When i.t seems like it could be the worst weekend ever..

But then it somehow all works out. Sure you get a bunch of f()&()*&g annoying pieces of news via email and others ignore your important emails about topics as disparate as failing math, having to move and other small details but.. despite a bitch ass long week with no school (kids) and so much school (me) and no partner (in Mexico) you make it through thanks to L, the rock in the family. Steadfast and efficient, calm and kind, she took the kids to playdates, skating, Wegman's.. kept them fed, pianoed and alive. Now it's Saturday and L is gone and you have an exam at 8am on Mon and another one one Wed. Two care plans have been cranked out bt Thurs and Fri to focus on said exams. You contemplate driving to CT to a squash tournament to hang with tío G and get some "free" childcare. But it's too much driving and I do not have $180 to blow on a hotel. After all of this though.... it all comes together. You get 6.5 hours of studying done (yes I time everything) and the kids behave. You take them to the library, the YMCA (quizlet on treadmill helps get in the study time), Trader Joe's and after they eat lunch and do their piano you take them to ice cream, the park, and then your friend takes them to dinner and you sigh. Sometimes it all works out. I am 1 hour in to today's studying and hoping for the stars to align today as well because exam I is imminent and I have not looked at a word for exam II. F and M get back tonight from Mexico. Tomorrow will start w 8 am exam (another 4:45 wake up) and end at 11pm at the hospital. I would sleep in but I have to cram for Wed exam. I would sleep in the next day but I have to be at the hospital at 6:15am. After 2:30pm Thursday, I take a deep deep breath. Sunday we leave for PR and I consider sleeping, not eating shit (nursing school does wonders to my aging, fattening body) and enjoying my partner while taking a break from my kids. Life is good.

NEWYork to NEWton... Oy

There are too many things to express in a simple blog post but suffice it to say that we have been turned upside down and inside out as the song says. We are no longer in NY. What we thought could happen for a long time and then were sure would not happen... did. F got a fabulous job in Boston at a wonderful non-profit and we took the leap. I left my job of 19 years, the only profession I have ever known, and told the kids.. we are moving! This all happened (the telling to the doing) in under 3 weeks. It was/is intense and harder than I could have imagined both physically, emotionally, financially... you name it. We are still covered in boxes to unpack and furniture to build. I cannot sign kids up for school for another two weeks. When we told A and V (older kids were at camp) V leaned back at one point and said: "It's a lot." I think that summarizes it well. By far one of the largest losses has been L. Not sure how I will function without her, Working full time and studying and tutoring etc with her seems way easier than being unemployed, taking online classes and having to care for all of the children all of the time without another caregiver in sight. We joined the JCC to balance the decades of Episcopal school. Just kidding, we joined because they have a nice outdoor pool and are a five-minute drive away. Oh yes, while I may never have to look for parking and curse again, I will also not be able to avoid DRIVING every day to every place. There is nothing walking distance. It feels like we are on vacation,  but we cannot leave. When we left the pool today, F asked again "¿La casa nueva? No, No me gusta. Yo quiero otra casa." He seems to be having the hardest time of the three kids I have here now. I have my positive days and my not so hot moments. What I need is for this awful summer to end so we can actually start our lives here (school, work, classes). so I can try to establish some kind of routine and be able to make an informed decision about Newton. Don't think I will ever have that roll off my tongue "I'm from Newton. I live in Newton." How about "I am an Argentine New Yorker in Newton for a few years?" I have to get my always growing ass in motion and study for the GREs, write some kick-ass essays, get good recs, do well in two online classes (gulp) and get into BC. All my (aging) eggs are in that one basket. At this time next year, I will have hopefully completed their three-week program that leads into the intense year of nursing school. Help!