For real! Yes, I'm not just saying that. Nope, I'm not speaking in
code. Why are you winking at me? Ummmm... sure, we can "talk later" but
I'll just tell you the same thing. Honestly! I swear! Am I crazy? Well
yes, but that's beside the point! We lived with my parents for a year
and a month, while we figured out where we wanted to live and waited for
the right house. It wasn't terrible and we weren't trying to get the
heck out of there before we lost our minds! Had it taken longer for the
perfect house to go on the market, we would have been fine living there
longer.
Most of the time when we mention that we were
staying at my parents' house, people looked stunned, horrified,
confused, or full of pity. They could not comprehend or they thought
that we must be in a pit of despair to be desperate enough to move in
with my parents. Sure it's a little strange, but hey, we are a strange
family.
The plan always was to move into this school district
before we had to start thinking about High school. But when I realized
that Syd is Jamie 2.0, I knew I couldn't put her through switching
school much less school districts. The race was on to get her into
kindergarten, but we also wanted the right house for us. I'm not going
through this moving nonsense again and again! We won't all make it out
alive! My parents offered the perfect solution.
Okay let me
just explain the set up because people seem to envision a clown car
situation. The kids slept upstairs and Stephen and I slept in the
in-law suite. The basement became our lair. We put our couches, tv,
computer, and toys down there. Most evenings, the landlords watched
their shows in their living room and we hung out in the basement (with
the exception of Sydney would need to get some water or go to the
bathroom or a snack or a stuffed animal was that in her room or to
change her clothes and then never make it back downstairs!)
Another thing that people tended to get wrong was meals. They pictured
some 1950s family dinner with everyone gathered around to enjoy a well
cooked meal and harmonize together in a little after dinner bonding
time. First of all, dinner at my parents' house was NEVER like that. Our
friends loved eating at our house because it was more like dinner and a
show. Second of all, we are like the worst family to try and feed. I'm
vegetarian and Stephen is the complete opposite. Syd only likes a
handful of foods. Nathan is the least pickiest and probably the only one
you want to come of to your house but then again he'll probably remove
his pants half way through dinner. My mom and I pretty much each did our
own thing for dinner. Sometimes one of us would make spaghetti noodles
for a thousand people or I'd make an extra big pizza or french toast
casserole. Every once and a while, I'd have a coupon for some animal
flesh and I'd buy it and mom would cook it for the others. And the very
best times were when one of us felt lazy and convinced the other that we
should order Chinese food take out;) What I miss the most is being
able to buy vegetables on sale and not having to be the only one eating
it! There is only so most cabbage or brussel sprouts a single person can
eat in a week!
I know that my parents were perfectly fine
with the arrangement too, although they really did work their butts off
to help us move! Everything was literally moved and unpacked in one
weekend! My dad was drenched in sweat from hauling all the furniture and
my mom happily jumped in and scrubbed all my pots and pans so we could
eat here. Well, on second thought...... Just kidding! They busted their
butts helping sell the old house and move into their house too. And I
know they were sad to see us go even if my dad took so much joy in
pointing out every single thing of ours that wasn't packed up yet!
My only regret is that several years ago, I wrote up a contract
for my brother, sister, and I about who had to do what when my parents
got old. I created a point system and whoever had the most points had to
take them in. One of the sections had a point for every year we lived
at home after we first moved away and extra points were added for each
person you brought with you. I think that I may have more points than my
sister now :(
My only real regret is that one time that
the kids scratched the hardwood floor so, so bad and I hid it. I feel
so terrible after all the things that they have done for us....
And
cue my parents exploding in 3...2..1... Just kidding!!!(I bet all my
relatives let out a gasp of horror!) Gotta cause some grey hairs from
the other side of the bike trail;) Yep, we moved to a house that is
close enough that we can walk to their house.
