"Momma, will you take us to the park so we can ride bikes?"
"Sure, buddy. Let's pick up the trains first."
StinkBug and SideKick clean up at warp speed while making detailed plans for their bike riding adventure.
We pile into the mini-van and I secure them in their matching car seats.
The very same car seats that have transported them to countless art classes at the rec center, Target, and the grocery store.
The same seats where they sat and giggled endlessly about poop.
The seats where they screamed along to Pour Some Sugar On Me in the school parking lot while waiting on the big kids.
A lump grows in my throat as I back out of the driveway. The driveway that will no longer be ours in eight days.
"Momma. Momma, are you crying?"
"Yes. Just a little."
While I sit at the stop sign licking the salty tears as they land on my lips.
"Why are you crying? Did somebody die?"
I swallow hard. My voice is shaky.
"No, StinkBug. I'm just sad we're moving."
"You are" he questions as he looks at Sidekick.
"We're moving to Idaho ya know. I can't come to your house anymore."
Sidekick bites his lip and nods solemnly.
"Yep. But I'm a happy kind of sad because our family will be together again."
"Ok Momma. Just don't cry at the park. Remember there's no crying at the park!"
I'll try Stinkbug. I'll try.
**I wrote this in a notebook on what would have been one of our last trips to the park with Stinkbug's best friend. It was covered in tear stains. I tried.
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58 comments:
So simple, so sweet. My chart hurts a little. Erin
cripes, now i'm crying. Big Hugs to you and Stinkbug and his BF. i've been there more times than i can count- though not with my own child... that's gotta be a new pain i don't want to endure.
Sweet and bittersweet. Thank you for sharing.
It's bittersweet, but beautifully written. I'm sure it's painful in ways to all of you, but he's right. Your family will be together again.
I seriously have a big fat tear going down my cheek. So sweet. xo
SO sad. I'm so sorry - even if it's a good thing. Still so sad.
How sad!! But I'm glad he was able to try and cheer you up... very cute!
It's so sad when little friends have to part! What a sweet piece.
Aww! Maybe now with technology like Skype, they can stay in touch. Much easier than when we were kids.
Oh, my gosh, this brought tears to my eyes. How stinkin' smart are kids?! Such wise words from Stinkbug! Loved this. It brought back some bittersweet memories of my move as a kid. It was hard but worth it in the end.
Thanks. SideKick is his first best friend but I think it was harder for us grownups to say goodbye to that than it was for the boys.
Thanks for the hugs :)
Much appreciated. So far he has been the most resilient of the 3 with our move.
Thanks for reading. It was probably more heartbreaking for me than for them.
Thank you so much. He really put things in perspective for me when he asked "did someone die?"
<>
Thanks :)
Thanks. You are so right even if it's good it can still be sad.
It was sad and I think will really sink in once he doesn't see his bff every single day.
Thank you :)
We hope to go back to visit but it's hard when he's just 5.
Definitely much easier now. Did you ever have a pen pal??
Thanks. He is wise beyond his years and keeps things in perspective for me. Maybe someday you will write about your move?
:( beautiful. Hugs to you, stink bug and sidekick. Xx
Awww, how sad. I'd get choked up too.
I never had to move as a child and I stayed close to home as an adult, so I have been really interested in your journey. Moving just seems awful.
Ah…so sweet and so sad! Moving is tough. thankfully kids make "best friends" so easily and adapt so quickly. Wishing you the good thoughts during your move!
Awww... this is too sweet, it bring tears to my eyes :')
Two years ago, I almost lost it when I drove our loaded SUV out of our driveway for the last time. My husband was behind me in the loaded car. It was a good move for us, but when I looked behind me and saw my 10 year old fighting tears, it didn't feel good at all. Your new home will feel right...in time.
Awww, very sweet, Robbie. I loved the photo. My niece shed some tears when her parents moved from CA to IL. But in no time at all she made friends and was riding her bike down the street with them. I wonder if your boy has already done that? I bet it will be a good move for everyone! How's the new job?
It is so hard to hold back the tears. Even though you are moving onto a new chapter in your life, it doesn't mean you won't miss the ones that got you to this point.
I hate all endings and goodbyes! I feel ya! =)
I had to leave my first best friend when I was seven. I'll never forget it. You captured it beautifully here!
Oh, I have moved so many times and each time I moved the girls, I felt the same way you did. This brought back so many memories. I hope the move went well?
Change is scary but you wrote about it so well :) Keep that notebook handy!
Oh boy oh boy. It's so tough, even when you really want to move. I also love that you just said, "Yes, a little." when you were asked about crying. I do that too; it's good for the kiddies to know that crying is okay - and then we move on.
Good luck with the move! (Did you know that Idaho has banned Five Wives Vodka? Make sure to stock up before leaving!)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-five-wives-vodka-idaho-mormons-20120530,0,1889935.story
I cried over our move just this week. It's so so tough and I think it gets tougher each time we do it. Good luck to you.
Oh, man -- our last move was brutal. I cried for 400 miles. Good luck on your move!
I can't even imagine moving now that we have kids. My son cried when he found out his friend was in a different class than he was this year...
(I'm stopping by from Yeah Write)
Bittersweet.
This makes me grateful that I was able to raise my children in the same home through their lives. It may not be the nicest home, but after going through the upheaval of a divorce it was good we could stay here.
Thanks :)
They talked on the phone last night & it was heart melting.
as long as you don't cry at the park! :)
The anticipation are almost worse than the actual goodbyes. moving is heartbreaking but also rewarding. I've lived in 7 states now.
Thank you. You're right they do make friends easily..he is the most resilient of my 3-probably b/c of his age.
there I go making ppl cry into their computer screens again.
:)
it's hard not to feel like you are ruining their lives-even when you know it's best in the long wrong. When my daughter said goodbye to her bffs I started crying in the school office.
Thanks!
now that we are here it is a it easier. I moved growing up and remember what it was like so I can share my stories.
started training for new job and I'm going to love it. thanks for remembering.
you are exactly right. Now that we're here and have said the goodbyes it doesn't hurt as much.
me too!
Thank you!
We moved the summer after my 6th grade year. I didn't tell anyone until the last day of school b/c I hated goodbyes even then.
This is our 2nd move with kids but so much harder than the 1st b/c we have been here much longer. The move went well and before long they will have plenty of friends here.
Thanks...I keep y trusty purple spiral notebook in my purse at all times :0
I really wanted to move and have our family together again i just didn't want to have to leave.
dh told me about vodka last night. ironic that I'll have to drive to UTAH to get it :)
Hope you are starting to feel better about your move. it's never easy is it?
wow...400 miles of crying..my heart hurts for you.
It was a move for the better and we get to live as a family again so hopefully the kids can see the good far outweighs the bad.
yes. yes it is.
Stability is fantastic especially after such big life changes for your kids.
Moving is difficult but rewarding too! we've made some amazing, life long friends in many places.
He sounds wise beyond his years.
Oh GOSH! Bittersweet.
He is. :)
Very bittersweet.
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