Why we left Indonesia

It's been a while since I posted.

The kids and I now live in Houston, Mike is still in Indonesia.  Mike and I are still happily married, no one is having health concerns prompting us to come back to the states.  We gambled by splitting our family and moving here, and in some ways have already won.  In other ways, well, we are taking one day at a time.

Over the summer it began to look as though Mike may not stay in Indonesia until the job is complete in summer 2014.  Of course he may, that is the gamble.  If he moves during the school year, however, that's disruptive not only for our preschooler, but also (and scarier) for our 6th grader.

Jack, who is 12, has always attended private schools and the largest class he's ever been a part of has numbered 44.  Thinking about moving him in the middle of the year to a huge public middle school was keeping me up at night.  He's now been attending a huge public middle school in Memorial and he. loves. it.

Mike and Jack in September 2013

He appreciates the anonymity, how chill the teachers are about kids pulling out their phones whenever there's a break (his biggest hobby is definitely technology).  He loves having a study hall, being part of a huge band (he plays percussion).  He's in a class of 435 and he's thriving.  Everyone is 6th grade is new to his campus, even if they attended a feeder, they are all clueless together.  He knows who he will sit with each day at lunch as all the study halls are required to sit with each other the first semester.  He's looking forward to basketball and baseball later this year.  His grades are also fine.  Not all A's, but on par with learning how eight new teachers do things.  These are all wins, folks, and I sleep much better at night.  I won't go into detail about his former schools, they are both good places staffed with great people, but this middle school is probably the best possible fit for him.

The change in Cassie, 4, has been even more dramatic.  She did NOT enjoy her Indonesian preschool last year and I'm not convinced she was safe and learning all she needed.  When we left in May her default settings were anxiety and hostility.  We spent most of the summer at my parents' house and I swear they just healed that child.  If your child is scared and unhappy send her to GG and Pop for three months.  She still fixates on things (fire alarm, shots) but she wakes up joyful.  She attends a church preschool where they emphasize play and kindness.  She is lots of fun to watch this year because she is just blossoming, and can explain how your brain works with your nose, eyes, etc!

Happy Cassie in September 2013.  I don't know where she learned to pose like this.  I was not this girly!

Mike was just home for a visit, we had a wonderful wonderful time with him.  It's tough to let him go and we all need him home.  But every family has their hardship, I believe, and this is just ours.  Jack especially misses his dad, and worries about me, but I know we have a good life and strong family and we can handle this temporary separation.

This is not our last move, this is not our last separation, the kids will change schools again, and we can handle all of it.  We have faith in God and each other and that we will make it through.  And friends and family.  I cannot overstate the importance of having a handful of people I can call or text anytime anywhere who will talk me through (or down).  You know who you are.  I love you.

Houston is a wonderful place to raise a family, and we are in a pretty fun area.  Come visit us!