about the children...

[Thingee 0]

He spent oodles of time on the couch during his visits reading to them. Played board games(he doesn't like Trivial Pursuit btw, says it's too Americanized). He really enjoys cooking, and let them help in the kitchen. He talks to them online frequently. We were very lucky actually, he clicked with all of them really well.

[Mags 112]

My son (who is 13 today actually!) actually made the transition rather better than I had anticipated. When I told him we were moving to the USA he was a mixture of nervousness, anger and looking forward to it. The nervousness I could understand: new country, new school, new way of life. The anger was at leaving his friends in the UK, and the looking forward to it is self explanatory.

When we got over here he settled in really well. I'll admit, I was REALLY worried about him going to a new school...but he came home positively glowing. He hates school in general, but he likes the American one far better. He says all the kids think he is cool and like him too; I think it is the accent. The girls keep asking him to say his name over and over.

I do wish he had some friends that lived more locally, but you can't have everything. We are in a relatively small town and everyone is very spread out.

[Jenn! 918]

Both my kids have done amazingly well. They had both talked to Khallid for over a year, wrote him letters, saw him on the cam etc. TI tried to keep them involved with the whole process as much as I could...trying to keep my stress hidden from them. It was hard though when they kept saying "When will he be here mom?" because I never knew. My oldest would tell his friends about his step dad being from Egypt. The first day he was here, we had got back in to town from the airport at 4:00 am. They kids were at my parents so after sleeping a couple of hours they called to see if he was here yet. They both were going crazy because they wanted to see him so bad. So, I went to pick them up and brought them home. Khallid was still sleeping. They both crawled in bed beside him and woke him up. He loved it! I have heard them both call him "dad" on occasion. Everyone has adjusted well. The only one not adjusted is my ex

I am still unsure about 'what to call him' thing. My duaghter calls her father, aba even thou his involvment in her life is minimal. I still donnot want to open that can of worms of 'why is my duaghter calling this guy Dad (or in our case Aba)'. But I feel it should be left up to her and my husband. My husband says she may call him whatever she likes. My daughter has even asked me. I could not answer her. I feel his given name is not respectful enough and something I am not used to (children calling adults by their first names) and calling him mister or sir is way too formal (not loving at all) ... and uncle is really out of the question. Sounds too incestual. I donnow even know. I am hope she finds a special nickname for him.

If uncle is too incestual, than I would think that Dad would be even more so!

I've always called my step-father by his first name. I already had a Dad!

[Henia 11]

Both my kids have done amazingly well. They had both talked to Khallid for over a year, wrote him letters, saw him on the cam etc. TI tried to keep them involved with the whole process as much as I could...trying to keep my stress hidden from them. It was hard though when they kept saying "When will he be here mom?" because I never knew. My oldest would tell his friends about his step dad being from Egypt. The first day he was here, we had got back in to town from the airport at 4:00 am. They kids were at my parents so after sleeping a couple of hours they called to see if he was here yet. They both were going crazy because they wanted to see him so bad. So, I went to pick them up and brought them home. Khallid was still sleeping. They both crawled in bed beside him and woke him up. He loved it! I have heard them both call him "dad" on occasion. Everyone has adjusted well. The only one not adjusted is my ex

I am still unsure about 'what to call him' thing. My duaghter calls her father, aba even thou his involvment in her life is minimal. I still donnot want to open that can of worms of 'why is my duaghter calling this guy Dad (or in our case Aba)'. But I feel it should be left up to her and my husband. My husband says she may call him whatever she likes. My daughter has even asked me. I could not answer her. I feel his given name is not respectful enough and something I am not used to (children calling adults by their first names) and calling him mister or sir is way too formal (not loving at all) ... and uncle is really out of the question. Sounds too incestual. I donnow even know. I am hope she finds a special nickname for him.

In many countries a beloved person, not in the family called uncles and aunts... but to call one's new husband or wife that sounds incestual to me. But calling them Dad or Mum, how is? I am confused ...

If uncle is too incestual, than I would think that Dad would be even more so!

I've always called my step-father by his first name. I already had a Dad!

Edited January 20, 2007 by Henia

[Henia 11]

In some countries, a non-family member who is beloved could be called uncle or aunt... but to me calling one's new husband or wife uncle or aunt is like saying you married your brother or sister...

But how is calling them Dad or Mum incestual or incestious sounding>? I am confused.

[~Jackie~ 30]

My kids were 18 and 25 when I met Mohammed so they didn't really have an issue about us marrying.

Jessica (my daughter) would always introduce Mohammed as 'my mom's husband'. This holiday we caught her changing the introduction. Now he is 'my step-dad'. That made him smile.

Jackie

[sarah and hicham 3]

Have your kids met him yet, doodle?

