tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post6343006413243829361..comments2023-07-05T11:43:50.345-03:00Comments on Give us this day our daily mango: Working it outshellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09510233639065517643noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-10077387851480359802012-05-01T18:56:55.866-03:002012-05-01T18:56:55.866-03:00Hooray for bloggy therapy! :-)Hooray for bloggy therapy! :-)Lisa Plumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10511595195935722678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-89063660579383666882012-03-24T17:48:07.708-03:002012-03-24T17:48:07.708-03:00Thanks again for the comments! I had a difficult ...Thanks again for the comments! I had a difficult couple of weeks (for reasons unrelated to this post), but it's helpful to come here and feel the love. You guys are great!shellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510233639065517643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-62092954909541433352012-03-22T09:30:54.315-03:002012-03-22T09:30:54.315-03:00Shelley, screw him! If anyone is going to push you...Shelley, screw him! If anyone is going to push you down they are not worth your time. You made the effort to call and give him potentially useful information and he turned it around on you and made you upset. I'm sorry but that is not ok. <br /><br />You are doing a great job! His negativity has nothing to do with you but with how he is feeling inadequate. :)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13209527132116902328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-7655246579919004552012-03-21T20:11:22.321-03:002012-03-21T20:11:22.321-03:00Shelley, it seems that you do the best you can for...Shelley, it seems that you do the best you can for you and your family and you're doing a very fantastic job! I don't know all of the details but what I can tell you is that first of all, try to either cut off all communications or limit ties with this person. It sounds like a toxic person and we've all had situations in life where people (either intentionally or unintentionally) are very toxic and bring us down. <br />I get a lot of flack for wanting to move to Brazil from people very close to me (i.e. family). My parents lived in Brazil in another decade (the 70s) during military dictatorship and they are stuck on assumptions that are more than 35 years old. I have somewhat kept my plans a secret until the right moment but they know and I get a lot of passive aggressive criticism.<br />Do what you think is right in your heart. Keep doing what you're doing and everything will be OK. You tried to help someone out and it didn't work. As much as that person's words sting, brush it aside and keep on keepin' on or whatever that expression is :-) Like I told you and your husband, you guys are doing a fantastic job with your kids, etc. I am scared out of my mind as to what awaits me in the next couple of years!!! You're certainly an inspiration and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!<br />P.S. Like I told you before, I noticed that Brazil has changed positively in the last 3 years. I am happy about this :-)Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17890506297408802831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-89599501411220712162012-03-12T17:04:47.154-03:002012-03-12T17:04:47.154-03:00I can just imagine what you are going through. Co...I can just imagine what you are going through. Congratulations for having the courage to navigate through a country that is really different from the US with kids. You seem pretty strong to me with handling all the challenges that go along with it.Skarrlette's Hammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08562022102196183737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-74080889809081057682012-03-12T06:39:20.986-03:002012-03-12T06:39:20.986-03:00I like the thoughts from your friend who suggests ...I like the thoughts from your friend who suggests that things have changed (a lot - and for the better) over the past ten years in Brazil. Luiz lived in the States for 24 years. When we returned to live here it drove me CRAZY how he was stuck on 24 year old assumptions about life in Brazil. He is slowly getting current -- but I have had to drag him into the present. Time after time his assumptions are proved antiquated. It is taking him some time to get used to present day living in Brazil.<br /><br />Hang in there. Trust yourself.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14003236423048071844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-4358034337774389802012-03-12T00:34:46.525-03:002012-03-12T00:34:46.525-03:00YOU do your best and your best is your best...that...YOU do your best and your best is your best...that is simple. It may not be someone else's best but how unkind and hurtful that someone else would share that your best was not, in their opinion!, the bestest!!!! Skip "the friend" and go with your gut feeling...matter of fact, it might be best to SKIP THE FIEND from now on.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09999160277317124699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-44127368604395079832012-03-11T16:28:08.440-03:002012-03-11T16:28:08.440-03:00Thanks for the comments. I talked to another Braz...Thanks for the comments. I talked to another Brazilian friend today who lived in the States for 6 years. She gave me another perspective. This person has lived overseas for a LONG time, and things have changed a lot in Brazil. Back when this person was living in Brazil, it would have been more likely to encounter theft, corruption and lying. Things were more dangerous than they are now, and so Brazilians were much more suspicious. It's possible that he is still operating under this assumption, and living in fear. My friend today said that if I feel okay with my decision, then I shouldn't let anyone elses fear get me down. So I'm feeling better.shellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510233639065517643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-17737775636997038022012-03-11T09:34:20.547-03:002012-03-11T09:34:20.547-03:00all you can do is your best with what you have. T...all you can do is your best with what you have. There will ALWAYS be people who question and have a "better" way. Please don't let it get to you.Corinnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16339448999264153338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102320880349869209.post-84402690133351976372012-03-11T08:32:39.772-03:002012-03-11T08:32:39.772-03:00Although you haven't shared any details, your ...Although you haven't shared any details, your account of the events seems pretty reasonable. Yes, being an expat is hard, being an expat parent, doubly so. You did your research and made your decision. If you are happy with it, that's all that matters. If you're not, or have new information that changes things, you can change your mind. What does any of it matter to this other person? He might make a different decision anyway, one that's better for him. Someone needs to let it go, but I'm not sure it's you.Andrew Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11981924714236784906noreply@blogger.com