I’m thinking I should hire a moving expert because I’ve screwed up the organisation of a house move very badly. Boxes are everywhere and… well, basically, there is no system in place. We’re lucky there’s no hurry to move, but the house is so chaotic that it’s stressing me out.
I suspect it’s because I’m acutely aware of the Christmas deadline when Will’s parents will visit to see the mites. There are three long-term projects that have to be done by then. Plus, a work trip overseas and there is a couple of novels I desperately want to read. The bottom line: I’m running around like a headless chicken.
Will keeps saying “Relax!” while reminding me there’s no hurry (our rental period doesn’t end until the end of January, yay!) but each time he says this, it just makes me want to react like this:
(Me as the cat and Will as the dog in case you can’t tell.)
To be honest, I’m a bit shocked at how much stuff we managed to collect during our stay here for almost two years. I didn’t realise until recently how many toys, clothes and paintings there are. It’s the paintings that drive me nuts.
I should admit that I’m addicted to paintings – painting my own and collecting them. I thought I had managed to control it, but the discovery of a few forgotten framed paintings inside the stairs cupboard says otherwise.
In fact while trying to pack today, I noticed there are a few things I cannot resist buying:
- Paintings
- Handbags
- Hats (I have a plum-sized bald spot on the back of my head that I got last year and it’ll take a year or two before the spot would disappear)
- Home crafts for the mites
- Maths-oriented toys for the mites (I’m really paranoid about them inheriting my disability, hence the gentle encouragement for them to learn all things maths)
It’s a good thing I stopped buying paperbacks and hardbacks (I only buy children’s books these days) or this place would be pretty like a library like our old homes were. 
On a lighter note, I’m preparing the mites’ first proper trip to cinema. I’m a nervous wreck. My great-aunt took me to cinema when I was two or three and it was pretty much the start of a lifelong affair between me and films.
Well, that cinema wasn’t a typical cinema. It was pretty much a community hall with a few creaky wooden folding chairs, a screen on a stand, a projector on a table and a grumpy bastard projectionist. And there were a lot of icy drafts. A winter coat, leg warmers and a woolly hat were pretty much essential. I didn’t have a TV at home so I pretty much lived for an almost weekly cinema trip.
I didn’t get to visit a proper cinema until I was in mid-teens. Until then it was always that hall, hence my exposure to a huge number of musical / song & dance films (which I still loathe; I’m sorry, but I still react badly when I hear or see Deanna Durbin, Irene Dunne, Shirley Temple, and so many more), 1960s-era flashy spy thrillers, Ealing comedies, “foreign” films (the French Wave, the Soviet era, etc.), 1950s-era kitchen sink, documentaries (my favourite is still that 1970s-era skateboard documentary, but I never managed to track down the title) and silent films.
The latter was amazing. The biggest impact on me was Metropolis. I know most people remember the Maria transformation the most, but for me, it was this scene:
I’m not sure why, but the cinema hall rarely had animated films while I was growing up. This is probably why I’m largely indifferent to animated films and cartoons. Anyroad, I still can remember bits of “first” films, but I still don’t know which is actually the first. It’s either
or
So yeah, it’s a big deal for me to introduce the mites to cinema. I wonder how it was for other parents?
Good luck with the packing! We did it three years ago, and it was agony. Sounds like Will is a lot more reasonable in his expectations than Scott was, though; as for inheriting your disability, either they will or they won’t–don’t think you can edge them away from inheriting, if they have it.
But I bet they won’t, it sounds like it’s a rare thing.
Have fun at the movies! I forget what the first one I saw in a theater was–grew up in tiny town with broke parents, so likely it was a lot later than when you first went.
Sorry, we moved after living in the same place for 34 years. Two years, even with children, would be a snap in comparison
My heart goes out to you.
We’ve lived here for just over four years and I dread the thought of moving. C is a pack rat, which doesn’t help matters. Anything he “might need” but isn’t essential ends up in the cellar.
Our space-taker-uppers:
DVDs – mostly C’s, although the kids have accumulated a fair few.
Board Games – I can’t part with any of them, but they take up so much space.
Whiskey/Whisky bottles – C’s collection
Gadgets – Again, C’s fault.
Books – although this is improving since we made the switch to ebooks. The kids still have print books.
Toys – I’ve bought them hardly any toys but well-meaning grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. keep giving them stuff. I’ve given away so many, yet there’s still a ton of them.
A moving expert sounds like a wonderful idea. It would take a lot of the stress off you. Honestly, I don’t know how you’re managing to work, look after the kids and pack up an entire house.
I remember my first trip to the cinema vividly. My mother took me to see Disney’s ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (I know, I know). I was entranced. My kids haven’t been to the cinema yet, but they have a few DVDs which they love.
Best of luck with the move & I hope the mites enjoy their trip to the cinema.
@Megan
Ah, yeah. I’m not sure why, but it seems as if Will and I swapped personalities. He used to be the one who’d be fussy about the details whereas I was as mellow as a pothead lying in a hemp field under the sun. In our entire marriage we moved (I think) nine times but this time round, I’m a basket case. I have no idea why. Heh.
I know I can’t prevent them from inheriting it (unfortunately, not rare! It’s one of most common undiagnosed disorders in the world apparently), but research shows that teaching them to develop creative ways of calculating can help whether they have it or not.
Thanks!
@Talthor
Booooooo! So typical of you to put it in perspective. Please allow me to wallow in a pool of self-pity some more!
@SarahT
Ha ha! I like ‘pack rat’. It does sound a bit like me. Yeah, I wondered about space for your board games when you blogged about those. Like C, Will is a gadget addict especially where Apple is concerned.
Oh, brill. I thought some would think it would be insane to have a moving expert. Glad you think it’s a good idea. I’m thinking of jacking in one of my jobs (I have three freelance jobs) to free up some time.
Do you plan to take them to a cinema, though? Or would that be too difficult? I can think of any Aspies who said they enjoyed going to cinema. They get bored easily, I think. I’ll ask around! Thanks.
The board games take up an entire floor-to-ceiling closet in the guest room. I’m not sure about the cinema. He can sit through his fave DVDs but he is able to move around if he wants to. We’ll probably wait until he’s a bit older.
My first movie was Snow White, too, Sarah!
My kids’ first movie experience is/will be at the outdoor cinema. Well, actually, the youngest have been to IMAX to see a documentary on the rainforest. This year they’ll get their turn at the outdoor cinema.
Next time we move I’m also planning to outsource the packing. I’m too old to cope with that much stress.