No. Their dad won't let me bring them to Egypt, but they do talk to him via the webcam.

I don't think I would let my kids go with their stepdad to Egypt to meet his new woman. Of course I don't have kids or an exhusband but if I did that woulnd't be ok.

[Henia 11]

Have your kids met him yet, doodle?

No. Their dad won't let me bring them to Egypt, but they do talk to him via the webcam.

I don't think I would let my kids go with their stepdad to Egypt to meet his new woman. Of course I don't have kids or an exhusband but if I did that woulnd't be ok.

For first time visit, I would not either, but for later (much later) visits why not...

[doodlebug 3]

Have your kids met him yet, doodle?

No. Their dad won't let me bring them to Egypt, but they do talk to him via the webcam.

I don't think I would let my kids go with their stepdad to Egypt to meet his new woman. Of course I don't have kids or an exhusband but if I did that woulnd't be ok.

I'm trying to figure that one out. your kids' stepdad would be your husband...so letting them go with him to check out a woman certainly would be not ok in my book too!

Anyways I wouldn't have really pushed it with him since I think he was right in not wanting them to go the first time. I would like to bring them a second time though but I don't know how they'd do on such a long flight. It's bad enough trying to fly with them to Orlando and that's only about 3 hours or so.

[sarah and hicham 3]

Have your kids met him yet, doodle?

No. Their dad won't let me bring them to Egypt, but they do talk to him via the webcam.

I don't think I would let my kids go with their stepdad to Egypt to meet his new woman. Of course I don't have kids or an exhusband but if I did that woulnd't be ok.

I'm trying to figure that one out. your kids' stepdad would be your husband...so letting them go with him to check out a woman certainly would be not ok in my book too!

Anyways I wouldn't have really pushed it with him since I think he was right in not wanting them to go the first time. I would like to bring them a second time though but I don't know how they'd do on such a long flight. It's bad enough trying to fly with them to Orlando and that's only about 3 hours or so.

What I meant was my kids father, who would be my exhusband.

[SoL. 0]

I have two teenagers (boys) and they like Pieter a lot because they can be themselves around him, no stress. Also because he is a good listener.

They are waiting for him to move here with us, they do like the idea. Specially because they won't need to feel obligated to go to the supermarket or the Mall with me LOL.

[melly 0]

I have two teenagers (boys) and they like Pieter a lot because they can be themselves around him, no stress. Also because he is a good listener.

They are waiting for him to move here with us, they do like the idea. Specially because they won't need to feel obligated to go to the supermarket or the Mall with me LOL.

Sorry to drag this a tad off topic but speaking of bringing kids along to the supermarket, you'd think it was the end of the world the way my son reacts. I'm not quite sure how he thinks we should get food if it isn't by going to the store. Like there's some magic food fairy that will just magically know exactly everything we want and somehow deliver it all to us. And for free at that!!

[Henia 11]

Bringing young children to the market is terrible. And to the mall...worse.

[Mephys 2]

Just a cute little story here. My Fiance has 3 kids, 3 boys that are 2, 4 and 6 years old. His kids have seen me everday for the last year and a half and when I met them in Chicago it was more for them the shock of " how did she get out of the computer monitor". But anyways we spent a lot of great family time all together and they love me. They know now that when I'm in the monitor its because I took a big plane and they ask me every week when I will come back, sometimes evey crying! They are so cute.

They know I will come to live with them and they are really looking forward to it but we were planning on introducing the marriage thing when we will know my interview date and when the wedding date is gonna be determined. So, last week I sent a rose to my fiance's work because we had a hard week-end, missing each other as usual, and I wanted to brighten his day, which worked of course . When the 6yo ( almost 7 yo) saw the flower, he asked his dad if I was the one that sent that. Then he finally asked him "What are you gonna do with her?" So Josh answered " What do you want me to do?" and his son replied " I like her and I want you to marry her!" Not to mention that my baby was in shock!!! And then the boys were insisting cause they wanted him to call me to ask me! So when he called he told me his son had something to tell me, he then grabbed the phone and asked me " Do you want to marry my dad?" I surely said yes and he was all happy and excited. So to please the 3 boys I told him to put me on speakerphone and to ask me to marry him on the phone so that they could all hear my answer. They were all happy.

For me, its a big thing to move to the states, and of course its another challenge to live with 3 kids cause I dont have any myself. But when these 3 little angels are smiling at me and showing me how much they love me....they make my heart melt. They really do make things easier My fiance gave me a beautiful gift for X-mas, with the note "from the 4 men of your life": a shirt with the foot prints of him and the 3 boys, saying " We wove U" on the back, just like his 4 yo is saying it all the time....They all made me cry

Mephys

[Henia 11]

Aww loved the story!