Moving Towards the Middle

This week I can really feel it, the pull towards the middle. On Monday in one stressful hour I got two calls: one from the school district about preschool observations that upended my entire schedule for the week and one from my mom telling my my sister's mother-in-law had died. Then later in the week I come to find out that my own mother-in-law had a bad fall that necessitated a visit to the doctor.

In between shuttling the girls to their school district evaluations, I have been talking to my sister about wills and arrangements and pestering my husband to find out more about what is going on with his mom.

Then on my dad's birthday after getting a prompted Desmonda to say "happy birthday! I love you Grandpa!" I had to hang up because my dad kept getting distracted and I was worried he would crash. My mom says he really can't see at night anymore. She can't either, restricting them to the early bird activities. On Fridays they volunteer at an old folks home, playing bridge with people who need partners. I can't help but wonder how many years I have left before they are the ones needing partners.

I see it everywhere, several friends lost parents last year. More are dealing with sick parents, having to step in and talk to the doctors, clear up their parents' finances, and help them adjust to their limited abilities. And though I haven't had to dive into any of those sticky situations with my parents or in-laws, I can feel it rushing at me. The middle is coming and the dynamic of our relationship will soon change.

When it happens, I know I will want to drop everything and be there for my parents. They have always been there for me and I want to do the same for them. But I can't because I have my own kids to think of, my own kids to be there for. It is the struggle between my two family places, the baby in our tight foursome and the mom to my own little girls. Right now I am figuring it out, my new place in the middle between the two.

Abandoned Already

So my poor little blog was abandoned for a couple of weeks. but for good reasons, really!

-My SIL came to visit
-I won a trip to Hawaii
-The girls and I went off to Dallas for my sister's baby showers
-I took a girls trip
-And after two weeks I am halfway into a ten hour car ride home solo with the terror twins

But all of the above is some good blog fodder so there is much to look forward to here in my headspace spilled onto the internet. Including:

-Southern Alpha Moms and Why I Will Never Move Back to Dallas
-I Think I Love My Husband, No Really
-Why Mom Friends Are Better Than Any Baby Product, Even Status Strollers
-Hate Air Travel? Try It Post Kids.
-I'm Not Raising My Kids, I Am Raising My Parents Grandchildren

and if we make it home tomorrow...
-Why My Kids Are Lucky That I Love Them More Than My New Car

See you soon!

Love,
Me