Self discovery

I have discovered two things about myself during our time here in Vietnam.

First thing: I would not have made a good ninja. I have tried with every ounce of energy I have, to move with stealth quietness when Honour falls asleep so as not to wake her. When she finally falls asleep next to me at night or for a nap, I try to move ever so slowly to slide my way out of bed to join the rest of the family or to use the bathroom. It doesn’t matter how carefully and quietly I move. She has some kind of built in, super-sonic radar device that detects the slightest movement, which then sets off a silent alarm in her brain. She wakes up immediately from what I thought was a sound sleep and catches me every time! Oh Master Splinter, teach me the ancient ways of stealth. (For those of you who don’t remember, that’s from The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Second discovery: I cannot multi-task. Now, I realize others have probably known this about me for a long time. Christel included. I can even hear my co-workers laughing from thousands of miles away. But some things you just have to find out on your own. The hard way.

If you could only see me trying to sign papers, pay for taxis, exchange money, brush my teeth, or even eat, while I have this beautiful new appendage called Honour attached to my side. It’s quite a circus. Christel just laughs. I’m not sure I like her sense of humor anymore.

Christel can homeschool, prepare and cook dinner, have a meaningful conversation, walk a dog the size of a bear, juggle, run a marathon etc. all at the same time. I can tie my shoe.

But rather than look at my inability to multi-task as a handicap, I prefer to think of it as just my amazing ability to be incredibly focused on one thing; with the power, intensity and accuracy of a laser beam!

So I may not be a ninja or have multi-tasking abilities, but I do have a little girl attached to my side that I can REALLY focus on. And I like that…a lot.

Honour puts her shoes in mine, making sure I can't go anywhere without her.

-Rob