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As I've shared over the last year, we've had some big adjustments in our family after moving to Ohio. This week as my kiddos seemed to be having a few extra rough few days, I scurried to my computer, because I've learned everything I know (really) from Google.
I typed in . . .
How to make it easier for kids to move.
How to make it easier for teenagers to move.
How to make it easier to move.
How to make moving less stressful.
How to handle moving.
(Does anyone else have days where they type just plain old silly stuff into Google in hopes of a brilliant answer?)
Well, while I did read a few good suggestions, I didn't come up with anything amazing. So I started thinking.
I decided that we as a family needed to really think about things that we've enjoyed here in Ohio, so I wrote on our big chalkboard (from TJMaxx of course), “Things we LOVE about Ohio . . .”
(the deer outside our window this week – we love seeing them here!)
Now, because I've hung out with my kids for a day or two, I knew two out of the three of them wouldn't all that happily start coming up with their list. (One of them is on a mission to dollop on a little extra guilt every chance they get – ugh.) So, being the smart momma I am, I told them that for every item they came up with they'd get a quarter. To sweeten the deal, I decided that sometime this week we'd head out for ice cream and they could use all of their quarters to buy the biggest ice cream they could afford, up to $5.
(Because they know me pretty well too, they knew this was a big deal as they're usually limited to the $1-$2 ice cream cones, so a big $5 ice cream sundae is a pretty big treat at our house.)
Two of my three kids immediately got started, and slowly came up with a few fun things about the Buckeye State. But one resisted, until about an hour before our ice cream trip was set.
Sure enough, within a few minutes all three became highly motivated, and here's just a few of the items they came up with. (Please don't be horrified by their handwriting – they were on top of each other trying to write quickly because ice cream was coming soon!) 😉
Things we love about Ohio:
- Fall
- People
- Jackson having to mow the yard (that one came from his sister.)
- Cold
- Winning schools 😉
- Taking pictures outside
- Church
- Summer Camp
- Skiing (closer than it was here in Alabama – they're excited about that!)
- Deer
- Big yard
- My room
- Patio
- Handels Ice Cream
- Graeters Ice Cream (do you see a theme here?)
- Big city
- Mr. **** (a teacher – not sure if he'd want his name up here!)
- Grass (We don't miss our Alabama Bermuda grass at all – greener grass year round is so nice!)
- Ski club
- Walking through new houses (we're in a new neighborhood and love sneaking to see what the new homes look like)
- Sweaters & boots
- Ellie, Kate, Ava & Anelise. (So thankful for neighborhood girls for my kids to play with – would be nice to find some good teenagers for my son to hang out with too but I'm holding out hope for that!)
- Big Ten
- Ohio State (I was surprised by that one? I think our youngest is revolting against my husband's alma mater University of Illinois.)
- Study hall
- Watching Illinois play Ohio State in a few weeks (We have tickets – yay!)
- Our fireplace
- Cooler summer
- Pretty trees
- Love Laurie being here with me. (That was from my husband. He loves me.) 😉
I don't know where you're at today, but maybe you need a “things I love” list too. Maybe your list would be . . .
Things I love about my home. . .
Things I love about my job. . .
Things I love about my (tiny-sleepless-colicky) baby. . . (Can you tell I've been there?) 😉
Things I love about my family . . .
For me (and maybe my family?) having a big old list of things they're enjoying ~ even if they were bribed into it ~ just makes me feel like maybe we'll get through this not-so-easy season too. If you're in a season when things aren't just the way you planned – whether there's an illness, a financial struggle, or anything else that's just more difficult than you expected, maybe drawing up a thankful list will help ease a tough day a bit. (And you should definitely end it with ice cream – because that just makes life a little brighter.) 😉
Do you have any tips on how to handle a kinda-stressful-even-if-it's-not-bad situation? Goodness, I could sure use your encouragement on this one as I know some of you all have been here too. Thanks for letting me ramble a bit today – I'm so very thankful for you!
We just moved (within the state), but there is plenty i miss about our previous lication…but there is plenty i can find to like wbout yjis location. Thanks for sharing.
I am origionally from Ohio. I spent the first 14 years of my life in that state before moving to Alabama. The 4 seasons is the one thing I miss most about Ohio. We had deer out of our back window too! I still have several family members left up there so I get back for a visit at least once a year. Moving is HARD no matter the age. You all will find your place there as you did in Alabama. The Lord always has a plan!
Thanks so much for sharing Amie! I think the seasons here are beautiful so far (I’ve never lived anywhere with such a beautiful summer – the last five months really have been gorgeous!), and even though I’m a little anxious about winter I know I’ll love seeing the snow – and my kids will too. 😉 Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Hey Laurie,
I needed to read this post today! While we are not moving, I have had a very bad week and sometimes when you have a bad week or a difficult time it starts to feel like your life is bad or at least not what it should be. Remembering all the good things and blessings really helps when it comes to turning the bad days into good ones. I am very fortunate for all the many wonderful things in life I just have to remember that and maybe write them down too so that it is a constant reminder of all the the good. 🙂
There are so many different things in life that can just make life more difficult Amanda – I hope making a list helps turn your week around a bit! When I step back and look at all we have I know I’m absolutely ridiculous to ever complain (we are so stinkin’ blessed!), but many days I so easily forget that. Hang in there in your week too- I’m praying a fantastic weekend ahead for you!
