tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888377611890763614.post6639808376307820655..comments2024-03-26T09:40:48.274-07:00Comments on Diary of a Doctor's Wife: Equator Crossing, More Conversations With Josie, Trying To Find My Place - Traveling with Kids in KenyaGlendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17452404148287263021noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888377611890763614.post-35530294727743173772014-07-04T10:00:33.301-07:002014-07-04T10:00:33.301-07:00This post resonates with me. I'm not feeling t...This post resonates with me. I'm not feeling the lump-ish-ness right note but I have felt that before and probably will again. A while back, back when we lived in IL, I was like "wow, some of these book club ladies have been here for so kind and seen so many people come and go. Go from being their neighbors and Ward members to all corners of the globe. You could really spread a message that way. If you wanted to spread a message you would just have to tell it to every person and it would go all over the world." So then I got to thinking that I would be that woman someday, because Jacob wants to be a professor. I am going to be the professors wife, living in a college town where people come and go, come and go. So what would I share? I did some soul searching, came up with an answer, and that helps me live with more purpose. Alysa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03705870547401762370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888377611890763614.post-63244353252943558582014-07-01T19:44:17.330-07:002014-07-01T19:44:17.330-07:00Ah, the joys of being the trailing spouse. :)
I ...Ah, the joys of being the trailing spouse. :) <br /><br />I also dream of going back to school one day. When we can afford another round of tuition. Haha. But I have no idea what I'd do...so basically I don't know what to do with my life either. And Andrew has no idea what he wants to do when he graduates either. I've met few people who have.<br /><br />The last one was a super annoying 19-year-old girl who was assigned to our ward for a while. She had her whole life mapped out through law school and was so sure of everything (even though she'd done zero schooling since high school). She yammered on and on to me at a RS activity about how knowing what you want is SO important because then you just have to go get it. I just smirked at her because PLANS CHANGE! :)<br /><br />Sometimes I feel like taking care of kids isn't a big deal either. I feel like "a lump." BUT Andrew's great a reminding me that taking care of the children is a huge deal. Duke does a lot of research on that very thing, actually—how much stay-at-home parents contribute to society. It's super important. And you are raising wonderful people who will also do wonderful things.<br /><br />Too bad I couldn't come with you! Then we could laze around the complex together again (but at least have company—and double the number of crazy kids). ;) Seriously—being a trailing spouse is so hard. I totally feel your pain.<br /><br />Sometimes (like right now when Andrew's busily working on a grant proposal after spending all day working on campus and I'm utterly exhausted and feel like my brain has melted into a puddle of goo) I wonder what I did with my time. I supervised bike riding for a while. We had a friend come over to play (her mom—my friend—has a "preemie born" she's tending to). I took the kids swimming for a couple of hours. We made some bead pets. I read stories. Did a few chores. I AM EXHAUSTED. BUT I DID NOTHING.<br /><br />But surely I did something. Something of value. I'll just keep telling myself that. <br /><br />The value is certainly on a different scale than my husband's. We're not working in the same currency at all. But my work has value. And yours does, too. <br /><br />That isn't to say you can't go to school one day to do something to "contribute" to society. It's just to say that I think you're contributing more than you realize. (And this is something that I often have to take a deep breath an tell myself, too). <br /><br />Perhaps it's cocky of me but I often use the word "we" when talking about Andrew's schooling and I think I always will. "When we were in grad school..." Because, honestly, putting my dreams on a shelf to help his dreams come to fruition? That's difficult stuff. But you're totally right—someone has to be there for the kids. Someone has to sweep the floor. Someone has to force the other one out of bed when the alarm clock rings. <br /><br />I'm going to stop writing now. Just know that I totally get where you're coming from.<br /><br />One day you and I will get to go to school just like Bridget did! :) Someday. Somehow. <br /><br />My plan is two fold: 1) all the kids are in school and 2) Andrew has a job with tuition benefits. It's going to be awhile...<br /><br />Sorry I have no ideas for how to relieve your boredom from here. Sidewalk chalk? Crocheting baby hats? Or making linens for new babies? I don't know if they do that for hospitals down there—they certainly could have used some in Egypt (our sheets were gross and we had to bring all blankets ourselves—I don't know if that's how it works there and if it is...if people have trouble coming up with things (sounds like it's coldish)). I don't know where you'd get supplies...but surely there's a fabric market or something close by-ish. <br /><br />That's what I would do. Or work on baby books. Because so far I have NOTHING for my children. ;)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08631734965938273438noreply@blogger.com