October 2024: Room and Board

We just completed a 6-month home renovation. 

But I’m not writing this post to share before and after pictures of the kitchen remodel. 

This reflection is about moving our family of 5 (+2 cats) into my parents’ house…and living there from April to October.

This is an apology for cluttering their rooms, intruding on their routines, raiding their refrigerator/pantry, spreading our snotty nose germs, and possibly losing our security deposit. 

This is a thank you note for their support, hospitality, and very generous room & board.

Most of all, this is my way to capture the memory of a really stressful special time in our lives. 

While we’re all breathing a sigh of relief and looking forward to getting our own spaces back, I’m so grateful that we got to do this.

Because when the final trace of us is moved out, scrubbed down, and fixed up- I hope we look back on this experience and remember things like:

Charlie and Jack (and eventually Payson) sprinting upstairs at 7:30 every morning to jump into bed with Mimi.  Pop Pop made a rule that they couldn’t go into her room until the big hand pointed to the bottom of the clock– so they’d keep one eye on the time as they ate their breakfast, and when the clock struck half past the hour, they put spoons down and jumped out of their chairs like it was Christmas morning.

We’ll remember that same sprint to see Mimi when they got home from school and the same sprint to the garage whenever Mimi’s car pulled in the driveway.

We’ll miss the morning chirp from my dad. We started each day by trying to keep up with his breakfast banter while we simultaneously served our kids food, cleaned up their dishes, and got the wild banshees ready for school.

We’ll remember all the nights that the kids got to snuggle up and watch the Olympics with their grandparents.  And believe it or not, Mimi and Pop Pop were still bigger heros in their eyes than Simone Biles and Steph Curry.

And we’ll smile thinking about all the times that they would brush Mimi’s hair as they watched “Dancing with the Stars.” 

And when Mimi would paint Charlie and Jack’s nails- yes both of them- as they sang along to High School Musical.

And we’ll laugh about the kids nightly attempts to sneak out of bed so they didn’t miss a moment with their Mimi and Pop Pop….until fatigue finally caught up with them.

We’ll remember Payson’s first crawls and first steps and first words as she transitioned from the sweetest little baby to a loud, opinionated, giggly, and curious toddler.  And some will be sure to remember that Payson started saying “Pop Pop” before she said “Mama.”

We can’t forget Jack following Pop Pop around the yard with his own John Deere tractor and set of tools and the biggest smile on his face as they did “hard work, yard work” together. 

We’ll remember Charlie’s first few weeks of kindergarten…as we learned about her new friends and favorite subjects and activities…and the first weeks walking her to the bus stop…and the mornings when Jordan was traveling, but Mimi was there to do Charlie’s hair and get her dressed in something cute, so I didn’t send her to a new school looking like Kid Rock. 

We’ll think about how excited Charlie and Jack would get to just run to the store or go out for a treat with Mimi…you would’ve thought that CVS and McDonalds were Disney World!

I will cherish the opportunity we had to live with the best roommates ever who were always there to hit tennis balls, help with the kids, prepare meals, and whatever else was needed.   

We’ll remember pouring cocktails and scooping ice cream cones and watching so many of the big sporting events, news stories, and Presidential debates that we experienced in 2024. And we’ll be glad we got to do it with our go-to couple.

We’ll remember how lucky we were to lean on my parents for valuable guidance on a regular basis as we navigated our own parenting journey, this renovation project, and the ups and downs of adult life. 

And I won’t forget all the heavy furniture that Dad helped me move up and down stairs and in and out of rooms. I don’t know if he was just being a top notch father or just really eager for us to move back in, but we couldn’t have done it without you.

And more than anything, I’ll remember how much Diane Janiec stepped up as a mom, a Mimi, a host, and a support system throughout this entire experience…Mom- you fully embraced every opportunity to make us feel welcome, help us out, and make this a really special time in our lives.  You’re such an awesome role model for Jordan and I, and you truly bring life to life for my kiddos. We love you and you are without a doubt the 2024 MVP!

We’re not moving far.  We still share a property line and live next to each other for more than half of the year.  We’ll still see each other most days and do yard work side by side, play tennis together, send the kids their way, and share drinks and meals for many years to come.  But with life as short and unpredictable as it is, I’m so glad we got to share this unique extended time together.

I don’t know if we can ever pay you guys back (unless you live with us in 30 years), but I promise to take your example and pay it forward. 

And I think Charlie summed it up best when we were moving back into our house, and she said, “I’m so excited to have my own room…but I kinda don’t want to leave Mimi and Pop Pop’s house.” 

Same, Charlie. Same…

Don’t worry Mom & Dad. We’re officially out.