In October we intimated in our blog that Vidar was unable to fully grasp all our plans. Things have changed, though, since then. As the matter has become more of a talking point in our household and as we have become more engaged with the Swedish language so, too, he has picked up more on the subject. That has become explicit in questions such as, ‘what does moving house mean?’.
We were informed that even before Christmas Vidar had in fact talked in his class about the house move and that he often came up with the topic of Sweden. Not very long ago, his teacher had explained that the north pole also crosses through Sweden at which point Vidar had proudly asserted: ‘and that’s where I’m going to live!’
In Rune’s class as well, it is frequently a topic of conversation. One of his class mates asked, for instance, why we are moving to Sweden. At such times the teacher allows the children to ask Rune things like: ‘have you already got a house there?’ or ‘where exactly are you going to live?’ and ‘can you already talk a bit in Swedish?’ It is really great that the teacher takes the trouble to make time for all those kinds of questions!
While preparing to sell the house, the boys helped a little with sorting and clearing out some of their belongings. When it comes to getting rid of stuff Rune is, like his father, quite easy-going. From time-to-time Vidar found it a bit harder but could, in the end, part with his little Ikea toy kitchen, for example. Luckily, they don’t now have to get rid of any more of their possessions. For now, they have done their best with helping out on that particular front.
Nowadays Rune is starting to focus on the fact that he will, in future, miss various people. At such times he feels rather sad. We give him the space to express his emotions and tell him that it feels much the same for us as well and that in the past Susanna had a similar problem because she had to miss close family in Guernsey. He finds it comforting to realize that he will also sometimes be able to make video calls to those he misses a lot. We notice that fortunately his curiosity concerning the new home, country and situation generally prevails.
Of his own volition Rune recently spontaneously started explaining to us with his familiar clarity that if you live in another country long enough you will automatically start to speak the language well and will even get used to the different food. ‘And then you’ll just be a Swede’ was almost literally what he said in conclusion which was a very sweet thing to hear.
We were delighted to learn that the close neighbours we shall have in Sweden have a son who is between Rune and Vidar in age and that the family is – partly therefore – very much looking forward to meeting us. That gives the newcomer hope: knowing that people we have yet to meet are looking forward to welcoming us is a lovely thought!
What we are convinced will also be very helpful is the fact that each of our children will, it chances, have a child with Dutch roots in their new class. We imagine that when the going gets tough those little ones will be able to help our sons out with a spot of translating or explaining.
