*Thank you to many of you who have been asking about our adjustment to this side of the globe. Adeline's sleep schedule is improving (and consequently mine is too). Wake up times get closer and closer to the 7am goal (this morning was actually 7:15!!!). Bedtime can still be a challenge sometimes, and she still sometimes wakes up a few times through the night. We've had a few really good nights, and her naps are getting a little more consistent. It will get better...I know it.
*Others of you have asked me about culture shock. I haven't had much. I've been in other cultures before, and I haven't forgotten what life is like here. I've been meaning to do a post about the things I miss about Korea and the things I am so thankful for in the US....maybe next week. The one thing that has been an adjustment is that people don't like kids here. I mean, not everyone, but really....I went to a grocery store with my mom, aunt, grandfather, and Adeline. I didn't really need anything, so I let her walk through the aisles. She was happy, swinging her arms, laughing. There were a few people who commented on her obvious cuteness, but many people gave me the oh-no-a-kid-who-is-going-to-slow-me-down-and-get-in-the-way-of-my-cart look. I get that life is fast paced here. I get that we just don't have the same love of children that Koreans have, but still...she's adorable people!!! sigh...
*The house hunt has begun. My dad and I went to MD to do some searching last Saturday, and we are going back tomorrow. We have 10 houses on the agenda for tomorrow, and they all look promising. Say a prayer for us if you think of us. It is amazing how much house prices have dropped in that area. Given the state of the economy, many houses are in foreclosure, so we are looking at some almost new houses that have dropped A LOT!
*Speaking of house prices dropping....we own a townhouse in MD. It is nice and served us well during Patrick's 3 years of residency. While we were in Korea, we rented it, furnished, to a middle aged woman who is related to our neighbor. It has been a great situation for all of us. We knew when she started renting that she was very interested in purchasing the house when we returned. We contacted her several months ago to get the ball rolling. We told her our asking price and tried to get an idea when we could close. She seemed fine with everything and was moving forward with getting her loan approved. Well, my husband checked on the estimated value of our home on the internet, and of course, the price has dropped. He felt like we were asking too much since the market has dropped dramatically in recent months. me: but if she's willing to pay it...
My mother overheard our conversation and I got "a talking to" with phrases like, "I didn't raise you to be selfish. Patrick is so generous. I am so impressed with your husband. He is wonderful and you stink"...okay, maybe she didn't go that far. I had an attitude adjustment, and I told Patrick to come up with a price. Today I called our tenant and told her we are dropping the price of the house for her. Of course, she was ecstatic with our new offer. What would you have done? Honestly? She never batted an eye at our first price. Am I really that awful? Is my husband nuts? Go ahead, I can take it.
18 comments:
It makes me sad to hear that people in the US don't seem to like kids as much as in Korea. I wonder if it is all over the country or just in some places because I never noticed that here. Of course, it's been a few years since my kids were little!
I think you did the right think in lowering the price of the house. You will be getting a good deal on the one you buy and I think you may have felt guilty later if you had taken the original price.
First of all thanks for stopping by.
House hunting can be fun or a pain. But you have to admit now is a really good time to get a deal.
you know, i think you live in the wrong state. here in the good ol' state of texas, people love kids. when i'm out with my niece we get so many smiles and i almost feel like we get too much attention. :P that's too bad people are too busy to appreciate a cute child. i mean really!
about the house, that's so funny how you tell that story. i know what you mean, the lady should have been the one to bargain, and there is no such think as a fair price. as long as the customer is happy, then it's a fair price. to her it's worth it. but if you want to be generous and not incur bad karma, ok, i don't really believe in karma, but you get the idea, do onto others as you would have them do unto you, what goes around comes around... then it's certainly the nice thing to do. i would rather err on the side of generosity. but it's not wrong to accept a higher price since she was willing to give it and you were not twisting her arm or deceiving her in any way. my opinion.
I totally agree that people in the states do not appreciate kids as much as in Korea. I'm finding the same here. We are getting more dirty looks than I could count, so I'm just trying to get over it! In fact, they can even not rent a house to you because you have kids, so we're looking at "kids allowed" properties! Like they're pets or something. About the house, that's so how it would go at our house too. E would probably want to do the right thing... and I'd have a hard time letting go of the money. Sigh. I'm working on my attitude to! (And living in the UK is making it easier to work on letting go of money!)
I'll have to see how kids are regarded in Germany. I have been amazed and impressed by how much children are prized and respected here.
About the house thing, I'd like to say I would side w/ P, but I don't know what I really would do.
Although I think in the natural it seems smart to ask more for the town house I believe with all my heart that if you drop the price knowing that the Lord is in control of every area of your selling you will see blessings overflowing to great to contain. Your new price may be the biggest blessing this lady ever received. May she see more of the Lord's goodness because of you.
Now, what would I have done....first, tried to hang on to the money and then repented :)
I totally know what you are talking about with the kids....but at least people like my dog here! :)
P is nuts!!! If she was willing to pay, then let her pay!!! Nah...I agree with previous comments that you should pass on the good stuff and the good stuff will come back to you. I think that you guys were really generous to lower the price w/o her asking and it shows what great people you are. :)
Ginger took the words right out of my mouth. We only see the little picture, God sees the masterpiece. Letting go of this my be a huge blessing for you and her. You never know....
I agree with people's unfriendliness. Just today I went to Target with my 3 plus a nephew. One lady was mentally calculating my group and she made a really hurtful comment. Bummer.
Where you the noisy people I heard at the store the other day? ;-)
Just kidding! But I almost hate taking the kids just for fear of annoying someone else - I wanna go to Korea!
Well, I definitely think you did the right thing in lowering the price, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I too would be saying the same things you did. What your husband did reminds me of something my husband would do....sigh....I guess we can learn alot from them.
I agree about the kid thing - people are not very patient. They seem to forget the joy in little ones.
The house... I think you did the right thing lowering the price. Ginger stated it perfectly - this house will be a blessing to the woman you are selling it to BUT I totally would have had the same thoughts as you about getting the most out of the house as possible.
How did house hunting go today???
Lynn, I live with a saint of a husband too. It's hard, very hard.
I love when I laugh out loud at your posts. I can just hear the "talking too" from Mom. Although, I know your account was much more harsh than how your Mom actually said it. A Mother's job is never done......
Anyway, you did the right thing, although I would have struggled right along with you! What a great example of rising above. You and Patrick are awesome!
Can't wait to hear about house hunting.
Heidi
Are you nuts?! You dropped the price??!!
just kidding
I would have done the same. Every genuinely nice thing you do for someone comes back to you in one form or another. In this case, I guess that means something nice will happen to your hubby, and nothing for you, you meanie.
;-D
Definitely the right thing to lower the price. At some point she would have gotten input from someone about paying more than she should in this lower-price market and then she would have felt "taken."
Sorry I wasn't at the grocery store when you were. I'd have shown you that some old ladies are still absolutely crazy over kids!!
Wow, you and Patrick dropped the price? What a belssing to your buyer!
That's a good question. I think I might have kept it as is, as long as the buyer didn't have a problem.
I just want to know when you are going to be back at church! Where are these houses you are looking at? Closer to Bowie? Further away? I hope not! Let me know when you will be back down here... :)
Hi Lynnie!
Welcome back!!!
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