Intensity and Calm

As I look back upon our nearly 9 years of parenthood, it is clear to me that parenthood is composed of intervals: intensity, then calm.  The intensity of adjusting to the very first baby (which I still think is the very hardest part of it), followed by the calm of enjoying a new baby.  As new babies have joined the family, there have been periods of intensity during the end of pregnancies, or during the toddlerhood of twins (yes), but there have also been periods of calm in there, and when they come, they feel like the most welcome respite.

After a year of intensity, unlike any we have known, we have settled into a marked calm.  Zosia and Lily are old enough to be meaningfully helpful both around the house and with the other kids, the twins have blossomed into communicative two year olds, Hugo is happy to play with whoever comes his way, and Josephine is along for the ride.  Sometimes I find myself sitting in the sun drinking a cup of coffee and reading a novel, and think to myself, "Would I even believe this could be my life six months ago?"  No way.  (But to keep it real, we have a serial book ripper in the house who remains at large.  We really love books, so this is kind of a big crime.  I am not letting it get in my way, and have used the ripped off back cover of my novel as a book mark.  We will offer a reward for any information that leads to an arrest.)

So picture me, enjoying my "noticeable calm," opening the door to our property manager just after dinner one night, exchanging a few pleasantries before being informed that the owners of our house are selling it.  We have two months to find a new place and move in a real estate market that is so challenging for renters that it has been written about in national news.  If you are looking wide eyed and shocked, that is exactly what my face looked like as I ducked behind the door and, in my most sweet voice which probably actually sounded somewhat shrill called, "Sweetheart, I think you should come to the front door."  Because there are no houses for rent around here.  We learned that when we moved, and no way are we buying a house in this crazy housing market.

But I guess God has a good sense of humor, because just as I was busy casting myself as Mary in a depiction of the Holy Family, riding a donkey from door to door with all six of our kids in panniers, our property manager mentioned, "You know, there's this family I know who has to break their lease because they bought a house.  Their house is right up the street, and big enough for your family.  Do you want me to contact them?"  So fast forward a few weeks, we went by the house, we have signed a lease, and we will be moved to our new diggs before the kids finish the school year.  It has a seventies galley kitchen which I sort of love, is walking distance to all the kids' schools (because Hugo will be in kindergarten next year, you guys!  And the twins will be at preschool two mornings a week), and closer to "town" which I'll have to tell you more about one of these days, because it's pretty cute.  So all in all, we're feeling fortunate.   And we're moving in a month.  Which gives me a good excuse to do a thorough spring cleaning.  We're always up for an adventure these days.