Making a Joyful Noise

The other day I saw a woman interviewed on France 24 (a cable news network) that must have recently published a book on cooking.  She said, holding up a wisk and an apron, "Every French woman owns these and knows how to use them."  I questioned myself, "I think I know how to use a wisk...don't I?  Unless there is some hidden French secret?" (and there probably is)  I said aloud to Bryan, "Well, I am not officially French yet because I don't have the apron."  Upon which Isabel asked, "What is an apron?"  I have a long way to go. 

Life is moving along.  We received our first formal noise complaint last week.  One of the men upstairs complained to the language school (which owns our apartment) that the kids were being too noisy.  It drives Bryan bonkers that the neighbors are offended by it, and it makes living here uncomfortable as it feels like we're walking on eggshells all the time. We already felt like we were severely limiting them in what they could and could not do. 

It kind of creates a feeling of helplessness as you want to be respectful of your neighbors, but at what point do you throw your hands up in the air and say, "I don't know what more I can do?"   Bryan has a tendency to panic and say, "We're going to get kicked out, we're going to get kicked out," but we really can only do so much to keep our kids from being, well, kids.  I know that this is, anthropologically speaking, an American statement as the French kids can go hours without making a peep, but I guess I fundamentally believe in allowing a certain level of behavioral freedom in children. I read in a book that from a purely cultural anthropological perspective the French believe in "society first, children second" while Americans believe in "children first, society second."  I can see where both can go wrong.  It makes you stop and think about perspective. 

Last night we played Singstar Pop.  If you are ever in a bad mood, get out a singing game and play it with your children.  You cannot help but laugh.  I watched Ian sing, dance and try to follow the words of the songs in karoke like fashion.  We were singing and laughing and making (Bryan approved) noise.  The neighbors are going to think we are not only noisy, but crazy.  Maybe that will work to our advantage somehow.