Moving Tips from a Military Mom!

The last few months prior to moving I start shutting doors. I actually enjoy this process as warped as that sounds. In the service we call this time 'getting short.' People might say, 'You probably don't want to buy the zoo membership you are getting short' or at the office you might be able to tell someone is getting short with their less than enthusiastic work or attitude. Anyway I enjoy the pulling out or away stage as it gets me prepared to be 'gone.' I cut down my activities with friends and start getting sorted for the move. I guess I start looking ahead at the big mountain and stop worrying about the meadow I am walking in. We begin saying goodbye weeks before the out processing knowing full well that the week of the move we are essentially not available.

We do the farewell parties for soccer, for the kids friends, the potlucks with families, lunches with the ladies, hail and farewells at the office - everything the two or three weeks prior to leaving. With all that done, I am relieved.

We had great going away functions - which is probably a formality of the military which is nice because it really signifies an end and a new beginning. Another enjoyable aspect of it is the gifts we receive - not for the gifts but for the reminders that they will be for us to treasure at our next tour and for years to come.

Margaret's soccer team signed a shirt, a ball, addressed envelopes for them to send to each other, gave her the 'captain' armband from the team and one even cut open a soccer ball and made it a bowl full of candy for our drive up to our new home. Some of her school friends took the disposable cameras to school and took pictures of the everyday life. Then they made a handmade photo album for her with a few notes from friends written on the pages. Also her homeroom teacher threw a surprise going away party for her. She is now in the seventh grade and her sixth grade was a very important stepping stone in her life.

Savannah's class didn't do anything but I think the age and the significant relationships weren't there for her. We did have lots of sleepovers the last few weeks in town and girls nights out where we just had who ever could get together meet wherever it was possible - we took lots of pictures and will make a photo album when we get it together.

David Peter's Mother's Day out gave him laminated photo album of him from the first day he came to the program - that is a result of a very forward thinking person - knowing they all leave or grow up and leave in a short amount of time. I believe the kids all had positive leaving experiences. I know they were spoiled with our time and attention!!

A case for great gifts is what they really do give you - memories. The first thing on my counter that made me smile was my new orange platter painted with peppers - picked out just for me by my best friends in Albuquerque to remind me of my orange kitchen in New Mexico and my love for the green chili peppers. Some of my other fun gifts have been a deep fryer from the Southern gals, glass bowls with native flowers pressed from Alabama, Alabama clay Christmas ornaments and Chosen pottery from the Korean countryside. Imagine that mish mash of a house I have!! All those gifts are fun ways to say good bye and yet take your friendships forward.

Tracey
Mom of three kids and married to a military man
Military Academy, Colorado Springs, Co