Amsterdam

I was planning on packing up Karsten’s bike helmet for Amsterdam but Andy said no one wears a helmet there. I don’t know if my American Safety Mom issues can be tucked away. My children might as well wear big American flags on their backs if they wear their helmets.

I’ve been thinking about things I’ll be leaving behind for the next 3 months. What will I miss the most?

1. Friends. It takes me a long time to make new friends.
2. My parents and in-laws. Sounds corny, I know but they really make my life easier helping with the kids.
3. Mexican food. We’ll be living near an open air market like the Pike Place so maybe I’ll have to cook my own comida mexicana.
4. My hair dresser. Dare I get my hair cut in a foreign land? Perhaps I’ll come back a red head—and not on purpose either.
5. My paper cutter. I’m going to bring a small one but I’ll have to leave my fancy rotary one at home.
6. My ink jet printer. One friend almost disowned me when I told him I wanted to bring it. How could he not understand?
7. The train table. If I’m feeling like a brain dead mom I take Karsten down to the play room and his train table is hours of fun while I have to fix the track.
8. My Sonic Care toothbrush.

I’m sure there will be more odd things I’ll miss but won’t know until I get there.

I’m officially crazy—for anyone who may have had some doubt. I signed the final “Leave of Absence” papers at work yesterday. From the end of September to the end of December I’ll be heading to Amsterdam with my hubby and two kids (4 and 1).

The best advice I’ve heard is to get a bike with three baskets. Two baskets for holding kids and one for my stuff. I’d better get some training wheels for this bike! Helmets for everyone!

If anyone has more advice for traveling abroad with kids (Amsterdam in particular) please let me know. The HR rep suggested a gps watch to strap onto my kids but the reviews on Amazon are terrible. Can you implant your kids with GPS chips? I’m most likely being freakishly American with this thought.