It's moving day here in toddler land. There is a lot to do with any move. I pack and unpack for a family of
seven and my husband hauls boxes around the house. The girls hang on to
our feet, scream at the doors (whether we are going in or out), and do
their best to pull our pants down by the back pockets. They might be
feeling a touch clingy.Cami understands what is going on and she "a loves you a new house." She spends a lot of her time reassuring her sisters while they are busily playing. "It's our new house 'isters. It's okay, Mommy here. Daddy here. Toys here." What more could a two-year-old ask for? They have taught us a lot about moving, about what it really means to be prepared, and about when you need a break. They remind us that it's okay to stop and draw a pageful of triangles or read "Bear Snores On" twelve times. They have also given us these moving thoughts:
1. Moving boxes are more productive in color. Tape up the bottom of a day's worth of boxes, leave out a box of crayons, and place each toddlers in a canvas. This generally freed me up to pack at least half the boxes I laid out, plus every box unpacked rewards me with a custom design inside.2. A box isn't packed until it is physically secured. For weeks I found things that I was sure I had packed ... I had. They were standing guard while they took turns opening and sloppily retaping boxes after freeing the hidden treasures.
3. New outlets are cooler than old outlets. If you don't want to buy double outlet covers sacrifice the covers off the old boring outlets for safety on the new exciting ones.
4. Good boxes make good tables. It can be hard to focus a toddler in
transit on a regular, boring meal. A large table box makes the meal another fun part of the move.5. Our girls felt much better bringing a friend along. They felt more secure about the move when we kept them in a pack... a toddler pride, but toys help too. The first time we took them to see the house we explained that we would bring all their toys, clothes, beds, sisters and brother, and mommy and daddy's stuff and all stay at the house when we got moved in. So they each brought a big toy to help with the move. Something bulky and awkward to pack works best for me. They got to take it to the car and then carry it into the new house and find a special place for it. They all chose directly inside the front door, but they liked the idea in spirit.
6. All new houses are dangerously exciting to toddlers. There is so much to
explore. Even if they had a bathroom, for instance, in the old house
that doesn't mean they won't wait until your back is turned, escape the
bath and find every potential hazard while wet, soapy, and slippery.
They will... of course they will.I wonder a little what the neighbors think as they watch the procession of repacked diaper boxes endlessly pouring into the house. It might be a dead giveaway that we have a kid or two. The main thing I have learned moving multiples is that I have to explore faster, longer, and more thoroughly... Not to mention getting down on the ground so that I have a toddler's eye view.
