| Author | |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: May 01 2009 at 9:06pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
We're relocating this summer from Minnesota to New Jersey (for a job! Praise God!). We made almost the same move in reverse last summer and it was very, very hard on my kids--lots of upheaval and lack of routine and such. I'd like to do as much pre-emptive work as possible to help all of us (but especially the kids) stay intact this time around.
We'll be leaving here early July after having spent several nights at my MIL's so we can prepare our house for movers who will be emptying our house without us. Then we'll be three full days on the road, then staying with family 1.5 hours from the city where we'll need to be apartment-hunting. Then once we have a place we'll have about two weeks to wait for our stuff to arrive and we plan to get in some long-overdue family visiting throughout New England. Then our stuff will arrive and we'll need to get settled in before dh begins a brand new job. So, all told, I think we'll be about five weeks without our own place with lots of different abodes during that time.
Any tips? We have a five passenger hatchback which will contain five people during this time. My kids will be 5 months, 2.5, and 4.5 while we're traveling. One thing I've done so far is to get each of the older kids a backpack so they have their own space. We plan to give them responsibility for a few small necessities (sun hat, water bottle) and let them have toys, etc.
I'd love any suggestions about preserving routine or very inexpensive ways to entertain stressed-out kids or, really, anything anyone has to offer!
Thanks,
Susan
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
missionfamily
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 10 2007
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1859
|
| Posted: May 01 2009 at 9:26pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think one thing that helps is to try to come up with comforting ways to keep parts of the routine consistent no matter where you are...maybe bring their own pillows in pillowcases you decorate or let them choose their favorite and their own blankets, so even when you're in a new place, there's some familiarity...sing the same soothing song to the baby each time you nurse...say grace before each meal no matter where you have it...say a decade of the rosary before bed each night...pray the guardian angel prayer each morning. When we were traveling a lot in mission, I found it helped to be aware of creating routine experiences in the day even when the days themselves were not routine at all.
__________________
Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: May 01 2009 at 9:30pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
For the extended car trip, I have used a tip I read about years ago. I make up bags (just cheap brown lunch sacks work fine) which each have some little item to either play with, or eat (like maybe a box of raisins and some juice, or a small set of crayons and a little memo pad, or a favorite book or toy). I figure about one bag every 2 hours. Then, about every two hours (or whenever people are stressing out, whichever comes first), I say, "Time for a new bag!" The distraction really helps the little ones. I'm not sure about the 2 year old, but maybe even a few small toys or books that he/she is familiar with and likes would work. It's just the idea of opening the bag that they love! Also, it makes it possible spread the toys out over the whole trip so they don't play with all of them in the first half-hour leaving nothing to do for the next three days.
The hardest part of such a long transition is keeping daily routines somewhat in place, but if you can, I'd work hardest on maintaining sleeping routines (keep on doing the same routines you had at home). Being sure to have a story time every day with a well-known book is also a stress reliever, and gives the children a sense of the familiar and a time for snuggles and attention during a period when you might be very busy with lots of other people around. Eating is another area that you might want to try to pay special attention to. It seems as if the healthy eating just vanishes when we are on the road or staying away from home. Be sure they get fresh fruit, vegetables, plenty of water,and not too much in the way of sweets if you can manage that while in relatives' homes. They'll feel better if they are not eating lots of junk, but it does take a big, conscious effort to ensure this. Fortunately, your little one will have everything he needs because he'll have you! So don't forget to rest yourself, and drink plenty of water, too. It's easy to neglect your own needs when things are so topsy-turvy.
I've done this before several times myself, so I really empathize with you. I'll keep you in my prayers.
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Keeping our sanity during long move
