These past couple weeks have been full of lots of transition for most Mothers.  With kids going back to school and starting activities, summer has been kissed goodbye and a new schedule has begun.

There is also the change of the weather that I am so excited for.  For our family, this is our last year here in Jacksonville and that means the beginning of many changes.  First off, we are starting all that needs to be done to sell our home.

We have had our family garden here and made the big step of filling it in this weekend.  My husband dug all the remaining plants and weeds up and filled it in with sod.  All those memories, work and so much more…have been covered up and only saved in pictures and memories.

Here are a few other changes and transitions that are going on in the life of this Mother;

-  Two kids in school and only one at home….huge change!!

-  Soccer schedules and evenings spent at the soccer field with kids.

- Saturdays full of soccer games.

-  Packing early morning lunches and having time to exercise again.

-  Making a schedule so I am sure to use my time wisely and enjoy every minute I have here at home with my baby.

-  Menu planning so we can have dinner between soccer practices and activities and try to keep it family time.

I love change and that is always the one thing in life that is CONSTANT!  I am ready for this change of schedule, change of pace and all the fun memories and experiences it will bring.

What are some of the changes that have come for you with the start of school?

Kerry home after a 14 month deployment.

There are the usual changes summer brings…..no more school, friends moving, lots of free time (too much sometimes) and let’s not forget 100 degree temperatures and the humidity. For us, this summer will also involve one more very major life change: My husband will be leaving the Marine Corps this summer after nearly 11 years of service. 

There are many great things about the Marine Corps, but after two very long, back-to-back deployments the bad started to outweigh the good. I would be lying if I said this move was not causing stress in our lives. My husband is job hunting and we have made the decision that the boys and I will not move until next summer…no matter where my husband’s new job might take him. There were just too many unknowns and the questions like “Do we need to sell our house?” and “Will the boys be here to start school in the fall?” were too much. Keeping our life here stable another year just made sense. 

The boys know Kerry is moving on to something new. Knowing that they will be attending the same school with the same friends seems to be helping them deal with the talk of dad looking for a job and the certainty that next year we will all be somewhere new. The next month will be a big one for us. Last day in the Corps, first days at a new job and a return to civilian life. I am sure I’ll have many updates to follow…… 

How did your tweens handle a big life change like this? Any advice?

One thing about living here in Jacksonville is the constant moving and change of friends.  My tween, Lincoln,  recently watched two of his friends and neighbors move away.  It is sad to watch him say goodbye to his friends.  It is also a part of life.  I have always loved the song I used to sing back in my brownie days, “Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold.”

Even though he is saying goodbye to old friends, he still has new friends in his near future to meet and learn new things from.  Lincoln and his friend Hunter loved to play together.  The boys always enjoyed playing games together.  I wouldn’t say that is Lincoln’s favorite thing to do, but it is something he loved to do with Hunter.  Then,  there was our neighbor Avery, who recently moved.  Lincoln and Avery loved to play Star Wars together.  Avery had some good moves and taught Lincoln how to fight with his light saber.

I have found this in my own life as I go through the same “hello and goodbye” of  friends.  I will be forever changed from these people I have met and it is always sad to say goodbye.  But, the things I have learned from those other women and mothers is something that can’t be taken away from me.  I am better because of the way they taught me to listen, or to be more patient, or cook, or laugh with or be healthier.  Each friend in life we meet is a gift and blesses our lives in one way or another.

Have you had to prepare your tween for changing friends? Please share!