Ce am primit de Craciun

Sotia se plange ca este greu sa imi ofere ceva de Craciun sau de aniversari, pentru ca nu vreau niciodata nimic. Pentru aniversarea mea urmatoare este simplu: pisica mi-a ros cablul de la castile pe care le folosesc la calculator, si deci imi doresc unele noi. Iar pentru Craciunul acesta a fost destul de usor: dvdurile cu episoadele emisiunii Diceman.

Acum multi ani, cand eram la liceu (sau poate la facultate?), era o emisiune pe Discovery, cu doi tipi calatorind peste tot folosind un zar pentru a decide ce fac si unde se duc - mai multe detalii aici (in engleza). Mi-a placut mult de tot seria de episoade pe care le-am vazut (si binenteles ideea din spatele lor) si cand acum cateva luni am vazut ca a aparut pe DVD toata colectia de episoade, am stiut (in sfarsit) ce imi doresc de Craciun.

Si am primit dvd-urile (plus un alt cadou), dar cadoul reprezinta mai mult decat doar niste dvd-uri.

Totul a inceput inainte de Craciun, cand baiatul cel mare m-a intrebat ce i-am cerut Mosului. I-am explicat 'filmul' pe care l-am vazut demult, ideea de a lasa zarul sa decida pentru tine si i-am spus ca sper ca Mosul sa poata gasi 'cd-urile' pentru mine. In dimineata de Craciun m-a intrebat ce am primit - i-am aratat cutia, a recunoscut zarurile de pe coperta si a fost foarte fericit pentru mine: "Mosul a gasit ce iti doreai!"

In seara de 25, m-a intrebat daca nu putem sa ne uitam impreuna la un film, mai precis "la filmul ala cu doi baieti care calatoresc folosind un zar". Asa ca m-am asezat in fata calculatorului, cu el in brate si ne-am uitat la primul episod impreuna, eu traducandu-i tot (dvd-urile sunt doar in engleza).


A doua zi mi-a cerut un zar si multe din activitatile noastre au fost decise de el. Sa ne jucam cu niste Pokemoni, sa pretindem ca suntem Pokemoni, sa ne jucam cu dragoni, sa facem niste Lego-uri? Lasam zarul sa decida! Sa bea un pahar de lapte sau un sirop de capsuni? Lansam zarul! Cina e aproape gata, cate imbucaturi sa mai ia? Zarul a spus 5... si asa mai departe.


Iar seara mi-a propus sa ne uitam la episodul urmator. Asa ca m-am asezat din nou in fata calculatorului, l-am luat pe genunchi si am inceput sa traduc... cand cel mic a aparut langa noi: "Papa Dede regard" ("tata si Dede se uita la ceva" in franceza lui). Asa ca l-am luat si pe el pe genunchi.


Deci pentru urmatoarele 20 de minute am stat acolo cu baietii mei, uitandu-ne impreuna la una din emisiunile mele preferate. Iar asta a fost cel mai frumos cadou de Craciun.

What I got for Christmas

My wife is usually complaining it's difficult to get me Christmas or birthday presents, as I never want anything. Well, for my incoming birthday it is easy: the cat chewed the cable of my headset, so I want a new one... And for this Christmas it was easy too: the Diceman series dvd collection.

Years ago, while I was in highschool (or maybe college?), there was this series on Discovery channel, with two guys traveling everywhere by using a dice to make decisions. Read more about it here if you want. I really, really enjoyed it (and the idea behind) and when a few months ago I discovered they have the entire collection on dvd, I knew (for once) what I want for Christmas.

And I got the dvds (as well as a surprise present)... but there is more to it than just some dvds.

It started before Christmas with my firstborn asking what I asked Santa for. I explained him the 'movie' I once saw, the idea of letting the dice decide everything and I told him that I hope Santa will be able to find the 'cds' for me. On Christmas morning he asked me what I got - I showed him the box, he recognized the dice on the cover and he was really happy for me: "Santa found what you asked for!"

