Big Decisions

For many years Eric and I have discussed moving south. Back in 2008 we traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to scope the area out and get a feel for what life would be like for us. Keep in mind this was before we had children and it was just us and our cat. After five days we weighed the pros and cons and realized how hard it would be to be away from our family. There were a lot of people relocating to the area at the time as well so it felt very congested. It was hard to say no to a place that is right between the beautiful Smoky Mountains and the beach.

Home we came, and within six months we bought our first home and started to settle in, deciding to keep Michigan our home... for now. All the while, my sister in law and her family sold their business, packed up and moved to Georgia just three weeks before.

As much as I think about our decision to stay, I see now why it was the right choice. Not knowing back in 2008 that a mere two years later we would be blessed with not one baby but two, having family close by has been a blessing. I think about what it would have been like for us to be 800 miles away from our family and to go through what we went through with the boys in the beginning – and even now.

I will say that for as much family as we have around, we don’t get much help but the little help we do get makes a world of difference. I will admit that there are people I expected more from that has turned out to be a bit disappointing and others who I didn’t think we would be able to depend on have been a pleasant surprise.

Moving away is not a subject that is brought up once a year or every six months for us. It is thought of and talked about a lot. The big question is when are we going to take the plunge?

There are a lot of factors we have to consider. Eric’s career is number one since he is the one who supports us. He is doing so many amazing things to advance himself in his field of work and provide so much for the boys and I. Another thing, is that he is currently in school taking online classes through a local college to complete his Bachelor’s degree. If he stays on course, he should be done within a year and a half. Having a child with special needs is a HUGE factor. For those who know Eric and I, we as parents do everything we can for Alex. We are always looking for ways to help him and make things easier for him. That includes his schooling, his therapy and specialist visits. It is going to take a great deal of research on my end to ensure that wherever we consider, that everything lines up for him and he will benefit from it.

It isn’t like we are packing up and moving anytime soon, but this winter has been brutally cold and with over 40 inches of snow in 5 weeks it can really take a toll on you. The winters here are long, which make it hard to find indoor activities to do for 5 months out of the year. It just gets me thinking about things which is what prompted me to write this entry.

Now that we have our own family, the decisions are made based on the four of us, not anyone else. Eric and I are both very cautious people when it comes to big decisions. We have a lot of other things to work out before we even consider making a big move, but it is nice to be with someone who has the same goal as you. I know we will make it down south eventually. It could be 15 years…it could be 2, but it is something that will happen...someday.