Dear Diary: Parenting Through a Move

Again this past week was really tough.  Good in a lot of ways, but tough too.  We had back-to-back company, and then we got sick, and then my mom came to visit.  I was SO excited for her visit, and then when she arrived I found myself very fragile and vulnerable again.  Add onto that a sick husband, and battling the bug myself, and it was not quite all as I expected.

I described it to my mom like this: We are establishing ourselves as a family in a new ecosystem, but that ecosystem is still very fragile.  So when anything out of our new "norm" comes in (visitors, sickness, even a holiday), we become vulnerable and sensitive.  Our roots need more time to sink in and establish.

Yet through it all, I am so proud and amazed at how our children have adapted.  Definitely they have had an easier transition than Dan or I.  They are thriving in so many ways!  There are moments of fragility, but those normally come when we do something new and big and exciting, or if they are out too late or fighting a bug.  In their day-to-day, they are champs.  They're making friends, they are trying new things, they are listening to their teachers.  They still challenge us on a daily (if not minute) basis, but such is the age of 4 1/2 (or my kids are just terrible disobedient).

I have been learning to remain consistent and yet flexible.  Our days have a regular rhythm and yet if one of us needs it, we adapt to support each other.  The adapting is not as easy for me, but I am trying.  We have been celebrating accomplishments.  We have bonded as a family.  In our decisions we take the whole family into consideration.  It's different than when the kids were babies and didn't have a say.  They are a part of our daily decisions and processes in a new way now.  I love it.

Every morning MJ is the first one up.  He stumbles into our room and cuddles in bed with me and wants to talk.  RJ follows shortly and always shows up with a smile and a laugh and a joke or a song to begin his day.  RJ walks around the house singing songs like, "Oh Lord, we love you" and MJ always has a toy in hand, playing as he goes.  We eat meals together.  They are learning to independently dress and get ready (they love putting gel in their hair so they can look nice "like daddy").  We have Friday night movie night, after the week of school.  I just love these little rituals we are adopting in to our family!

If anything, the move has brought us all together in a new, deeper way.  In the absence of friends and familiarity, we have to bind together to remain strong.  I just adore my family, and feel every day like I am fulfilling dreams that have long been lingering in my heart.  <3