The kids did pretty well at the new place. In fact, M didn't seem interested in his last week of his old school; it seems like he's transitioned in his mind. I expected my baby L to freak out at the new school, since she has the tendency to yell when strangers approach, but she even let me leave her for a few hours and did not seem too traumatized by it all.
I'm not thrilled with this new place. They will be safe and cared for, but I don't think they will be very stimulated. The toys suck and the teachers are just babysitters- they don't get down and play with the kids or teach them things.
But it's right for right now. I now have to do both drop off and pick up and since I commute into the city, I literally can't have them at different sites. It's bright and clean and welcoming. It has a nice backyard. They take safety seriously. I just think that come fall, M might be bored. We'll see if we're still here and adjust accordingly.
It was just a stressful week for all of us. M is acting out a bit and I felt totally overwhelmed. I cried at our temple preschool when we said goodbye to M's teachers. Because of logistics and money, we just can't send him there next year.
I think that if I'm going to join the FS, I'm going to have to toughen up a bit and be better able to deal with chaos and lots of changes at once.
Here are a few pics from the party. I'm coveting my friend's camera with which these were taken.
8 comments:
You learn to roll with it on the FS some, but still the changes are hard. I have been on an emotional roller coaster all month with the upcoming move. I try to keep it calm in front of the kids but I am crying on my husbands should fairly regularly.
I find change hard sometimes, too. Shannon's comment made me feel so much better, because as excited as I am, I've also been crying at weird moments, and feeling sort of lame about it. This is what I've long wanted, but it's still so hard at times!
There's nothing wrong with tears. Pretending you don't have them, or need them, is much worse. I am constantly reminding myself that even though this is our dream life, I will always question if our oldest is acting out one day because of too many changes or if our youngest speaks gibberish sometimes because of the two language immersion. In the end, I think I would still worry about such things even if we had never left Austin. You can only live the life you have chosen with optimism, hope and joy - I think you're doing that. Hang in there.
First - you have a beautiful family! I totally understand where you are coming from on contemplating FS life - especially with kids. It's hard not to worry that somehow this will be traumatizing and they'll end up resenting the lifestyle of moving. I know I had difficult times when I was a kid and we had to move. That being said, I don't think we give kids near enough credit for rolling with it. If you can face the move with some excitement and confidence, I'm sure the kids can pick up on that. Any closer to the register?
Being nervous about changes, big or small, is natural. We are creatures of habit and change can be scary and uncomfortable at times. But it can also mean learning, adventure, meeting new people, seeing new place and that helps us all grow, not just children.
I have met a few FS brats and they all loved growing up all over the world and wouldn't change it for the world.
This lifestyle change won't be easy but I am sure you and your children will be happy you chose it one day...
Best of luck with the register!
Beautiful pictures!
The one thing I've definitely found over the past 7 years living overseas is that kids are resilient! They ebb and they flow .. and most often they acclimate to situations far better and faster than we do.
Chaos will abound ... but it will also make for great blog fodder!
Jill said what I was going to say...my kids were so much more emotionally prepared for this move than I was!
I am so touched by everyone's kind comments- thank you! They are so appreciated. It's funny; I really like and seek out change, but also don't think I handle it very well. It's one of the many reasons I'd like to join the FS, to be better at dealing with life's (many) surprises.
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