I'm waiting to hit my stride. It's been five weeks and I feel like one of those sea turtles from Finding Nemo who is trying to catch the East Australian Current. (Thank you google.) It seems to be eluding me. Several things have been working against me. First, Jackson went through a difficult phase (hooray for molars) as soon as we moved and it made me dread taking him anywhere. I need to build my confidence back up. Second, we haven't had a mother's day out since we moved. That should change this summer. Third, we've had all kinds of appliance and furniture deliveries, pest control appointments (thank you Charlotte), and a major tile job done that have required me to be home a lot. As of today, we are finally done.
The result has been a very hermitish me. I need to get out more. I need to find my sweet spot with work. I need to arrange the day so that it brings out the best in my two-year-old boy. I need to sometimes risk being out of the house around nap time. I need to chance getting in bad traffic because we drove into town to do something fun.
After such a fun weekend, I refused to come home and be a hermit. I totally over-scheduled this week, but I think it's going to be fun. Today Michelle and her boys came over to play. Tomorrow Jackson and I are meeting a friend and her kids for pizza and then I have a girls night out with Michelle, Christine, and Kay. Thursday night after work we are having dinner with a family down the street who goes to our new-old church. Saturday we will head to the country for the day with our Sunday school class. If all that won't shock me out of my shell, I don't know what will.
Well, we're off to have some fried chicken at my mom's house (thank you Popeye's). It's fun to be so close!
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33 comments:
So happy for you getting to hang out with your Mom...but have to say I am a little jealous! My mom and I are very close but have lived apart since college (she is in Houston and I am in Dallas area). I miss her so much!! We talk everyday but it is just not the same. I miss jsut hangin out, shopping together and most of all seeing her with my kids! :(
BUT...she is coming with me to Living Proof Live SA for her first women's conference EVER!! Yea!! I know Jesus will rock her socks off!
Have fun tonight!
I have a shell, too. And sometimes, Amanda, I don't think it's so bad to slow down and find that stride.
But I will be praying for you...to find that stride, to enjoy your new/ old hometown and to be everything that you can be with joy and peace. :)
Have a piece of dark meat for me, will ya?
Wish you could come to the Springs this weekend!!
Whew! Sounds like a fun week. And now I'm craving fried chicken...
When I get back from Haiti (I leave tomorrow) we need to over schedule a lunch date...
Praying you find the current.
God bless your honesty Amanda. I have a three-month old son and am still afraid to get out of the house. Germs, nursing, diapers etc have kept me home for too long! I am praying for the courage to venture forth with my little bean. I know it will never be as easy as it is with an infant! May you rediscover H-town and feel HIS peace wherever you are!
I hope you enjoy every moment of your fun times planned this week! I totally understand how you are feeling. I too am trying to catch my current. Thinking it might have to wait until this school year is finished. :)
I think it is hard to get adjusted to a new house and new-old town. For a while you feel like you are on a vacation, just renting the place. Hopefully having your mom nearby gives you a sense of home. When I am in this situation (I have moved a few times), I tend to focus on making it home for my kids, and then it quickly becomes home for me. Hope you find your current soon!
I feel ya.
Even without the move, having a toddler is full of adjustments. Once I get my day straightened and life seems great, my girls (6 and 2) change it up and I'm scrambling again.
What a blessing to be so close to your family!
I happened upon your blog a few days ago when you posted about moving back home. Thanks for posting that one- I needed that! Also, as I read your blog, I realized who your mom is! I couldn't believe I stumbled upon Beth Moore's daughter's blog! (So, does it break some kind of rule to comment about your mom on your blog?!) Anyway, I love her. She is a blessing to me! And your blog has blessed me too! Thanks!
We moved back to our home town last year. we hadn't lived here in almost 13 years. I have really enjoyed your posts recently about your "going back home". I could really relate.
We've moved a lot, but I thought moving into the town I grew up in would be "easy". I already knew hair dressers (so important!) and doctors, had some friends, and of course both my family and my husbands.
What I didn't take into account is that my husbands new job, moving an entire household, and getting a new home established (including new grocery stores, etc) were still going to be an adjustment. These were all good things, but they were still very stressful. Even though this wasn't an completely new situtaion there was still an adjustment period.
The good news was that the adjustment period didn't last nearly as long!
Be sure to extend yourself some grace during this time! Change is always a hard adjustment, even when the change is so very good!
You'll find it Amanda. You're just getting readjusted. I'm doing Breaking Free and I just finished one of the sections where your mama talked about situational grief. Possibly you're dealing with the death of life as you knew it in Austin?? I have no doubt you'll find your sweet spot, and soon, for you and Jackson. Big hugs from Birmingham!! ~Cathy
My second child was pretty much a terror from age 3 to 4. I had to force myself to take her places, knowing what I might be in for, yet needing to get out of the house. We both survived and she became me sweetest, most obedient, happy to help child. Until age 9 1/2. But hopefully 10 will be looking up again. :) You can do this!
Praying you find refreshment and the EAC this week.
I get that way sometimes. It's hard when you're kids are small and you want to keep them on their schedule. I struggled with the whole naptime thing. I always felt that I needed to be home by a certain time so the kids could nap.
I'm glad you scheduled some fun for the week. Sounds like lots of fun!
