The Move: Days 11 & 12

We're finally here, after two weeks of homelessness. We are happy to be here, even if it is a temporary space in my cousin's house until we find one of our own. This move has taught me a lot. One is that anyone with little sleep, long hours driving cross country, and more whining from my kids than I care to mention is prone to get a little frustrated with his kids. At least saying so makes me feel a little better. So does watching every move my friends and family make as they care for their kids in the hopes that they will lose their tempers with their kids too. Short-tempered fathers like to feel normal. Anyway, I was pretty pushy with my son, the king of delay, at bath time. So pushy that he said, "I want Mommy to bath me tomorrow." I tried to be more kind and patient today, however, and he had no problems with my bathing him. I also slapped my daughter's hand just after she'd hit my son for the hundreth time in a fit of rage then hit me as the rage went on. I couldn't tell her not to hit--I'd be a hypocrite. So, I told her that that is how we feel when she hits. At bedtime, however, all of that seems to disappear. I love putting them to bed. The two oldest were squeezed together again on a queen mattress, the youngest in a pack-n-play. I told them a story that included some daddy humor, which they love now, though I am reminded they will not find funny when they're older. The story also included a grumpy father as my effort to say that I was wrong. I also apologized for being so grumpy and kissed them good night. Alas, their happiness was again shattered when they again had to say good-bye to friends with whom they'd only been able to play for one day. This morning's good-bye was one of the hardest yet, and seemed to be a culmination of the many irregularities, activities, hours of driving, and good-byes our little kids have had to experience over the past twelve days. Our daughter longingly said, "I miss them." And our son and daughter both cried quite a bit. It is true. We will miss everyone we visited. You have helped us so much on our way. We are grateful we could have even one day to visit and introduce our kids to your kids or have them play together. This includes former college roommates, neighbors, family, and other dear friends. As we drove over the Rockies and into the valley, we felt a sense of relief. We could tell our kids did too. They of course bounced off the walls when we got here--this time we cut them some extra slack, especially after how tough I was on them yesterday, but they were also so excited that there is no more driving, nor more changing homes, and especially no more good-byes.