Tag Archives: moving toddler

Moving Day!

Posted on March 27 by Jillian416 • 2 Comments

Tomorrow’s moving day!

Can you believe that? That means that a month has flown by in the blink of an eye and we’re now going to be living in a new home.

On my ride into work this morning, I got to thinking – this would be my last time taking that path into work. It was weird! I’ve lived in the city of Buffalo since I moved here for college in 1999, different apartments, but still lived in the city. I’ve worked at my company for 8 years, so that means I’ve been taking the exact same ride into work 5 days a week for 8 years. That kind of blows my mind!

Our new apartment is very near to my job and will take just a few minutes to get there. I can’t say that I’ll miss the commute, because even though it only takes 20 to 30 minutes, having that extra time to spend with Emmett in the mornings, will be awesome.

I’m feeling very bittersweet about our move. I can’t wait to be in the suburbs, to be near to so many beautiful parks, a great school district for Emmett and a quieter street, but I can’t help but be a little sentimental about our current place. It was the place where Emmett had all of his baby and toddler firsts. The first time he smiled, rolled over, crawled, walked… They all happened in this house. I do realize that there will be many many more firsts and that once we’re moved and settled I’ll feel very differently, but for now, I feel bittersweet.

Enough about how I’m feeling, back to the move. I think we’re pretty much ready, most everything is packed and we’ll finish what’s not, tonight and tomorrow, we get our keys tonight, the movers come at 9am tomorrow, the electric and gas are set to turn to Seamus’ name tomorrow, cable (Time Warner) comes tomorrow evening to turn our cable and internet on, and our brand new washer and dryer will be delivered some time Saturday. We’re rip rarin’ to go and I am excited!

I literally feel like our lives have been on hold for a month, simply because of how busy we’ve been with packing. I know people make time for what’s important, but it has taken us so long to get ready for this move, that this blog and other fun things in my life have fallen to the side. My hope is that after the move, and after we do some unpacking, I can get back to the fun. I miss it!

Alright, I better get back to the packing; we still have a bit more to go. See yah on the flip side!

Your turn!

What moving day stories do you have to share?

Any tips for moving day for us?

Filed Under: All About Me, Family

Preparing Your Toddler for a Move

Posted on February 16 by Jillian416 • 86 Comments

Tips for Preparing Your Toddler for a Move

I don’t know about any of you, but I get super unsettled when I know I’m moving in the near future and won’t feel “at home,” for several weeks. While you pack your clothes, or in your toddler’s case, their toys are packed up, they will know things are changing. You at least have the ability to comprehend the changes that are occurring around you, your toddler likely has no way to understand without your help.

Emmett’s pretty bright, but I could tell that he was feeling a little off yesterday when we first started cleaning, throwing things away and putting stuff into boxes. He seemed a little on edge and was more cranky than normal. Plus, he refused to go down for a nap, which rarely happens. It got me thinking, I have NO idea how to prepare him for a move, so some research was in order.

Since the whole point of my blog is to share my experiences as a first time mom, here are some of my tips for preparing your toddler for the upcoming move.

Ways to prepare your toddler for a move

Fill Your Little One in – They’re more perceptive than you might think, so take the time and get down to their level and explain what’s going on in short sentences they’ll understand. We did just that!
As soon as we found out that we would have to move, Seamus spoke with Emmett and told him we’d be living in a new place soon, but that we loved him so much and would do our best to make it easy for him
Involve the Little One in Viewings – I know some folks may disagree with me here, but I think it’s a great idea to bring your child along to go visit the homes they may be living in. It’s their home too, and they deserve to see it.
We took Emmett with us to the viewings we had the other day, and intend to include him each time. I really want him to know how important he is.
Comfort Immediately – With all the changes that are bound to be going on, your toddler is likely to have some rough days where they just need a long hug and some kind words. Don’t hesitate with these! Yes, you are busy and there’s a lot going on, but nothing is more important than the care and needs of your toddler. Hug them, talk to them, heck, even play with them if they need a change of scenery.
Stay Happy and Upbeat – I totally get it, maintaining a positive attitude when you have eight thousand different things going on is tough, but around your toddler hide the anxiety and put on a happy face. Toddlers mimic the behaviors of you and the other loved ones in their lives, so keep everyone happy.
Keep the Consistency – Your toddler craves consistency. That means, if at all possible keep them to the same routines. So if the bedtime routine starts at 7:30 each night, stick to that. Try not to flip around too much or the changes already going on, mixed with a sleep-deprived toddler, will lead to some massive meltdowns.
Share the Details as They’re Happening – Your child may not understand every word that comes out of your mouth, but they really can understand much more than they can communicate, so as you find a place or as you book the movers, share those details with your toddler. It will encourage them to adjust faster, by knowing that no surprises are coming.

Moving is rough, but being armed with these tips you can ease the transition for you and your family.

Your turn!

Have you moved with little ones? What are some tips you can share? Share in the comments below!!

Linking up with Skip to My Lou.

Filed Under: All About Me, Family