On the evening of 25th, he asked me if we could watch that movie together, the one with the two guys who travel by rolling a dice. So we sat down in front of the PC, with him in my lap and we watched the first episode together, with me translating it all (as it's only in English).

The next day, he asked for a dice and most of our activities were decided by it. Should we play with Pokemon toys, enact a pokemon story, play with dragons, build some legos? Let the dice decide! Should he drink a glass of milk or some strawberry juice? Let's roll the dice! Dinner is almost over, how more bites should he take? The dice said 5... And so on.

And in the evening he asked me to watch the next episode. So I sit down in front of the PC, take him on my knees, start translating... and the little one is showing up next to us: "Papa Dede regard" ("Daddy and Dede are watching" in his form of French). So I took him on my knees too.

So for the next 20 minutes I sat there with my two little boys, watching together a series that I really really liked. And that was the best Christmas present ever.

A fi Mos Craciun

Ca tata al doi mici baieti, Craciunul inseamna o groaza de jucarii de cumparat si o groaza de ciocolata pentru ei. Multa lume se streseaza legat de toate cadourile de cumparat, sa nu uite ceva sau pe cineva, evitat toata aglomeratia si nebunia. Eu nu - am o sotie care se ocupa de tot, anul asta si-a cumparat pana si propriul cadou de Craciun!

Ea a avut grija sa trimita lista pe care D. a facut-o pentru Mos Craciun bunicilor si apoi a cumparat tot ce era pe lista pentru ca ei luasera alte jucarii. I-a trimis un mail surorii mele cu alte jucarii pe care copiii le-ar vrea. A cumparat si trimis cadouri pentru copiii prietenilor nostrii. M-a intrebat ce vreau, a cumparat si mi-a luat in plus si un alt cadou 'surpriza'. Si si-a cumparat si pentru ea niste parfumuri

Vazand toate astea, nu puteam sa stau cu mainile incrucisate, asa ca l-am rugat pe D. sa ma ajute. Stiam ca radioul din masina sotiei se stricase, asa ca am cumparat un altul online si am cerut sa fie livrat intr-un magazin. Si dupa aceea baiatul meu si cu mine am inceput sa avem un secret, 'vom fi Mosul pentru mama'.

Intr-un weekend i-am spus sotiei ca ne ducem sa ne plimbam - ceea ce si am facut, dar la intoarcere ne-am oprit la magazin si am luat coletul. Apoi, acasa, l-am ascuns sub haina mea pentru cateva ore. Imediat ce sotia s-a dus da faca un dus, D. a iesit, a luat pachetul si l-a ascuns in 'ascunzatoarea lui speciala'. A doua zi sotia s-a dus sa-si astepte parintii la aeroport - momentul perfect pentru a ambala cutia si a-l pune pe fiul meu sa scrie 'MAMAN' cu scrisul lui mic si tremurat (de-abia a invatat sa scrie). Apoi inapoi cu pachetul in 'ascunzatoarea lui speciala' (dupa canapea...)

Dupa asta a trebuit sa asteptam ajunul Craciunului. Si se vedea cum D. fierbe de nerabdare, incercand din rasputeri sa tina secretul. A reusit pana la urma - dar tot i-a spus ca exista un secret. Si apoi si-a dat seama ca avem o problema: cand o sa punem cadoul sub brad? Pentru ca pentru mama nu Mosul i-l aduce, ci noi. Iar dimineata cand se trezeste, cadoul trebuie sa fie acolo...

... asa ca in seara de Craciun D. si cu mine i-am spus sotiei sa se duca sus cu cel mic SI SA NU SE INTOARCA, in timp ce noi mai stam jos sa ne jucam cu niste pokemoni. Imediat ce au urcat, D. a fugit sa ia pachetul si sa-l puna sub brad. Era asa fericit de reusita ca sarea in sus de bucurie, la propriu. Apoi eu i-am propus sa mergem si noi sa ne culcam, doar ca el m-a oprit: 'Tata, TREBUIE sa ne jucam un pic cu pokemonii, nu vreau sa o mint pe mama!'.

