May 8 2015

Goodbye, Friends

Posted by Family, Moving 1 Comment
Goodbye, Friends

The first time I took Peaches to the day care she loves, she was six months old and could barely sit up unassisted. As I left her there on a floor mat, wobbling between two cooing grandma types, I couldn’t even make it to my car before I burst into embarrassing sobs. The women at the front desk definitely cringed a little. Six months is way too young to leave a baby, I thought, hiding my eyes behind massive sunglasses, and for more than a little while I resented having to work.

But as Peaches grew, she learned things. Continue reading →

Apr 27 2015

I Guess I’m Not a Teacher Anymore

Posted by Teaching 7 Comments
I Guess I’m Not a Teacher Anymore

UPDATE: If you arrived here via Google, you’re probably looking for this article instead. Just a hunch.

School is going on right now. MY classes are in session, right this very instant, and I am not there.

I am not a teacher anymore.

Maybe if I say it another eighty-seven times, it will finally sink in. Because right now, I definitely still feel like I have stacks of essays on a desk somewhere, and last night while I was grocery shopping I kept thinking about what I’d need to pack my lunch. But I’m not a teacher anymore. My last day was Friday. Continue reading →

Apr 8 2015

California Housing Market, You’re Kind of the Worst

Posted by Moving 2 Comments
California Housing Market, You’re Kind of the Worst

Whenever I tell people that I’m moving to California, the very first words out of their mouth are something like, “Oh, no! You’ll never be able to afford a house, you know that? It’s REALLY expensive there.” I have literally heard this from everyone: friends, family, neighbors, the people who run our current daycare, the grocery store cashier. It’s insane. And every time someone says it, the WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?! alarm rings a little louder in my head. Continue reading →

Mar 30 2015

A Look at the Bright Side

Posted by Moving 1 Comment
A Look at the Bright Side

Al and I are in California this weekend to try to find a house. Peaches stayed in Michigan with my parents (see this support system I’m leaving behind? Argh). Three days and fourteen houses later, I thought I would check in with a dose of positivity.

Lest you think I’m JUST capable of worrying, I now bring you seven things I happen to be pretty excited about. It’s only seven, okay, not thirteen — but it’s something. Continue reading →

Mar 23 2015

13 (Mostly Irrational) Things That Are Causing Meltdowns

Posted by Moving 1 Comment
13 (Mostly Irrational) Things That Are Causing Meltdowns

We have officially mailed a signed contract to California.

Al really, really wants this. He wants this even more after The Company came back with a second offer. I feel like I should be supportive, and he keeps saying things like, “We may never get an opportunity like this again. We should just take a chance on this. If we don’t at least try it, we may look back and really regret it.” Apparently, ten years from now, we will be “so happy we did this.”

So I keep telling myself we’re just trying it. That’s all. If we want to, we can come back. Continue reading →