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The kids are all right
When we first brought up the possibility of our Australia adventure, the kids' initial responses were pretty characteristic of their personalities.
Lauren: Cool! When do we find out for sure? Can I come? Can I have one of our cars here at university?
Maddy: (in the middle of G's sentence "my company has an opportunity in Australia-"): YES! Let's do it!
Sam: (quiet, measured look on his face): Hmmm. I don't know. I'll have to think about it.
Keep in mind that we have always talked about how great it would be to live abroad as a family. And that we love to travel and have tried to emphasize experiences over things. On top of all that, we have a pretty strong lineage of wanderlust and adventuring. So, while this opportunity came kind of out of the blue, the concept is not too earthshattering for our offspring.
Even so, as we've absorbed the reality of the enormity of this change, of course all of our initial responses have gone through stages of both tempering and leavening. Sam has gradually warmed to the idea and now is enthused and even predicts he'll want to stay through high school. Lauren remains upbeat and inquisitive but I'm sure she has moments when it feels like we'll be far away (I know I do).* Maddy has had some sad moments of leaving-itis (e.g., student body elections for next year) sprinkled amidst her excitement. She kindly demonstrated the progression of her emotions:
As I told my parents and sibs recently, it definitely feels like that metaphoric roller coaster ride, complete with adrenaline and the occasional leaden lurching stomach. Weeee...oh no no no....weee! But it will be good, all in all. We'll learn a lot, explore new things, and figure out everything else. Mostly we feel upbeat**, encouraged, and calm in the knowledge that no matter what, we have each other. That will stay the same.
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*L posted this about it on her blog.
** How can you not feel upbeat about Australia when you listen to this?
Friday, May 4, 2012
Reader Comments (6)
great post. And - you will be totally hanging out with the Shins! Love their music.
When I told J the big news he said, "Oh, we are so going there. That's a place even I'd visit."
Pretty big acclaim from the man who would sell his kidney before having to get on one. more. plane.
I can't wait for you. Is it weird that I'm totally dreaming about it and pretending in my head that it's me? :-)
What's the reaction on the ward front? One way to get out of a big calling, that's for sure.
I'm thrilled for you, Annie! What an adventure! I'm still holding out hope for one of my own....perhaps I'll just come visit you.
Ditto on what Christie said. Greg and I were wondering about that too. Guess G doesn't have to do the Bishop thing for 7 years... NICE
since we are primarily online friends, then i'm okay with the move. although i do mourn you leaving my state of origin, i know that you guys will eat up every moment of your stay down under. i think it's outstanding.
Yay! We've been through similar feelings with our move away from Athens, Ohio to Laie, Oahu.
We've always wanted to go to New Zealand and Australia, and now we'll be closer-- so maybe instead of meeting you in person in MA, I'll meet you in person in Australia! OR, maybe you'll come visit us in Laie? :)
Congratulations.