In momentul ala l-am imbratisat mult de tot... iar a doua zi mama lui chiar si mai mult, atunci cand a descoperit ca Mosul nu a uitat-o.

Being Santa

As a father of two little boys, Christmas is all about buying lots of toys and giving them lots of chocolate. Many people stress about buying all the presents, not forgetting anything or anyone, avoiding the crowds and so on. I don't. I have a wife that takes care of everything - this year she even bought her own Christmas present herself!

So she took care of sending the list D. made for Santa to the grandparents and then she bought everything on that list as the grandparents had bought other toys. She sent a mail to my sister to buy other presents too. She bought toys and games for our friends' children. She asked me what I want, bought it and then bought me a 'surprise' present as well. And she bought herself some perfumes. 

Facing all this, I couldn't let her go away with it, so I asked D., my firstborn, if he wants to help. I knew my wife's car radio was broken, so I bought another online and had it delivered to a shop. And then my son and I started to share a secret, 'we'll be Santa for mommy'.

One weekend we told her we'll go on a little walk - we did so, but on our way back we stopped at the shop and got the package. Then, at home, we carefully hid it in my coat for a few hours. As soon as she went to take a shower, D. went outside, got it and hid it in 'his special hiding place'. The next day my wife went to pick her parents from the airport - the perfect opportunity to gift wrap the box and then have my son write 'MAMAN' on it in his little i've-just-learned-them letters. Then back in the 'special hiding place' (behind the couch).

Then we waited until Christmas' Eve. And it was visible how he was just boiling inside, dying to tell her about it. He managed to keep the secret - but told her there is a secret. And then he realized we'll have a problem: when will we put the present under the tree? Because in the morning when she wakes up she must find it...

.. so on Christmas' Eve we told her to go upstairs with the little one and then go to sleep AND NOT COME BACK, while we are still playing with some pokemons. Up she went and off he ran to get the present and put in under the tree. He was literally jumping with excitement and happiness. Then I suggested we go upstairs to sleep to and he stopped me. "Dad, we HAVE to play a little with the pokemons, I don't want to lie to mommy!".

This is where he got a huge hug from me... and the next day an even bigger one from his mother, who had found out that Santa had not forgotten her.

Mama e plecata...

... tata aici.

Sotia a fost plecata o saptamana in Statele Unite pentru servici si cat a fost plecata a trebuit sa-l ascult pe M. repetand fara oprire "maman est partie" (mama e plecata). Cateodata urmat de un "la, papa!" (aici tata). Incontinuu aceeasi fraza, in special in momente cheie gen dimineata cand i-l luam din pat sau cand i-l recuperam la cresa - de fiecare data cand se astepta la ea.

Timpul petrecut in masina intre cresa si casa a fost cel mai dificil Intre D. care vorbea intr-una povestindu-mi despre tot felul de Pokemon (cand nu imi cerea mie sa ii spun povesti cu piei-rosii si pokemoni...) si M. care repeta incontinuu ca maica-sa a plecat, capul meu exploda in mod regulat.

Noroc ca a fost inventat alcoolul!

Glumesc, noroc ca am doi copii extraordinari care sunt foarte rezonabili, extrem de rezonabili tinand cont de varsta lor. Da, binenteles ca cel mare a avut crize de gelozie in care imi cerea tot felul de nimicuri doar ca sa ma ocup de el. Da, binenteles ca cel mic a avut serile lui de 'arunc toate jucariile pe jos si apoi merg pe ele'. Dar amandoi au inteles situatia si m-au ajutat cum au putut.


Unul din momentele cele mai frumoase a fost intr-o seara, cand ii citeam o carte lui M. inainte de a-l culca si D. se uita la desene la parter. In camera lui M., langa patul lui de bebelus, este un pat normal pe care i-l folosim cateodata cand trebuie sa dormim cu el. Pentru ca D. tot striga ca vrea alte desene (cere atentie cand e gelos), l-am lasat pe M. pe patul mare, cu o carte in brate, am inchis usa si am coborat. Cand m-am intors, era in patutul lui, intins, cu ochii inchisi, gata sa doarma. L-am pupat, am stins lumina si asta a fost tot...

