30 days. Mixed emotions.
Anxious, antsy, nervous, excited, sad, upset, exhausted, ready, thrilled.
I don't think I've said it clearly enough before ... if you are pondering or weighing the pros/cons of separating your family for a move (whether overseas or cross-country) my opinion and advice is 100% to strongly consider the weight and additional stress that it will add when you split up a family.
One or two weeks is doable.
Three or four weeks is manageable.
Five to seven weeks becomes torture.
Anything over eight weeks is just ridiculous.
Three or four weeks is manageable.
Five to seven weeks becomes torture.
Anything over eight weeks is just ridiculous.
Having said that - I have to remind myself that the SOLE reason we chose this path ... of intentionally being separated for three months (with a 5 day visit halfway in between) was to allow our boys to finish their school year, and for our 8th grader to finish his lacrosse season.
The intention behind our decision is still pure and valid. Todd and I hope that the boys are better for that decision.
Isn't that what is at the core of parenting - - at its bare naked minimum? Making hard decisions and then most often second guessing them? Wondering if you've made the right choices.
Pondering whether you've carried them out in the appropriate manner. Debating (and sometimes beating yourself over the head) whether you made a huge mistake?
In the end, I think that it's about your gut ... and your ability and/or willingness to just tough it out - once you've made your decision.
We made the decision. Now we need to take a deep breath in .... and try to exhale over the next 30 days instead of holding our breath.
Todd is an ordinary guy (albeit amazing, smarter than a whip, kind and gentle) who is just trying to get a house setup and ready for us. Trying his hardest to put in the hours at work, do what has to be done, doing the best he can to be a support and anchor for me. I'm just an ordinary girl who is doing the best she can to raise three kiddos. Trying her hardest to not miss her husband somethin' terrible and trying to get our family of five from our current state of 'separated' to 'reunited' again (and re-acclimated to each other)
... in 30 days.
(We are thoroughly enjoying our time in Nebraska and I will post some photos of our moments and fun in the coming days.)
