Ch-ch-changes

Changes can be difficult in any family.  I think it's part of the human condition, to sometimes prefer being in the comfortable rut to which we're accustomed, rather than facing the strange or the unknown and getting used to something different.

Only the really big changes matter, right?  No; in fact, I've written before about some of the particular troubles we've had in our family and the stresses we've had with 'little things' like changing furniture arrangements, sitting in a different position at the dining table, getting a new pair of shoes... Just imagine the difficulty in some of the bigger changes like Mom and Dad becoming grandparents!  We're working on another big change, but taking it slow - I'm starting the process of going back to work.

I mentioned this in a post a month ago, and weather delays notwithstanding, we're finally about to hit the launch button.  Even though I'll be working during school hours, Boyo is aware that I won't be at home and this causes some anxiety.  Now that both kids are in middle school, we've been experimenting with leaving them home, either separately or together, for as much as a couple hours at a time.  I'm glad we started when we did, knowing this time would come eventually, and it will be really important by the time school is out for the summer.  It will only be a few hours one or two days a week, but the kids will have to be well used to it by then and know it's part of the family routine.

Another change is happening next week, too: Dearest is starting a new schedule. This isn't completely unusual; his schedule could potentially change every four months, but it often does not, and he ends up with the same routes for another rotation.  This time, his schedule change means a disruption of what the kids have been accustomed to for the last eight months and will require some adjustments in dinner times and transportation to lessons and classes.

Changes are opportunities for learning and for teaching.  Change, whether it's good or bad, gives us an opportunity to be flexible and experience growth.  Seems to have worked out all right for David Bowie...

One of the things I like best about this video is the very talented Gail Ann Dorsey is playing bass, and Dearest and I saw her when she played with The B-52s during the 2010 Summer Concert Series at Chateau Ste-Michelle.