Mummy, let’s play

This has become a regular phrase in my home in the last two months. I’ll confess, play is hard work (at least for me). I take things a bit too seriously, but as a mum of two growing boys, I make plan for play and just be silly. My older isn’t too forgiving when his playtime isn’t completed. He’ll remind me, “Mummy, you still owe me 15 minutes of play…” In my mind, I’m like…, “Boy, get a grip, life is serious,” but indeed, children need play, and why hold back?

In late fall 2024, my family moved from the Netherlands to Chicago as my husband took on a new role with his employer, Adyen.

I enjoyed working with my former employer in the Netherlands, the Green Award Foundation. One of my favorite things was looking across the window from my desk and watch ships sail by.

My typical lunchtimes is either spent in the kitchen with amazing colleagues like Keita Shinohara or ED, Jan Fransen. When the whether permit, I sit by the waterfront and enjoy the sight of ships and the sound of water. Often, I take a brisk, but refreshing prayer walk at Het Park, just five minutes from the office. Het Park must be one of the most beautiful parks in the Netherlands. It’s stunning, with beautiful landscapes and meandering canals.

When I told my former manager at Oxfam Novib, Bart Monnens, about moving, he jokingly warned, “Rita, Chicago is cold, you will find out.” True to his word, Chicago is 𝘏𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘳𝘨 𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘥😊, but thank God for good layers.

I’m actively searching for new opportunities especially in the nonprofit sector. Just last week Friday, I interviewed for Communications Manager role with RefugeeOne. Though I didn’t make it to the final round, that evening, I read a worrying news that refugee organizations in the USA were instructed to pause work by the gvernment. There’s uncertainty in the humaniatrain and development space now, but if I will be honest, my heart is still in the sector. Fingers crossed!

In the meantime, I’m skilling up. After school drop-off, I head to the library to get some head space to work. I am taking new courses, apply for jobs, preparing for interviews and flipping a page or two in between.

I’ve also been journaling more, especially from my Bible study and blogging (rytaabiodun.com). I am following “Eden to Eternity” plan on YouVersion. I completed Job and Genesis this month. I could not help but wonder at Job’s friends and mused on why Abraham’s lineage, knowingly or unknowing pass on the birthright to the younger. (Isaac in the case of Abraham, Jacob in the case of Isaac, Judah in the case of Jacob and Joseph’s children).

I’m reading the book, The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. I now see figures like Hagar, Leah, Tamar, and Jael in a new light. Shannon is such a great writer!

While I continue to explore new opportunities and career directions, I’m embracing this phase and savouring every mouthful of it while it lasts!