What is packed must be unpacked. That sounds so Zen, but moving is anything but Zen. Moving was one of those experiences where for me, as a writer, I feel like I could fill a book with everything I learned. Working titles include Well, THAT Didn’t Go According to Plan or Who the %$&* Packed the Packing Tape?! And it would contain such nuggets of moving wisdom as “Be sure to trim your children’s nails before the move and keep the nail cutters handy– their nails will continue to grow exponentially during the 48-72 hour transition.” Sadly, I’m learning this the hard way as I have yet to find the box with the nail cutters and my kids are now sporting claws with what looks like a dirty French manicure. I did, however, finally find the box with their socks and underwear and it’s pretty scary thinking back on the crazy happy dance I did upon that discovery. This move has pretty much driven me insane.
Speaking of nails, I did my nails last night. This was no ordinary act considering the disarray I’m living in since our move. The fact that I took the time to do something other than unpack another box or organize something is huge. My reasoning was simple: life goes on.
Life goes on, indeed. My children have never once stopped asking on a daily basis, “What’s for breakfast/lunch/dinner?” and my personal favorite while in the throes of packing and cleaning, “Can we go to the beach?”
As further proof that life doesn’t skip a beat while you move, I’ll tell you what else motivated me to do my nails. Today (Thursday) is my husband’s birthday, Friday is our 10th anniversary, Saturday is my birthday and Sunday is Father’s Day. We may not have any major plans to celebrate, but I wanted my nails to be ready for anything, except unpacking boxes.
When we first talked about moving with the Aumies, they asked for a tree to build a tree house and hang a rope swing. We tried, but it just didn’t happen. I think we’ve made up for it in other ways, though. Here are a few things about our new house that I think my kids will remember forever:
* Sprinklers. I loved running through sprinklers as a kid and it makes my heart happy to see them equally as thrilled.
* More nooks and crannies for Hide and Seek. I’ve discovered my kids can play a mean game of Hide and Seek in 1 room with 4 walls and no furniture, so the crazy amount of hiding places in this house will mean hours of entertainment, right?
* A bona fide Harry Potter room under the stairs. Not sure who’s more excited about this…me or my oldest who’s read the series.
* A mailbox slot. I love how kids see the magic in everything.
* Roly-Polies. it appears our house was built on sacred roly-poly ground because they are everywhere outside, which is just where I like them. I think the first rule we made in the new house was “No roly-polies inside the house!” But that doesn’t stop them from creating temporary homes for the little guys in my nice storage containers.
*Bunk Beds. As you know, my kids have slept on the floor their entire lives, save for the cradle Grandpa made when Aumie #1 was born. Now Grandpa has outdone himself with 2 sets of solid bunk beds!
And here’s what I love so far:
* There’s a bathroom with a lock, so I can continue to be a WAHM. Just one thing, the door still leaves plenty of room for kids to peek and poke hands and feet through…is this just standard bathroom door construction?
* Neighbors who are happy a family has moved in instead of a bunch of college kids. The last time I lived on this side of town I WAS a college kid, and now I’m back with a husband and 4 kids…it boggles my mind!
*Homeschooling friends nearby! Ones who bring baked goods to welcome you to the neighborhood and fill you in on all the fun stuff to do in these parts.
* Ocean air. I still can’t believe we live so close to the ocean. If I ever complain again, just call me on it.
This move has taught me a lot so far, namely, what I need and don’t need in life, and what can be tossed and bought later at Ross. I’ve also learned that the true meaning of friendship lies in who is willing to lift your heavy furniture and poorly packed, unlabeled boxes. Thanks, friends! I should also thank all those who watched my kids, brought snacks and helped me clean the old house. “It takes a village” is no understatement.
Well, the boxes can wait. It’s time to do a little celebrating. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!
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