WIP Stands for "Work In Progress"

As two full months have already ended in 2018, I'm already taking notes and assessing my progress.  Am I following my New Year's Resolutions?  Am I making time for me?  Am I finding balance?

Strangely enough when I mentioned the phrase "work in progress," my son already knew what I was talking about.  "Mommy, you mean WIP."

"WIP?" I asked.

"Yes, Work In Progress," he answered.

The phrase, admittedly, didn't enter my vocabulary until I was well into adulthood, but somehow it's part of my son's everyday lingo.  In fact, he assuredly let me know that pretty much everything is "a work in progress."  How did my son become so wise?

As I look at my resolutions for 2018, I'm realizing that they, too, are a work in progress.  I've done well in assuring that I find some time for my son, my friends, and my husband each month, but as work responsibilities increased around mid-February, my blog writing (once per week) took a toll.  The walking, hiking, and exercising in general also stopped.  When those stop, the daydreaming stops, and then my carefree attitude of silliness, wonder, and excitement turn to worry, fear, anxiety, and frustration.  Last week, I felt the symptoms of a cold resurfacing along with my neck, shoulder, and back pain.  If I was looking for a sign to see if my life was in balance, I surely got my answer: NO!!

At work, there were papers to correct, emails to send, reports to analyze, and difficult decisions to be made.  At home, there were mounds of laundry to be done, clutter to be organized, mail to be sorted, and unexpected bills to be paid.  In Cub Scouts, there were den and pack meetings to plan and a fundraising project to implement. And then, out of nowhere, there was a death in my husband's family, an accident (his mom fractured her arm after slipping on ice), and an unwelcome realization that my in-laws may need to move out of financial necessity.

Then, there was one more tipping point.  Lewie's beloved camp director called to tell me that Lewie's summer camp would be closing--permanently.  I cried.  How could this be?  I had already filled out the registration form and put down my deposit!  Lewie was already counting down the days to camp, for it had become his second home!

The last of my free time was spent researching new camps, speaking with directors, and even visiting one.  We "think" we made the right choice to experiment between two different camps this summer, but there are still registration forms to complete and deposits to be made before March 1!

This week, I'm trying to reset my priorities and get back on track.  I won't lie.  I still feel totally overwhelmed, but I'm taking a step back to breathe.  It will all get done.  It will all get done.  It will all get done.  (That has to be my new mantra.)

This is my happy place.  Thinking about hiking with my little boy.

I'm blogging tonight instead of filling out Lewie's new camp registration forms.  I still have papers to correct, too.  I have to shift the balance, and the balance starts back to finding time for me.  It's all a WIP.

Relatives on the Move

Only two months ago, our relatives, specifically my two sister-in-laws, made the very big and finite decision to move.

“They’re going where?” I asked my husband in shock.

“They want to move to Florida.”

“But why?” I asked with curiosity.

“Because Michelle thinks the warmer weather will be better for her back. You know, she can go swimming all year round, and the doctor says aqua therapy would be good for her.”

“But what about your younger sister?”

“Melissa says it would be easier for her and Moses to find full-time jobs down there.”

The news came abruptly, and it really didn’t give me a chance to ponder the reality of it. We were so used to them living only ten minutes away from our house. We visited frequently, especially my husband, and we had lots of fun times together with both of them and their children.

Perhaps the most difficult part of the move would be missing our nieces and nephew—Kaleigh, Sarah, and Gabe. Even before we were married, my husband and I took Kaleigh and Gabe out to eat, to the movies, roller skating, snow tubing, hiking, and to see fireworks. One year, we even took Kaleigh to Wildwood, New Jersey, so she could experience the beach, the boardwalk, and all the fun rides and game booths. For the longest time, we considered them to be our surrogate children. We thought these little day trips and adventures with them would last forever, and now that Lil’ Lewie was getting older, he was enjoying their company too!

Sarah had another special place in our hearts. Being only four, she was the youngest of the niece and nephew clan. We didn’t have a chance to take her to all of the same places we went to with Kaleigh and Gabe, but Sarah and Lil’ Lewie in the past year had become the best of friends. While I went to work every Tuesday, Lil’ Lewie went over to the house and had a chance to play, dance, and runaround with Sarah. She affectionately took on the role of an older sibling and was eager to entertain Lil’ Lewie all day. He, playing the role of a younger sibling, enjoyed the entertainment and admiringly watched and mimicked her every move. Watching the two of them giggle and interact with each other is a fun diversion in itself. They are adorable together.

Now that the time is near (everyone will have left by this Friday), I’m slowly adjusting to the situation. Of course, we’ll be making frequent trips to Florida each year, and with them living only an hour from Disney World, we’ll have to make some visits to the Magic Kingdom for sure. I do understand the reason for the move. Life in Connecticut is expensive. In just our town alone, a house assessed at $300,000 will have to pay $10,000 per year in taxes. (Thankfully, our house isn’t assessed for that much, but we still have to pay approximately $7,000 per year.) On top of that, we have a car tax, boat tax, and a 6% sales tax. We have a lot of wealthy cities and towns in the state, which also drive up the cost of gas, food, and entertainment. My father, who moved to Georgia during his later years in life, often said he would move back to Connecticut if the cost of living wasn’t so ridiculous.

It’s funny how life always surprises us. What will be our future? To be honest, I can’t think that far ahead. For now, we are able to make ends meet up here, so there’s no reason for moving. My mother lives right next door to us, and Ninny and Papa (Lew’s parents) still live locally too. (Although they may move within the year.) I feel sad that Lil’ Lewie won’t have the daily or weekly interaction he once had with his cousins, but we’ll find a way to make sure they cherish the memories, create new ones, and stay close in mind and heart.

These beach photographs of Lil' Lewie, Gabe, Kaleigh, and Sarah were taken professionally this year by Fairy Tale Photography in Waterbury, CT. We made sure to take some pictures of all four cousins before the move to keep those memories alive!