I think it's funny that I know I worry about stuff I cannot control, yet I do it anyway and can't seem to not do it. It's almost as if I would be better off without that knowledge, because knowing that I shouldn't worry about it, but doing it anyway, makes me worry about why I am worrying about it. ACK! I am so annoyed with myself.
One of the things I have been worrying about lately is, where will Wyatt say he is "from"? I mean, people ask you all the time, "Where are you from?" When I was in Iowa, I would say, "A small town about 90 miles north of here called Wesley." Now that I live in Virginia, I say, "I'm from Iowa." Then I tell them where Iowa is. Seriously. [Insert big eye roll here].
Anyway, I digress. So, the question is, Where is Wyatt From?!?! He was born in Iowa, is now living in Virginia, and in 6-9 months will be living in yet another state. This makes me sad, because I want him to have a "From."
I'm not sure why this is so important to me right now. Most likely it's because we are in transition, but I like to have something to blame, so I blame NSP (my old job). We make the Cyclone Aides (orientation leaders) do their introduction: "Hi, I'm Megan Parker, I'm a senior in Journalism and Mass Communication from Wesley, Iowa." Every year I have a discussion with at least one Cyclone Aide who doesn't have a "From" - and, inevitably, they grew up in the military and moved a lot. So, what do I do, as a good student affairs practitioner? I tell them to pick the place they liked best. GAG.
This is what I'm worried about. I want Wyatt to have a home, a place he grew up in, a source of pride and for this place to be part of his identity. I love that I grew up in Iowa. And I feel like it's my job as a mom to give him the same stability and security I had, but I'm not sure I can.
Maybe some of you out there might have opinions on this. Especially those of you who grew up moving a lot. Where are you "from?" I need some words of wisdom here.
3 comments:
Hey Megan,
I have no experience on the "where am I from" piece or even parenting, but you know me . . . I always have something to say!
You and Tommy are amazing parents. Wyatt will have a childhood that is filled with great memories and experiences wherever you live. Wyatt is "from" a loving home and that is really what matters. As a military child he will be offered some amazing opportunities. He might have the chance to live abroad as a young child. He will have friends from all over the country with different backgrounds. He will learn about "intense" relationships (remember that discussion we had with the crazy english prof during that study circle we took?). He'll learn that each day matters and that you have to make the most of every duty station, every location, because you'll only be there for a short time.
You never know . . . ya'll might get to settle in to one place when Wyatt is 10 years old. If that is the case, he'll spend some of elementary school, all of middle school and high school in the same location.
Miss you!
Jen
Megan are you taking anytime to relax? ha. You know I spent all my childhood moving around, and yet I still do not know that answer. But I have come to know that no matter where I am from, I have so many people, friends and family that love me, that it doesn't matter where you start or where you finish they will always be there. A title/town means nothing with out that.. >:O) That is only a location, he was born in Ames, he'll always be a CYCLONE! ha ha! Always Robin >:O)
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