I’ve Missed You!

Hi Blog! Hi readers! I’ve missed you!

Since the last time I was here, it’s been a wild ride.

FIRST, Noah, Josie, and I drove to Milwaukee from Atlanta. It wasn’t a bad drive, except for one serious meltdown in Indianapolis. Noah started throwing things while we were going 70 mph. And all the exits were in scary decrepit industrial areas. When I finally decided to stop no matter what at the next exit, it was Kessler Boulevard, and half a mile down the road, we spotted a Presbyterian church with a big parking lot — better still, it turned out that the church had a playground behind it. Thirty or 40 minutes later, Josie was fed, Noah had run off some steam, and we were all feeling better.

NEXT, we arrived at Grandma & Grandpa’s house, where we stayed for just shy of 2 weeks. Grandma & Grandpa had “baby boot camp” and were amazingly helpful.

DURING THAT TIME, I had a job interview, all of our household stuff was delivered and divided between our house and Grandparents’ basement, and everyone got terrible colds. Noah got to play in the snow for the first time. He had a blast, but has subsequently developed mixed feelings about it.

Noah has also developed a few other interesting preferences. He hates being forced to wear 2 shirts, and also pjs with a zip up wearable blanket on top. Unfortunately, no layers is not an option in winter in Wisconsin. He also has a new friend, Andy, with whom he clearly has the potential to become best frenemies. They are still learning to share, but they mostly entertain one another.

LAST FRIDAY, we moved into our new house. Right now, we’re at the marginally functional Rubick’s Cube state of unpacking. But we’re getting into a routine and settling into the new place.

SATURDAY, I spent the whole day away from Josie for the first time. It was at a continuing legal education thing I needed to do so I can work here. It was both interesting and rough. Today I’m doing it again, and I have 2 more full days after today. As much as I miss them, having a day where I can stand up, go to the bathroom, and eat something on my own time frame. No one is shrieking, I have changed no diapers, and I’m enjoying the lack of having the movie Cars playing in the background.

As much as moving has been hard on all of us, there have been some great moments already, and I know they’re going to build. Noah has now spent enough time with his Milwaukee Grandma that he isn’t shy with her, even at first. Grandpa is only a hair more intimidating. I’ve also had a great time hanging out with friends like Madelaine & Eric, Peter & Meredith, and with extended family — especially Aunt Susie and my cousin Kirsten.

Thank you, village!

Of course, even with all this amazing and wonderful help, I’ve figured out that what I really need is more help. I don’t know how stay at home moms manage! And I don’t know how single moms manage. I especially have no idea how an unemployed single mom is supposed to find a job — it just requires time and childcare, both on a predictable and regular basis.

So. Friday the kids and I are going to look at 2 day care centers in the neighborhood. One has immediate openings for both kids, M-W-F. The other will have openings in mid-January. I think that will give me the bandwidth to keep unpacking, to organize the pantry, etc. And it will give Noah somewhere to sing and dance and play games and wrestle and generally have more fun than I can provide. (Not that Eric is inexpert in any of these things! But Noah misses school, and I am a complete washout as far as singing and playing children’s music is concerned.)

Anyway, we are settling in, and I could not be happier to be getting online again.

And a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the whole village.