This is Kate/Kyta blogging. It is going to confuse me for a while to see my nickname written as it has never been done. I have always just heard it, which brings me to my reasons for this entry. I have known my sister for 52 years, listened to her trials and her tribulations, counselled her on various issues, assisted her when and where I could, Dutch uncled her a few times, and loved her always. Yet, I didn't know the following:
- Milla is currently in the field of international affairs. She studied Pharmacology and Chemistry and worked for many years at the CSIR in the field of Composite materials.
- Milla studied narrative pastoral and family therapy, and can assist in whatever a problem might arise - from drug addiction to the dying process.
- She knows various massage techniques and can 'boast' that not one of our loved ones/patients ever developed bedsores.
Listening is such a powerful tool and I have just discovered that I need to practice a little longer if I ever want to master this tool. The beauty of this unique connection that I have with my sister is that she listens when I only hear, I talk when she mumbles, one looks and the other sees. We've always seemed to have all the bases covered.
You want to hear something funny?...... Milla is far more qualified to do this blog post, yet I am doing it!! She emails me the stuff that she feels should be on the blog. Here is her latest mail:
We are also available to families who need a loving, caring granny. Milla has one grandson who lives in England and whom she sees/visits at least once a year. As you know by now, we are South Africans, which mean that we are very well brought-up. In South Africa we still believe in discipline and high/sound moral values. If you want to go on a holiday but the kids needs to attend school, we are prepared to move in with them and take above average care of them. We'll be there for them - from doing homework, disciplining, loving and caring. We'll be a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. Kate and Milla both have the intellectual ability to stimulate and assist your children in any of the studying material/subjects - we both are qualified scientists in 'murg en been'
As we are from Dutch descend, we are particularly interested in working/travelling through the Netherlands and Belgium. We are bilingual, fluent in English and Afrikaans. Afrikaans is the first language approximately 60% of White South Africans (2.5 million). Modern Dutch and Afrikaans share 85-plus per cent of their vocabulary. Afrikaans is one of South Africa's official 11 languages
I am not a granny and if it is up to me only, I wouldn't be one for some time. Yet, I absolutely love the idea of taking care of your kids while you are off to somewhere, doing what needs to be done. I have taken my maternal responsibilities extremely serious and still do, even though my son is 26 years old.
For obvious reason I also agree with Milla about our upbringing - it was of the highest order. Our intelligence is another point of accord although we are two very different individuals and definitely a pair to be reconed with.
It is early days still and hopefully we will post a blog real soon from afar. I'll be back before then. Bye.