Am fost foarte fericit atunci. Pana a doua zi dimineata cand am avut dreptul la 30 de minute de "mama e plecata", binenteles.



Ah, si un al moment frumos a fost in masina intr-o seara cand D., cu un ton exasperat, a zis "dar  ti-am tot zis ca se intoarce mama!"

Mommy has left...

... daddy here.

My wife has been in US for one week, for work, and during her entire absence, I had to listen to M. repeating "maman est partie" (mommy has left). Sometimes followed by "la, papa!" (here, daddy!). Over and over again, especially in key moments like when getting him out of bed or getting him from the nursery - both moments when he was expecting my wife.

The time spent in the car from the nursery to our home has been particularly challenging. Between D. who kept telling me about all kinds of Pokemon (when not asking me to tell him a story with indians and pokemons...) and M. who kept repeating that his mother has left, my brains were regularly exploding.

Luckily alcohol has been invented!

Kidding, luckily I have two amazing children who are very reasonable, extremely reasonable for their age. Yes, sure the first born has had some jealousy fits, in which he was asking all kinds of nonsense only to have me taken care of him. Yes, sure the second born has had his "throw on the floor all possible items i can find then walk over them" evenings. But they understood the situation and helped me to the best of their abilities.

The highlight moment happened one evening, when I was reading a book to the little one before putting him to bed and D. was watching cartoons downstairs. In M.'s room there is his criddle and next to it a normal bed sometimes used if we need to sleep with him. Because the first born kept yelling that he wants a different cartoon (attention seeker when he's jealous), I left M. with a book on the big bed, I closed the door and went downstairs.When I got back, he was in his criddle, lying down, eyes closed, ready to sleep. I kissed him, turned off the light and that was it....

I was really happy then. It changed when the next morning I got 30 minutes of "mommy has left", of course.


Oh, and another fun moment was in the car one evening when D., with an exasperated tone, said "but we already told you she'll be back!"

Nimic, doar ma uit la circ...

Asta a raspuns baiatul cel mare cand l-am intrebat ce face. Statea pe un calut de lemn intr-un colt, cu o mina plictisita si fara sa spuna nimic. Circul la care se referea? Fratele lui cel mic, evident.

Raspunsul lui mi-a placut foarte mult, pentru ca descrie foarte bine comportamentul celui mic. Si nu imi amintesc sa fi calificat eu acest comportament asa, sunt convins ca a gasit descrierea potrivita singur.

Baiatul cel mare traieste intr-o lume imaginara, sau cel putin are o imaginatie foarte bogata. Poate sa inventeze povesti foarte diferite din nimic, ii place foarte mult sa asculte povesti, sa se uite la ele la televizor sau sa i le citim. Ii place sa joace roluri in tot felul de povesti pe care imaginatia lui le creeaza. Chiar isi pune creierul la lucru.

Cel mic, in schimb, este mult mai cu picioarele pe pamant si mult mai.. fizic. Loveste, musca, trage de par (victima preferata in ultimul timp este pisica, si-o ia in mod regulat si gratuit...). Distruge totul si creaza dezastre. Nimic nu-i place mai mult decat sa darame toate jucariile si creioanele si cartile pe jos. Si apoi sa le dea suturi sau sa le calce pe toate cu motocicleta lui. Ii place haosul si e fericit in mijlocul lui.

Si de-asta imi place acea descriere a situatiei, pentru ca este foarte potrivita activitatilor si personalitatilor copiilor nostri. Unul creaza haos si celalalt este filozofic in legatura cu asta...

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Cat scriam acest post, sotia s-a gandit sa ii puna sa stranga toti trei multe cubulete lego si sa le puna intr-o cutie mare la loc. La 30 de secunde dupa ce i-a felicitat pentru ca au terminat.... cel mic a rasturnat cutia la loc.