Husband. Two children. Daughter is going to be an opera singer. Still studying. Son is in IT. Network technician. Server rooms. Don’t know what exactly. Husband is a salesman. Shoes. Not employed, on his own.
People find strange: opera singer, not usual what children might do. Maybe, always had people living with us, invited people. Not closed. Always travelling, bright view of the world, met a lot of people, all came to us. Neighbours find it strange. They wouldn’t do that. Always long on holidays. Full-time 2-3 months, then could take more days off. Not 8 to 4. Husband collecting shoes, more than 3,000 miniature shoes.
Children have job where they can make money. Uh. Never successful if you don’t support. My view. Husband: maybe teacher, something to do with study. You get a place to study: challenge. I always thought if she is successful, can study, passes
There must be something extraordinary with her voice. I cannot say. Not much in music, nice or not. As parents you always try to support the children. Believe that the way they do is the right way. Much easier if they know that parents are behind them. Husband: safety net. She is strong personality, she didn’t care what he wanted. She just went on. Yeah, what can you do when you have children. He got used to it. When you see they are successful, what can you say. Took some time, half a year. She is on her way, we don’t know yet. We have no idea. Maybe he was right. I am an optimistic person.
Right now, she is in Berlin, applications. She was already successful in interviews. Always lucky. Bright side of life. You want your children to have a nice life, do things they like to do. When you have children, they go to school, don’t know what to do. Myself: lucky, they exactly knew what they wanted to do. I was 18: didn’t know what to do. Parents did not offer support, didn’t talk about options with me. My parents did not see my potential in things, in a normal family you should realise what are positive and negative things, possible to guide children where they are successful and happy. Not easy.
Son: not on stage, organised. Daughter: attention seeking. From the beginning was very typical for children. Pay attention.
We had opportunity, time and money. Travelling. Compared with others, always wanted to see new places. Every holiday in one place (not our intention). When I look back, it was very helpful for education. Accept new situations, flexible. We don’t do it that much.
Most connected: always when we’re together. Children don’t live together. Family, good thing: when we meet, nice for everybody. No grandparents (my mother), important for children, when we meet (daughter’s birthday), brought mother, family is complete. How will it be now? Not in Austria any more. Maybe Christmas.
Daughter: easier to stay in touch. Son: busy, shares apartment, organising everything (doing everything himself). Fine but he doesn’t talk that much. Always on the phone.
Now we will Skype, Facetime.
If good relationship, doesn’t matter where they are. Husband: married before, two daughters (Australia, Vienna) Australia - much more contact. Good relationship not a problem. Don’t know. Children later, watch how it is when you have children. Maybe in Australia makes it easier to get closer to her, open. In Vienna: call me before you come, not home, more complicated. I am sure.
Daughter: woman to woman. Son: impression, very similar to me, don’t have to ask him things, know exactly what he will do. Daughter: my husband. Different the way you talk. Supporting her with singing. Son: totally different, computer stuff, topic is different. Easier to talk about singing. Working on computer is more silent, process is different. Close to my son cos we are so similar, not have to explain you know how it it. Funny. Different people, different situation. Not less contact with son, feeling is equal. Way of communication is different.
Maybe starts now. Seldom that I go alone for longer time. When my father (died 2 years ago) was dying, I was involved with that. Many things to decide alone. Didn’t want to burden my children, husband. Not in a bad way. Just because they were my parents.
Fun: can’t remember, a long time ago. (Not correct. Bicycle trip, only women. 2-3 weeks ago.)
When we were younger. Went to Paris to Disneyland, rollercoasters. Maybe. Don’t remember. Nothing in the last 2-3 years. Surprised. Don’t have the impression my life is sad. Don’t realise it. Impression life is so much work, not time for greater things. Not change anything. We’ll see. Changes in September. (lay-offs). I am satisfied with my life. Not going up and down, more stable. Way of adults, not big mountains. Daughter: performance, very up, and then very down. My life is equal. It’s good, Otherwise I get a heart attack.
Nothing impressive. You need much more energy for this kind of life. Wouldn’t like to change things.
(It’s like therapy)
We were playing games when kids were smaller. It ended when they finished school. We meet for lunch and dinner, everyone has their own life. We still: Christmas come together and sing carols. Always do. Always do birthdays. Come together. Celebration. Families don’t do: singing with children, during the year. Son doesn’t like it. Hard to be compared with the daughter. Wanted that they can keep on this tradition with their own children. Sit, come together and sing.
Wave. Husband, children, pff, how can I survive. Time passes fast. Now it’s exactly like this. 20 years are gone. This passed so fast. New situation: first do everything for your children, then you have to let them go, fly on their own. You let them go. Circle, take care of my mother, children are finished, now it starts with my mother. It’s a little bit hard but what can I do. Life is like a circle. What I got from my mother for my children, now I give back to her. Go help her many times. It’s good. Never stand still. Now, you get your mother. You start again. Good that you have to take care of someone. Better than when no one needs you. Life with children is much better.
Women are always busy with the family. More busy than the men.
(It’s interesting)