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"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week. in 2016."

Stella: You're starting to make some regular friends in Shanghai, and boy has that ever been a sea change for you. It must be difficult, going to a school in a new language, adding that weight to the already ponderous task of navigating a new social environment in a new school. You're so invested in your friendships that this period without playmates has put you off your equilibrium. So, you can imagine how glad I've been to see you playing with friends in the playground, even if I'm a little less glad to field 10 000 questions per day re. if it is indeed yet 4:30 PM.

Hugo: You tricked me into thinking that you'd learn to use the toilet this week. YOu were actualy in jocks early this year, until I had to go away for a week, and left you in the care of your beloved grandmother who decided that her toilet training days were behind her. (Fair enough.) So. Anyway, you spent all of Monday evening running back and forth between "the little green toilet" and the big toilet, producing a few drops, and then proudly emptying them into the loo, explaining each time AND PUT IT IN THE TOILET. Sadly for me, interest in the potty has since waned. Except for when you and your sister figured out how to make potty hats. But we can't show those pictures here. Too bad.