Ok, I just looked up the “Footprints” poem to make sure Google would send you to the right place and while I am love, love, love the Footprints poem referring to the Lord holding us in our time of need, and is definitely applicable in your situation, I was referring more to the quote that says, ““Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.” And I think it’s important to recognize this in people and when having to let them go. I had a hard time adjusting to moving on from come college and high school friends, but I realize 15-20 years later that they were all still important and played very important roles, but the ones I still keep in touch have extra special places. Sorry to take up so much room in your combox, but this post really struck a cord with me!!
Thank you so much for sharing Jennifer – that is such a wonderful reminder and I needed to hear it! I know so much of it is just getting through the adjustment, and surely we’ll get there (just hard in the in-between spot). Thank you so much for taking up room in my comment box! 😉
I do a Top 10 list on specific children when we are having a rough time and it really does help to recognize the good things, even if it’s a reaalllly small thing. 😉
I second everyone’s rule to adjustment. We moved to Huntsville 5 years ago (can’t believe it’s been that long!!) and although I’m not sure it took 3 years to get adjusted, it definitely took awhile. However, I have 4 young kids that don’t have a memory of Atlanta, 2 never even lived there, so it mostly me trying to find my new groove. But, you know, life brings people in and out for many different reasons and sometimes it’s really hard to let some of them go, but there are always other great ones on the other side. If you aren’t familiar with the “Footprints” poem, you should “Google it”. 😉
We recently moved from the west coast to the east coast with our 5 yr old daughter. We moved for work but left all we knew (family, friends, church, school and familiar places). One thing we did when we moved was to make a photo book of all of the important people we love that are still on the west coast. This helped for those tearful nights when we missed our friends or life was rough here. Also helped with is it ok to make new friends because we didnt want to forget our old ones. I love the chalk board idea. This we will be trying 🙂
Andrea – I love the photo book idea and we need to do that! I think we’re struggling with finding the balance between including friends and not being sad that they’re not here (my daughter decided yesterday to pull away from her friends back home because she said it makes it easier for her not to be sad about missing them.) It’s definitely just a hard adjustment period, so glad to hear others have gone through similar things too because it just makes me feel like I’m not alone!
We just told our children a month ago that we are going to be moving from NM to TN after the school year. The moving truck is already booked. For me personally it is going home but for my husband and 5 kids (ages 3-15) it is moving across the country to a place they only have visited. Of course it will help that Grandma & Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins all live there too! They are just as freaked out about school and making new friends and everything. These posts help me to try and prepare both before the move and after. Thanks!
Oh Jenn – my heart aches for you as those were just the most toughest months (it was almost easier to get it over with – and we did it on about the same timeline as you – found out last October but didn’t move until May.) Just try to remember that time makes life so much easier, but those months were not easy – hang in there and hopefully they’l look forward to being near family. (And Tennessee’s such a wonderful place!)
Love reading your post! We moved from Florida last December to Canton, Oh! We have 4 kids! Transition has been hard also! Thanks for sharing! Thankful hearts help ease transitions! Even in struggle there is beauty like Fall/leaves!
Love reading your post! We moved from Florida last December to Canton, Oh! We have 4 kids! Transition has been hard also! Thanks for sharing! Thankful hearts help ease transitions! Even in struggle there is beauty like Fall/leaves!
Thank you Julie for sharing – so good to hear I’m not alone! I definitely need to remember “thankful hearts help ease transitions” there’s so much truth in that. Thank you for encouragement (and I hope you hang in there too – it really will be good!)
I feel for you! I moved from my childhood home in Wadsworth, Ohio to Minneapolis when I was 13. Oh. My. Goodness. I regrettably made my parents pay for making me leave. It is a very difficult age to move and I spent the next several years in a very awful rebellion. I wish I had advice, but it just takes time and lots of love and support from mom and dad. All the best to your kiddos!
Yup – that’s exactly where we’re at Emily – and it’s so hard! I know that a LOT of it is the age but it doesn’t make the guilt feel much less. I know in the long run it’ll be fine, but some days are tough. So glad to hear you survived!
I love what you did. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make the transition easier for all of you! My did a similar thing when she moved from Southern California to northern Indiana in the fall. It helped her to realize that at least there weren't skinned knees in the winter!
Thanks Christine! We’ve been so thankful to meet so many nice people but it’s just a huge transition – I don’t think I was quite prepared for it. And that’s a great reminder about skinned knees (there are great things about winter, right?) 🙂
I'm from Ohio and each community can be quite different. Also, I have noticed from my own moving experiences and the experiences of others that for many people, it can take about 3 years to acclimate to the culture and area. I hope this helps!! Hang in there!! 🙂
Someone else told me 3 years today too Lydia – I was hoping it would just be one year but think I’m going to have to be patient! Thanks for your encouragement (we’ll get through!!!)
I'm from Ohio and each community can be quite different. Also, I have noticed from my own moving experiences and the experiences of others that for many people, it can take about 3 years to acclimate to the culture and area. I hope this helps!! Hang in there!! 🙂