Moving.

Congrats to Eryn and Jill H. Email me with your address and I'll send off your photo books. And to those of you who commented, thank you. Check out Tracey's Photo Blog Picture This. It has really helped me take better pics of my kids.

Many of you that read my other blog know that I have chosen (I'm reminding myself that I do have a choice in this) to move to Little Rock with my husband while he does National Guard training. He starts 11/12 and will be there at least through February. We're hoping he can get transferred back to Dobbins AFB (in Atlanta where we live) for the last portion of the training. Otherwise, we'll be in Little Rock until April.

I've chosen to go for several reasons (again, reminding myself why):

a) He'll be home every night as opposed to being gone 3-4 days at a time.

b) He'll be home for the holidays.

c) I don't think I can manage with working and parenting alone 5 days out of the week every week (I know there are people that do this, but I don't think that mentally I can).

d) While I might be physically able to parent alone during the week, I'm not sure how that will fare with my children, mainly my daughter who would miss her father terribly.

And so, we've decided, thanks to our two gigantic dogs, that we'll need to live in furnished housing on base. But, I'm really not sure exactly how to manage this temporary move.

1) Should I leave after Thanksgiving and have him come home for that holiday, or should we all just go together this weekend *gulp* and stay there, knowing that the back and forth for the kids might be rough.

2) What should I bring? It's furnished -- but I'll need toys, my own linens, toys, computer... Anything else you might suggest I take?

3) Should I try to put my daughter in school while we're there, or just find a sitter and make a dedicated effort to get her out into some activities (like a music class, dance, etc.) so that she has the opportunity to play with other kids? This does mean that I will have to make some social efforts -- not generally my strong point since I LOVE to sit at home and work work work.

4) Would you go back to your house for the Christmas holidays? or just stay there?

5) Finally, why won't my 9.5 month old son, who's got his two top teeth FINALLY cutting, not nap? Just curious why all of a sudden he refuses to take his blessed once a day but still amazing 2.5 hour nap.

Help?!

Comments

[Awesome Mom]

I would try and just make a clean break going to the old house as little as possible. Kids need a routine. As far as schooling goes I could go either way if it were me. It would be a great help in meeting other kids but if you can't find anything I would not beat myself up. Good luck!

[The Mom Trap]

The more I think on this, I wonder if I had a regular sitter, maybe I could handle it.

Like someone who came twice a week for the mornings...

He'd be home on weekends and for the holidays and then we wouldn't have to schlub everything out there.

[Me]

So, no kids here, but I read your blog daily (btw, I clicked on the Ryka site from your one blog and just won a pair of shoes!!! WOO HOO!! Me and my big size 12's!) anywho, maybe you have Q pick a few special items so that she feels like she's a part too, not just being uprooted. I would also think that rather than starting her in school where she won't then continue with new friends, maybe you start her in an organized activity-that way the regularity she sees them is only 1 or 2 times a week and leaving them won't be "as" hard. And as someone who's apt is way too small, maybe you consider this a fab chance to shed some of those extra toys-you know the rule, you don't realize you need them for 6 mos you get to chuck them? Or regift them to yourselves after you've come back home ;)
Good luck, and cheers to you for making this decision. I know it's not easy.

[Bill]

I'm not sure what you'll want to take, but we lived in a rental in VA away from our house and stuff in TX for about 9 months, and I can suggest that you (in no particular order, but you might want to do #8 first):
1. Have a friend/neighbor with a key who can ship you things that you will forget (as well as check on your house).
2. Turn off the water to your washer/dryer.
3. Have your friend check things like pilot lights, thermostat settings, etc. to make sure they're in working order. Also have them flush toilets and run sinks occasionally.
4. Get someone to take care of your yard. At least the front.
5. Get timers for the lights. X10 is great stuff.
6. Unplug everything except lights that will be on the timers.
7. Plan on going back once.
8. Check with your insurance company about how it will work. We had to talk ours into keeping our house insured, because it was technically vacant. They wanted to drop it to fire-only, which wouldn't have covered any of our stuff. Fortunately they said since our neighbors were going in and out and that I was going back a couple of times that it would be okay.

Good luck!
Bill

[B]

1. Take pictures of your current house and make a cheap photo book of it. Let Q carry it around and show it off to her friends. It will keep her connected to your Atl. digs.

2. Cut yourself a lot of slack. If you can be cheerful for 15 minutes 3 times a day, you will be the worlds best Mommy.

3. Join a My Gym or something similar. The people who work there will help with your kids.

4. Hire some 11 year old to come over and play with your kids for $3/hr. (Hey, you will still be home, after all). They'll love to play with someone that age, and you will be able to make dinner/have a cocktail in peace. Besides, you'll be less bitter when Husband comes home if you have had an hour of peace.

These are things that helped me when we had baby #3 and my husband was gone 4 nights a week. Feel free to disagree with all my my suggestions and pour that drink at 11 AM.

[dana]

I remember when I was young, single and way hot, I moved 5 times in three years.

One would think I'd have expert packing advice, but I just moved crap from one apartment to the next (my dad owned a complex and I'd repaint and fix up each apartment as a way to get free rent.)

After the 2nd move, I started putting shit in storage only taking the necessities. Like linens, clothes, books and booze. Lots of booze. ;)

[Ashley]

I am in the same exact situation...I just moved from the east coast to the west coast for my husband's job. We are renting a house as our stay should be about a year. My 3 year old is having a very hard time adjusting...still on the hunt for a good preschool. I suggest start looking online for a school now! Also, if your house is anything like mine you will need to bring/buy lots of baby proofing items...gates,bumpers etc.
Good Luck!!!!!