So much has changed since we packed up all of our belongings and shoved them into a storage locker last June. G has a longer commute, I have a smaller closet, and G’s parents’ household has more than doubled in size. It’s been an adjustment for all of us, but no one has had to handle more changes over these past five months than Kate.
We said goodbye to the only house she has ever known, in the only city she’s ever called home. We moved her away from all of her friends to a town full of total strangers. We packed up nearly all of her toys, pulled her polka dot sheets over the futon in her Grandma and Grandpa’s office, taped a Frozen poster to the wall and said, “You’ll be sleeping here, kiddo.”
Kate, age 5, raking leaves at Grandma & Grandpa’s house.
She had to join a new soccer team, attends a new place for swimming lessons, and has a new drive to school.
She’s figured out that this bank doesn’t have cookies, that playground doesn’t have a digger, and none of the grocery stores sell her favorite yogurt.
Every single place she goes she has to memorize all new names, new faces, new rules, and how to find the bathroom.
She started kindergarten.
Living with my in-laws’ has been so wonderful. It really has. It’s such a treasure for Kate to see her grandparents every single day and for the five of us to sit around the dinner table at night. She spent her summer surrounded by four doting adults, Woodson the Cat next door, a gorgeous lake in her backyard, a beach down the street, and more love than her sweet little five-year-old heart could ever comprehend.
This doesn’t change the fact that she’s been through so many changes in such a short amount of time.
And she’s handled it all so amazingly well.
Probably the best of all of us.
We know she misses Madison, but she’s never once complained about this new life we’ve chosen for her – not this temporary one while our house is being built, or the long-term one that will have her calling Cambridge her hometown.
She doesn’t get frustrated with me when she’s excited about planning a playdate with a new friend and I say, “I don’t know her parents yet so I have no way of getting ahold of them.”
She speaks up and asks questions when she’s confused or curious, and simply looks down and silently logs her brand new bit of information when the cashier says, “Oh sorry, we don’t give out stickers here.”
She’s patient and understanding when she asks to see her best friend Gwen and it takes us weeks to coordinate because we now live an hour away instead of one block away.
Life changed big time for our little girl back in June.
And now it’s November.
She has one more big change left when we move into our new house in a couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to watch her rediscover her old toys, jump on her bed, and explore our new neighborhood. I’m looking forward to our family settling in, claiming our spaces, finding our new normal and Kate’s new favorite yogurt.
November is here and it’s almost time to release that pause button we pressed back in June.
But for now, we play.
We’re a military family and have moved 9 times, and I’m writing to you from Okinawa, Japan. I SO understand. Hang in there, change is tough but rewarding.
I’ve been thinking about military families (and other families who need to relocate often) while we’ve been displaced and putting life on hold. I can hardly imagine all of the additional challenges that come along with relocating to a completely different country (not to mention having your partner in the military). I hope you are all adjusting well, Jessica! Thank you for your service!
Kids are so incredibly resilient. What an amazing experience for her, and you as a family!
So true, Carrie – and thank goodness for that! It has been such a treasure for the five of us to have this quality time together. Thank you!
If only all of us could embrace change the way Kate has. She’s so sweet!
The yogurt piece cracks me up because our store just stopped carrying my favorite. I was mildly devastated!
Thank you so much, Alison! And seriously – what is it about yogurt?? I drove around for two hours the first time I tried grocery shopping in our new area trying to find the one with the kangaroo on it. Once I figure out what our new grocery store is going to be I’m going to ask them if they’ll carry it. You never know! In the meantime, thankfully, she also likes the Stony-whatever kind, so crisis averted.
I can’t believe how many different yogurt choices there are! Asking the store for a specific one is a good call.
It’s a little bit ridiculous. Every once in awhile I find myself asking Kate, “Do you still like yogurt? Are you sure…?” #overit
We are moving next month and the hardest part for me is the kids. We’re just moving two towns over, but they’ll be changing schools and moving away from their neighborhood. They are excited and totally on board–so why do I feel so guilty?? #momlife
Good luck to you with your move, Kerry! I totally understand the mixed emotions, and I’m sure you’re doing what’s best for your family. Big hugs to you, mama!
Awww this brought tears to my eyes, both happy and sad tears.
It always seems that the kids handle it better than the adults.
She will settle right in I am sure…..your new house is amazing….in love with it.
Can’t wait to see the inside
Congrats. on the new move!!!
Thank you so much, Debbie! And you’re right – I think of all of us Kate has probably adjusted with the most ease, even though she’s had the most changes. She just had a playdate with her friend Gwen (from our old town) yesterday, which was so much fun. We talked about them becoming “pen pals” which would be really neat and such a fun way to keep in touch!
Sophia and Piper have loved making Kate’s old house their new home. They adjusted so well…must be all the positive, loving energy you left for our family. Anytime Miss Kate (and you and G) want to come back and visit her old home, you all are welcome!
You know how to bring tears to a girl’s eyes, Athena! Thank you so much for your incredibly sweet comment. We are so thrilled to hear the girls have adjusted well and are loving your new home. It was such an honor and a blessing for us to hand our home over to a family as wonderful as yours!
PS. We saw the new slide and it looks AMAZING!!