Okay, this is my new mantra "LET GO" I mean do I really think I have control over my kids, or even my life for that matter ha ha!!!!! I realized this back about 3 1/2yrs ago when I took my boys(7 and 10) out of school right before school started! That's right. I was working at the school, and like that.....quit my job and took them out of a very popular waitlisted school! And then looked around with a blank stare and said "Now what?" Little did I know it was the first of many "Now what's". Since then we sold almost everything, sold our house of 10yrs and took a 3 month roatrip through the states then into Europe! My husband had been laid off so instead of doing the "right thing" we decided why not travel?....that's right we just "LET GO" and let it be and enjoy the moment!!! Well, that was a great trip! We then ended up in NYC where our new life was to begin! Our son had gotten a job on Broadway!!!!! Yes, completely unexpected, but we "LET GO" and said let's do it! Of course, as we were "LETTING GO" we also let go of finding a place to live!!!! Which is why we went from a 2500 sq ft home to a 550sq ft Manhattan apartment where my kids slept in the kitchen!!! And when I say "kitchen" I mean small fridge, small oven and sink...yes no counter! In fact, I could spread my legs hip length and cover our kitchen! Our power would go off ALL the time(when we used our mini microwave) which would leave us in utter darkness! There was only one window which meant there were days when we had no idea whether it was raining or sunshine! It was a long "railroad apt" so one end had the window the other end window was smack up against a building with the boys bunk beds covering it! Anyhow, we did it! I made it like "home" with photos, decorations, etc.... Somehow, someway we lived like this for about 3mos!
We then left our tiny apt and moved into the mansion!!!! Yes, in NYC 800sq ft is a mansion!!! We have one bath but at least 2 bedrooms this time and a kitchen that now has counter space! Mark and I both can now spread our legs hip length and cover it end to end! Whooo Hooo!!!! We made it our home for a year and a half! We immersed ourselves in to city life and LOVED every minute of it!!!! My boys NEVER skipped a beat! Now don't get me wrong I am not saying our lives were perfect, not by ANY stretch of the imagination, but it was an amzing adventure and true "LETTING GO"
My son was asked to play his current role in the National Tour starting in Chicago!!! Now of course, if anyone had ever asked me would you be living in NYC and then Chicago in less than 2 yrs???? Oh, I forgot and live in a hotel for about a month with your family of FOUR!(because we moved out of our apt and the producton company asked us to stay a bit longer) I would have laughed in their face! Well, here we go again..."LET GO" so we did!!! My kids thought living in a hotel was as if they were "Zack and Cody" ha ha But when we said room service was out of the question their dreams were quickly "squelched!"
Before we moved to Chicago we thought why not road trip it again! Mark had been "let go" so that is what we did "LET GO" and had once again another fantastic roadtrip to DC, NC,GA (Tybee Island Savananh) Fl to stay with my family then back up thru Atlanta, GA, Asheville NC, TN(to visit family) Way in the boonies which was like going to Disney for my kids!!! This trip was like a NYC minute (as we only had 11 days) but in between the occasional sibling fights, our car door breaking and having to hold it together with a rope, obviuosly long hours in the car made better by singing out loud to the latest "Glee" CD, loads of stand up comedy CD's(ok so Robin willams probably not appropriate for my 10 yr old but I was "LETTING GO"hee hee Okay so we complimented with Bill Cosby, too!!!! ......all in all a very memorable adventure!!!
Then we arrived to our "New home" which by the way we got sight unseen so we were prepared for ANYTHING!!!! ......Well, our new home is the most beautiful place I have ever lived in all of my 42 yrs! It is as if someone took a beautiful view pic of Chicago River and Navy Pier and stuck it on our floor to ceiling windows!!!!! It is 1500 sq ft, 2 and a half baths and in our terms HUGE kitchen!!!!!!! We are truly blessed that is for sure!!! I finally after 17 yrs of marriage have a walk in closet! Not that I own anything to put in it hee hee!
So life as we know it is now in Chicago!!! We are settled in our beautiful home which is decorated like "our home" and so cozy! Keean is rehearsing and taking dance classes and Cade is in heaven ripsticking everywhere, meeting friends, going to museums and parks galore! Mark is currently looking for work, and I am back to yoga and have met some great homeschool families! Still in the back of my head we keep saying...."LET GO" We do not know what life has in store for us. Not a clue what will happen next!
My days are spent trying to "LET GO" of how society believes kids should learn and just let it happen. I keep going back and forth with what my gut says and those little people above your shoulder say....... Like Cade watching Harry Potter, then going on the computer, printing out all the spells, ferociously memorizing them all, and making a makeshift wand....(we caught him in his room quietly trying them out and getting frustrated that his book would not float).....now that is just priceless if you ask me. Also let's see, Reading was covered, research, memorization, learning new concepts, art(wand) and he is now ready and willing to read the Harry Potter Half Blood Prince along with his other some 500 page novel he is just finishing! Now this is the boy who when he was in school NEVER wanted to read! That's right........"LET GO"
(Brenna)
