The Village

I spent the day today at Myers-Briggs personality type training.  As part of my "teacher coach" job, I receive training to help me work with all types of people.  I actually went to this particular training last fall too, but it's a good refresher to remind me that many people are different than me and might need different things.  My personality type is very clear:  if you know Myers-Brigg, I'm an ESTJ.  If you don't, it basically breaks down to this: I prefer to process by talking (shocking), I prefer evidence over feelings when making decisions, I prefer step by step tasks and directions, and I really prefer to just get tasks done.   None of this is really the point of this post though.  The point is that the past few weeks have put even my step-by-step, methodical nature to the test.  Planning the move, executing the move, setting up a new house, starting a new year and a new job, organizing child care and pick up and drop off and sports and activities.... well, even I, as a very clear ESTJ, have been pushed to my limit.  There is just so. much. stuff.

And it is during times like these that I really appreciate my village of friends and family.  I started counting the number of people who have helped me out in some way over the past two weeks, and I lost count at 35.  35 friends, family, and co-workers!!  Just today, Teresa's parents took over the care, feeding and transportation of the Eitzen kids while I headed to my workshop, and then my dad stayed late to take Josh and Abby to the dentist for me (and that's pretty brave!)

The real point of this post (and boy, did it take me a long time to get here) is a story that really takes the cake.  Literally.  Yesterday was Abby's birthday.  And it was a L.A.M.E. birthday.  We normally make birthdays a special day around here.  The birthday child picks breakfast, they get treats at school, we go out to a special dinner and we have a special birthday dessert.  But as I have mentioned a time or two (or twelve) things are pretty crazy around here, and her actual birthday just got brushed aside.  (Before you feel too bad for her, we did celebrate on Sunday, and she will have her party next week.  Still.) I was down at school last night working on sub plans, and she was with me (see? Lame.) And she was pretty much driving me insane, so I kind of snapped at her.  And then I remembered that a) she is only six and b) it was her birthday! I felt so badly that we hadn't really recognized her special day.  And then, I checked my email and saw this. 

Teresa saves the day.  Earlier in the afternoon, while I sat with James for his miserable dentist appointment, they had cake and candles and singing and even a present from Baba (Teresa's mom).  Right there in my inbox was photographic evidence that my girl was happy and celebrated on her special day.  And that is why I couldn't do this working mom business without my village. 

Six!!

Today, my girl turned six.  She is many things, my Abby.  She is older than her years, always chasing after the big kids, both literally and figuratively.  She is more independent than any other six year old I know.  We have to watch this one in stores and restaurants, or we'll find her ordering a milkshake or asking for a size from the back.  She is a questioner, which mostly drives us crazy, but also will serve her well in life.  She is a bit of a queen bee, never unkind but always in charge.  This may not always serve her well, but I know that she will always stand her ground.  She is beautiful, and nothing irritates her more.  She is never-endingly frustrated and embarrassed by the constant compliments from strangers, and yet, we often find her admiring herself in the mirror.  She is sassy and funny and confident, and she currently has very questionable taste in clothes.  She is a little sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a great-grandaughter, a cousin, a niece and a friend to many.  But most importantly, she is mine, and she is adored.

Questionable taste in clothing? Let's call this choice Exhibit A.

Update (because seriously that is all I have time for anymore!)

Things are good at the Eitzen Zoo.  Great, actually.  I was more than a little concerned about this week of seriously major change as the summer raced to a close, so I feel pretty relieved today.  While it's true that I am mostly just barely keeping my head above water, I feel happy.  I thought it would be nice for family history's sake to at least keep up with some blog updates while I re-learn how to swim! This will be a long one because who knows how long it will be before I have time to sit and blog again. 

The House Situation: I am in love with the new house.  I really, really love it.  I love that we see pretty, rolling hills from our windows.  I love that the streets are wide, and that there are always kids playing and people strolling up and down the street.  I love that my kids are so close to their friends, and that they can go from house to house like it's 1955.  I love that I have to put a sweatshirt on at night because the a/c just gets too cold for me.  And more than anything, I LOVE that my kids are sleeping better than I've ever seen them sleep.  The old house is just about ready to rent, and my fingers are crossed for a renter soon. We are all ready to be done with it, and the transition to the new house was just as smooth as could be. 

The Job Situation:  Working full time is....fine. Maybe even good. It's only been a few days, so it's hard to judge, but I think that most of the details are figured out with my own kids, and I really like my class, even though it's the biggest class I've had in years.  32 sixth graders is manageable, but 25 would be so much nicer.   We'll be fine though.  They are nice kids, and I have some of my very favorite kids in my class.  (Including my own.  More on that in a minute.)  I think that I'll be really busy this year, but I am feeling good about it. 

