my son engrossed in making things for three to four hours. John and Yoko took us to the nearby dinosaur park and the Kuromame buffet. It was a very satisfying four-night stay. Since we drove my car there, we went to two different hot springs at night with my son, which became a lovely memory.
What made me happiest was that John and Yoko are truly a loving couple. As parents of five children, they shared their experiences and listened to my parenting worries, offering kind words that filled me with gratitude. They sincerely engaged with my son, and by the end of the stay, both he and I were saying, "We don't want to go home."
I've already started thinking about when we might visit again in summer or autumn, as they mentioned that different seasons bring different experiences. It truly became a wonderful experience! Thank you so much!"