When Jason and I got married at 21 years of age, he was an undergrad student at BYU and I was trying to get into nursing school at the U. Our goal then was: get Jason in med-school, get through med-school and residency, and one day become a doctor. Now that “one day” is almost here I’ve been contemplating the past 12 years!It was the years 1999-2004 that were the hardest. The main reasons were we had three children in 3 ½ years, (which we planned), Jason was rarely home, and I worked full time during it all. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? But those five years kicked my butt! I’m talking, survival mode all the way. A typical week: Monday: laundry, cleaning, taking care of kids, packing for me and the kids, sleeping at my moms. Tuesday: Leave my moms at 6:15 a.m., work 12 1/2 hours, pick up the kids at moms at 8 p.m., go home, baths, bed. Wednesday: Same as Mon. Thursday: Same as Tues. Friday: Take care of kids, catch up around the house, take a nap so I could stay up all night, go to work at 7 p.m. until morning. Saturday: Get home from work at 8 a.m., nap during the morning.
If I had a spare day I tried to do something fun with the kids. We had a membership at the zoo and the Children’s Museum.
If asked, I wouldn’t do it again, but ya know what?... I miss it.
I MISS:
- My 400 sq ft. apartment in the avenues I lived in for four years.
- Moving our mattress into the front room every night cuz that's where the cooler was.
- Chandler sleeping in a porta crib in the front room.
- My 1978 Oldsmobile (my mom wisely counseled to get a new car so the fumes and/or summer heat wouldn’t kill our infant Chandler).
- Jason working at Smiths as a deli manager for three weeks because I freaked out about money.
- Four years living in student apartments where I withstood the temptation to quit my job because I was the only mom working.
- Carrying wet laundry to the drier in the apt. building basement.
- Kraft mac and cheese, ramen noodle soup, and all the other things that go with being a poor college student family.
"You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times, so take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this"
8 comments:
I remember those days too. Especially the good friends you met at the Student Ward, the families in Married Student Housing-- plus the playground and picnic tables the kids enjoyed. Don't forget, moving in and moving to married student housing,then moving again to a bigger apartment before Morgan was born. They were good times. Love ya Mom
I was just thinking about that today, too. My baby (and your baby) are what - about 20 months now - and I just had the best time with him today. I am so glad I put down the newspaper to have the sweet experience with him. I remember this quote by someone - "We don't remember days, we remember moments." I need to have more moments. Thanks, Suzanne!
Well look at you all fancy and blogging! Who would have thunk it haha.
I loved this post Suzanne. I totally miss our crappy apartment in the barrio in LA, sharing one car, the ghetto birds and police officers on the bull horns in the middle of the night. Strange, but I cried when we moved out of the apartment! Good times :)
I remember those days to.. that same apartment just downstairs from you. Strange how we are drawn to live next to you.. Thanks for that post.. gave me a chance to reflect on the the craziness and good time Matt and I have had. I do miss it.
I miss you. I was thinking of you the other day wondering where you were. Call me soon.
703-0789
Heather (your fav roomate ever)
ok, love the blog!!! i seriously am crying because i'm going to miss "this"--being on the same cool street as you! you're fabulous my dear and i totally love the cute wedding pic!
So touching, totally made me almost cry. I've been meaning to thank you for your talk and forgot until this moment as it was on a similar topic. When you talk of hard struggles with having a husband in school it somehow makes my life seem more manageable and strengthens me as I've been struggling with feeling like a single mom often and so overwhelmed with all I have to do until Christian graduates next summer. But I have never had it that bad, I can't even imagine where you found your strength to keep going! I'm exhausted just reading about it! Thanks for being such a great example to me of someone who's been through harder and came out a better person. But miss it? I don't miss the worse days yet of Christian being in school 4 nights a week, working overtime, being executive secretary and in meetings all Sunday, living in a dark basement apartment for 3 1/2 years with a 2 year old and newborn and always being seconds away from an emotional breakdown if anyone asks how I'm doing or if I stopped long enough to feel it... But I'll let you know when I do. :) I think we don't realize the extra help we get at those moments to endure it but I do miss the stages my kids have outgrown. Thanks for being such a great example of all the amazing and selfless sacrifices you have endured for your family for so long. It helps a lot knowing I'm not the only one who struggles with it. You're an amazing person!! And your kids' testimonies are always so adorable and funny and so much depth for so young. It's easy to see how you've rubbed off on them already.
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