I don’t like change. Is there anyone out there who does?
I know all the sayings. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. The only constant is change. Out with the old, in with the new.
I still don’t like it.
My husband is drawn to change. Or maybe change is drawn to him. He is talented, hard-working, and kind which seems to be the key combination to always having new opportunities, and he says yes often enough to keep us on our toes.
Did I mention I don’t like it? The thing is, every big transition we’ve undertaken has been for the better. I’ve never looked back at a season in our lives and wished we’d stayed.
In the classroom, transitioning well is the mark of an exceptional teacher. Students need support when you cut off their engagement from one activity and shift their attention to the next. It’s not so different for us as adults.
Here are the things I’ve learned my family needs during transitions.
1. We need our routines. In the same way that transitioning smoothly from one literacy station to another depends on how well-established your routines are, our ability to transition smoothly as a family depends on our home routines. Even in the midst of transition, I need my quiet time in the morning. We need to eat dinner at home together as often as possible. We need to read two books and share the best and worst of our days every night.
2. We need sleep. Similar to routines, this is essential to sanity. Without enough sleep, I turn to caffeine, which increases anxiety, exactly what I don’t need more of during a transition! Then I go for sugar which leads to the inevitable crash and before you know it, I’m crying for reasons I cannot explain.
3. We need to talk. All. The. Time. We need almost constant communication about schedules, expectations, feelings, and questions. Our routine is to check in on our calendar and budget once a week. During a transition, we need to double or triple that. If I can share my worries a little bit at a time, I tend to keep perspective. If not, all of the miniscule concerns build up into a snowball of destruction. If it gets to that point, no one is safe.
Transition is stressful, but there is truth in all of those old sayings. Rather than duck and cover (my default setting), we can be proactive in creating a safe place for each other in the midst of the challenge.