I can relate! It was hard to get out with just one toddler, but now that I have a Tod and an infant, I continually wonder what the heck I was so stressed about! haha
Now that I have two children, I've been forcing myself to get out; to stretch my "mommy muscles" even more. It's been fun, and I find myself welcoming each new challenge instead of dreading them.
My big challenge is the temper tantrum. My 2 y/o has no in-between. She's either happy or pitching a massive fit. And being in public doesn't mean anything to her. But it embarrasses me to no end!
Your post really resonated with me, and I'm in a similar situation myself. Our baby is 5 months old today, and I find that we've JUST settled into a routine in the last couple of months.
I'm trying to keep a somewhat predictable schedule each week, including at least one adventure "out" each day. I'm trying to incorporate at least:
1 library Story Time each week (or just a trip to the Children's area of the library if it's not ST week)
1 errand/shopping day each week (in which I treat myself to Starbucks drive-through because the kids are belted in and I can enjoy it sans interruption. This is especially effective if my errands are all drive-through errands like the bank, dry cleaners, etc.)
1 trip to a mall play area
1 playdate with friends (and at least one at my house to keep me accountable in the cleaning/tidying department)
visiting someone in our family
1 trip to a local park (Actually, I'm making it my goal to visit the park as many times a week as we can these days with a HOT summer on the way!)
and I'm also experimenting with teaching my Tod to help me with housekeeping, which luckily she loves. I try to clean at least one room a day with her!
in that vein, I've also been letting her help me cook dinner each evening, which she loves too. Sunni inspired me, always having Ava in the kitchen! It's been hard because I'm a neat freak and OCD, and I'm having to learn to let her make messes and just have fun. But she loves it, and that's all that matters!
Sorry this is so long...and I don't mean to imply that my way is THE way. Just thinking out loud, and if something helps a fellow mom, then glory to God!
I'll be praying for you, fellow mom and sister in Christ. :0)
What, your mom didn't cook the fried chicken herself?
Oh I kid. I kid.
Moving is always an upheaval -- of emotions, of schedules, of normality. I think if you're starting to find your way back into the EAC that we call life just five weeks later, you're doing pretty good.
In the immortal words of Crush, "You totally rock, dude!"
I've lived in our 'new' home for three years and still haven't found a good groove...Just a comfortable chaos.
But you are right, nothing to comfort like fried chicken at mom's!
Glad to hear that you are making strides in your new walk. I pray God's blessing to you and your family as you seek to make your home...
home, once again.
peace~elaine
Always think about how much exerice you get running around town with a toddler. There's some motivation.
Yea for new friends, new fun, and fun with Mom.
Blessings,
Dana
Yeah or it will wear you out and keep you home for a few days. But that's when you make yourself go out again. Have a fun week!
I hate like crazy when I have to force myself to get out...even though staying in is making me beserk even more.
You'll adjust, girlie. It sounds like you are taking all the right steps.
Popeye's can taste homemade if you close your eyes and savor! Will be praying for you to finally get into a "groove" of enjoying your new home (all things getting done) and enjoying your new-old location. You are funnier than you have to be (no blonde pun intended). I love your blog and will continue to keep up with the Joneses.
So glad you're getting out! And eating Popeye's!!!! I'd like a piece right now...only it is 8am and it isn't open.
Sounds like a busy/fun week planned! Your weekend camp-out sounded like SO much fun!! Those 2 yr molars can be ROUGH! I've heard Houston traffic is really bad. I'm sure it would be to me since our "rush" hour is just a few more cars than usual. I bet it must be great living so close to your Parents again!
I am laughing at the fried chicken. I commented to your mom after she wrote the post about her new recipe that she needed some fried chicken or drive-thru for therapy and there you go, Popeye's chicken. To funny!!!
Have a great time today!! It is pretty in Nashville today!! I will be outside enjoying the day!
I had no idea you've been stuck at home so much recently. I have no idea how you've done it. I probably would have gone crazy by now!
I am right there with you - I just made a major move: Vermont to New Mexico, with three children under 5. And, I'm not in my house yet.... but it's good, and I'm happy. I just need a few friends!
Have a great, stretching week!
-Andrea
i can totally relate to this one... staying home all of the time makes you crazy and so does being away too much. tricky little balance there...
i was just thinking about you guys this morning. :D hope things are amazing in your world!
xo. elsie
Isn't it fun being close to mom? I love it! And I'm looking forward to meeting you in August!
Even though I am a grandmother I can relate... we moved twice in a 5 year period. Our last house was I thought the perfect house ... I loved our yard... had plantation shutters... wood floors... but God had a different agenda and he moved us to a home on the other side of town...
We have been so blessed it's a great neighborhood and we have super neighbors.
I take care of our almost 2 year old grandson and so I can be a recluse as well... because I hate to mess with his schedule. We do get out to Story hour, to his little gymnastics class, to the playground, occasionally lunch or breakfast with friends.
The tods are much more resilient than we give them credit for... just always trust your God given instincts.
Fried chicken sounds delish!
From a military wife with 4 cross country moves in 5 years....give yourself a good 6 weeks. I call is my "moving post-partum" time. Sure enough, after 6 weeks, things start coming together.
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