The Josh Situation: He loves school.  L.O.V.E.S. school.  I think the switch to middle school was just what he needed.  He is hanging out with the people he likes the most, people who are kind to him, and he likes his classes.  Speaking of classes, in August, the counselor called to tell me that the computer had placed him my class.  The story is long, but in the end, I decided that it would be a pretty great experience for me to get to know him in a different way.  And I happened to know that some of those great friends he has were in my class too.  We were both a little nervous, but so far, it's totally fine.  I thought it might be weird, but no one even seems to notice.  He is, just like I have always assumed, a quiet and hard-working boy.  I love that I get to have a little window on "school Josh", and he likes that he feels comfortable in my classroom and spends each afternoon with his best friends.  He and Diana ended up with the exact same schedule (not by design, I swear) and that meant they could be locker partners.  They both braved the possibility of being teased and stuck to the locker plan.  And that means that when I walk by locker 502, I see Josh checking his hair in a pink mirror.  Pretty funny.

I took this picture secretly.  The conversation was something like this "I am so nervous.  I've never been more nervous." "No, I am so nervous. I am the most nervous I've even been."  Now they walk around the halls like they own place.

The James Situation: He didn't bat an eye at heading into third grade.  My unease about the work load has not gone away, but he is feeling good.  In true James fashion, we had tears over last night's writing homework (A WHOLE PAGE ABOUT MY SUMMER??? OH, THE HUMANITY!) and a confident "Fractions are so easy!" and a quick finish on tonight's math homework.  He loves his new room, is fine without Josh, and has even seen his fear of robbers start to subside in his new second floor space.  He will go to the after school homework club beginning next week, and he couldn't be happier about it.  Even better, he will get to ride the bus home with his buddy G (and soon both his G buddies!) on Fridays.  He is just his normal, happy chilled out self. 

Maybe one of my favorite pictures ever of James.  Love this boy.

The Abby Situation:  This girl.  Really.  I don't know what to make of this one.  She was a little nervous the night before kindergarten, but by morning, she was READY.  In leggings, a sparkly T-shirt, a vest, and hair "in a ponytail so she could write", she hit the ground running.  Literally.  I could barely keep up with her as she sprinted towards the destiny she has been waiting for since birth.  The day she was born was Josh's third day with Mrs. M, and today, she completed her third day with Mrs. M herself.  It's fun, she loves it, and she seems to sail along academically.  Her best friends Molly and Carter are in her class, and she has already eternally pledged friendship to several more kids.  She also started a new after kinder class on Wednesday.  That school sends a bus for her, and she eats lunch there and attends another kinder session.  I was a little worried because it was a last minute arrangement.  When will I learn that this flexible child (who embraces change in a way that clearly did not come from my DNA) will be just fine?? When I went to pick her up from the after kinder program yesterday, she looked up long enough to say hello and smile and then went right back to her new found besties.  She is so fiercely independent in a way that I admire but do not fully understand. 

Do you see the pose-y leg pop on my daughter? She thinks she is pretty hot stuff.

The Bus Situation: Part of this back to work full time business means that the beloved Eitzenney (Eitzen and Denney kids, get it?) routine had to change.  Teresa is back full time too, but we searched for a way to keep a little of the old.  Our move helped out on this one.  It just so happens that our house is on the bus route.  And if the kids ride the bus to school, I can make it to work on time.  So, the Denney girls will come a little earlier to eat breakfast and then the four elementary kids will ride the bus together.  Today was launch day.  I was so nervous! Not one of them have ever ridden a bus to school, and I wasn't sure we could make the times work.  But the timing was perfect.  We started out the day together, just like we have on every other school day for the past ten years, then I walked them over to the bus stop.  They just about danced onto the bus, meeting Jessica the bus driver, and quickly finding friends to sit by.  I just about cried.  For some reason, watching them all get on that bus just felt super emotional.  My own two babies and the two babies that are almost my own, just as grown up as can be, not even looking back.  Sob. I wanted to take a picture, but in my rush to get them to the appointed corner (only to wait for five minutes) I forgot the camera!

Do we have A LOT of work to do between the old house and this one? Yes.  Will all these changes still have days that feel difficult? Definitely yes.  But overall, sitting here in my nice cool house with it's new and clean everything, getting ready for a tomorrow in which we will all feel happy and fulfilled, it feels just right.  Mostly because of this:

And even though it makes me sad to see them get so big, because of these confident, healthy, independent people:

PS John is fine.  Working a lot, but finding time to help me set things up in the new house and taking over for me on the never ending battle with the cable/phone/Internet company so that I don't actually murder someone and end up giving up my happy life for a prison cell.  The new house is the only change for him, but he loves it too. He'll just love it more once the garage is done.