Dated: May 27, 2016 … a tradition. Perhaps it’s even more sacred than coffee; there’s something ancient, something powerful, the very essence of raw nature in it. Don’t misunderstand, I don’t consider myself a chocolate master, I’m not a pastry chef, mine isn’t the world’s best, but when I make hot chocolate, I do it with full dedication – and for a few years now, with Rú! Of course, I prepare several variations, but most of the time I use dark chocolate, which fortunately Rú also likes, so I don’t have to make two different kinds. I used to use cocoa powder, but now I use chocolate bars, which makes it…

While I adore the theatre, I unfortunately rarely find time for cultural indulgence. However, yesterday my mom asked me to pick up the kindergarten tickets from Kolibri. While waiting for them to be printed, I had the chance to browse through the informational leaflets and grab the current season’s program guide. To be honest, I was completely stunned by the kind of pieces they’ve brought to the stage this year (puppet theatre, no less)! The biggest heart-throb was for my personal favorites: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Thomas Mann’s Mario and the Magician, and Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince. However, Veronika Marek’s Kipp Kopp (in two different stories) and Sándor Weöres’s Bóbitá managed to pique Rú’s interest…

I love to make the most of long weekends by spending quality time, especially if it allows my brother and Rú to indulge their boyish ambitions. We could hardly have found a better place for some manly fun than exploring the Hollókő Castle, which is an experience in itself. But when they organize castle games there – involving whip-cracking, castle defense, and rifle-firing – it’s heaven for a little boy! We walked the ramparts, swung swords, browsed coats of arms, and strolled through the old village for a hot soup. Along the way, we befriended an embroiderer and a soap maker, then peeked in on the potter. We returned to the castle just…

Since Rú started kindergarten in September, I certainly have more time for things, but I still haven’t truly gotten used to the weekly schedule. When the stars align and we can, we take Fridays off and pretend like old times, when we only had to focus on each other. I love these days, whether the reason is searching for snow in December (which we found nowhere), anticipating spring or watching for storks, or anything else we can claim is important! Looking back, I definitely rated this past week as a shaky one, so this morning I canceled kindergarten, swept all my tasks under the rug (except for a quick morning…

This system has been a part of my life for about 7 years now. It quickly became my passion and, by today, my full-time occupation. My proficiency with it permeates our daily lives. It provides security, a higher level of awareness when I feel threatened. Through my students, I achieve success day after day; I enjoy developing them, and I proudly watch as they break down their own walls, recognizing how much more is within them than they ever imagined. They become complete, whole, and this transcends brutality. This is the most beautiful dance, to understand each other in combat, and most importantly, ourselves. Just like in a game, our…

Here’s the English translation of your text: I feel that after quite a few competitions and placements under our belt, it’s time to introduce one of Rú’s ‘old’ passions… archery! As we know, our 4-year-old doesn’t have “I don’t care” in his vocabulary, so I never would have believed in my wildest dreams that something (anything at all!) could channel his energy this way! During training, I’m constantly amazed at how much patience practicing brings out in him. It gives him a sense of accomplishment and teaches him respect for the sport. I couldn’t ask for more at this age; this is the example I consider essential for a balanced upbringing.…

And finally, it was here, blessed with sunshine, new sandals, and a delightful outing! Lately, I’ve chosen to commemorate holidays not with presents, but with memorable experiences. Thus, our Mother’s Day surprise for Grandma materialized as a trip to the Vác flea market, a leisurely walk along the Danube, and a satisfying lunch. On every similar occasion, I always try to ensure Rú is included in the good times (I’m certainly happier with a contented four-year-old than a grumpy one!), and Vác’s main square turned out to be the ideal spot. We discovered a toy bazaar, a magician, a fountain, child dancers (little girls in glittering costumes! 😉), and a…

Finally, a great excuse for us to get a little sticky, creating a delicious, light, and super-sweet dessert: Raffaello! A trial run is part of our Mother’s Day preparations, so we can catch and correct any potential baking mishaps in time. Even though this recipe has been a well-established favorite for years, we still played it safe and got to work. Anyone who loves sweets will adore this type of Raffaello – it’s even a bit healthier than the traditional, cooked version. My mom loved it! Happy Mother’s Day! Dated: April 30, 2016

Dear Everyone, I’ve moved this blog here as an excerpt from the original journal I’ve been keeping for 9 long years at https://daysonpaper.blog.hu/. Now that Rú is old enough to consent to appearing in a more open space, I thought I’d continue my blog about our everyday lives here for a year. For almost a decade, this little virtual nook has been the scene of our happy, difficult, touching, and completely ordinary weekdays. But for me, this place meant much more than just recorded stories: as a single mom, I could escape here when I was uncertain, when I was proud, when I was scared, when I was strong, or when…