If you haven’t heard, we are in the midst of preparing for a two part move.
Part one, we move out of our home and back into the nest. YUP … back in with my parents for two months, two months that HAPPEN to have the highest number of weeks KNOWN to man in them, like *seriously* normal months have 4 weeks, these months are like a bajillion weeks (I think we counted a total of 11 weeks … which, on this end, seems like an eternity).
Now, I want to make it very clear that I am not *NOT* looking forward to spending so much quality time with my folks again, or that I am dreading this as much as I would say … going to get an unmedicated root canal … BUT … it will be an exercise in grace and discipline. For all of us. And, I know – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that this will be an excellent opportunity to minister to my family as they open their doors to four kids, 2 dogs, and another mother and father. << PS, I have learned, from BOTH sets of our parents, that you never STOP being a parent. Once a mom, always a mom. And so, with this next “in-between” we will have two moms and two dads, working to define the lines of responsibility and respect.
Yup, like an unmedicated root canal.
Anyway, I am home, ALONE, today as I prepare for the final parts of our move tomorrow.
Kid free, ALONE. And, I would be lying if I said that there wasn’t a part of me … a very LARGE part of me, that just wants to take a long shower, drink a hot coffee and maybe take a nap. Because, with 4 dudes under 5 … finding a day to be alone in my own home, is well, kind of like finding a flying, rainbow unicorn who toots pixie dust.
BUT … because that would be a terrible “waste” of this time, and because I would be proving my husband right if I had this time and got nothing SUBSTANTIAL done … I will resign to the indulgence of enjoying a hot coffee, writing this quick post and THEN I will get on with the final touches.
So, what are these blessed last minute tips that I announced as the title of this post you ask?
It’s simple really, the day before the move, if at all possible, you want a kid free home, a bunch of extra boxes, some cleaning products, a hot coffee and a cold beer because YOU are getting to work!
Trust me when I say, even if you slack off royally for the first hour of two of your morning *like I am*, you can move fricken mountains when you don’t have the constant demand of children. Honestly, I am ALWAYS surprised by how MUCH I can get done when I have no children around. Like, do everything, in no time, with very little stress. Seriously, it is almost FUN to clean without kids.
** it brings to mind that meme that says something to the effect that cleaning with children home is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos, and that is no exaggeration **
Another, very important part of this whole packing solo … like without the littles … is you DESPERATELY need to crank those tunes. And you can even allow the ones with the slightly more explicit language because there are no little ears to hear *and*, frankly, the house is eerily quiet when you don’t have the chaos running around. Like, you think you are going to relish the silence – BUT – you’re a boy mom, and there is this automatic response programmed in you that ALARMS you when things are too quiet.
So, coffee *check*, cold brew *check*, packing tape and boxes, cleaning products and them tunes as loud as my iPad can kick it *check, check, CHECK*.
Oh, and if you are wondering what it is I might possibly be listening to, well, let me tell you, I live under a rock now that I have children so I couldn’t possibly stay abreast of what’s hip in my home town. So, I am kicking it with a 90s playlist complements of Spotify!
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, thanks .