If you have ever had to move, you can feel my pain. You life is in disarray, your belongings are in boxes, and your stress level is high. And it does not end with the packing and moving part. As I try to continue with my daily schedule, everywhere I turn there are piles of things where they don’t belong. Games, books, pictures, dishes, and clothes are stacked in piles so high that they are toppling over. I don’t know where to start to put things away.

Trying to shake off my frustration, I walk into the next room thinking it might ease my mind to glance for a minute out the window into the sunny backyard. But somewhere along the way, I nearly trip on my tile floor from the toys that have been left carelessly in the hallway. Also, to my disappointment, this room is no more organized than the first and my chest begins to tighten as I try not to look around at the stacks of dull, brown boxes that have been frantically ripped open in hopes of finding a missing item. I firmly rub my temples and head to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. I would add flavored creamer if I could find it.

I consider myself an organized person but when it comes to moving a family of five, all bets are off. I tried to do everything that I could think of to make our move go smoothly. I even created a “moving” binder, complete with scheduling utilities appointments and installations. I had a schedule but somehow it was impossible to follow my magical transformation of belongings from old house to new house. It was unrealistic that I could have our new house put together, painted and decorated in one weekend. This failure just adds to the stress.
My goals began to change quickly. I pushed aside the hope of decorating and decided that I would be happy to just have things put in their place. But the next day I gave up on putting things away, and instead simply wanted to get the window coverings up. But it was coordinating the utilities and experiencing the troubles that happened during installation that had me at my limit.

So the question remains, which is more painful, childbirth or moving? Well, at least when giving birth, you are offered pain relief options. Maybe my next move will be better. Next move? Who am I kidding? I’m never moving again!

Edited by Alison Stanton