The next adventure

Tomorrow I embark on my latest (and greatest?) adventure. After three years at my parents' house, R and I are striking out on our own.

I'm very excited. It's been a long time coming.

I might also be a little scared.

Three years, three months, and 28ish days ago my parents welcomed a very pregnant me into their home. I didn't know how long I'd be staying--if it would be just a few weeks for help with the baby. Or longer. (Obviously, it turned out to be much, much longer.) It was an adjustment; I'd lived by myself for the past six months, and with roommates for several years before that.

I decided to stay. I gave up a perfectly good job in exchange for family who could help me raise my sweet little boy. (I miss the job sometimes but I've never once missed an eastern Idaho winter.)

Being a parent to my child and child to my parents at the same time is, well, exhausting. And it doesn't seem to get better in time. But I'm incredibly grateful for my parents' generosity.

There were pluses, too--for about six months in R's toddlerhood I worked a late schedule. Grandma and Grandpa put him to bed, and we got to spend lazy mornings together, do fun programs at the local library, and sit around in our pajamas until noon if we felt like it. I love being home for bedtime now, but I miss those days sometimes.

So...this new adventure. It will be different. I suspect it will be wonderful. For the first time we'll get to see how we interact as a little family all on our own. I'll get to see how I do without any backup.

Ready or not, here we go! (We're so ready.)