Moving with a 2 year old.

I have made the (sudden) decision to move from Texas to Wyoming. Actually my sister offered to pay for it, so I jumped at the opportunity. It could have been any state really as long as its not this horrible town.
I have had a really horrible week prior to this decision too, that undoubtedly aided in my decision making.
First, I got denied food stamps. Being a single mother and full time student, I can only manage 40 hrs of work a week and that apparently isn't even close to how many hours I need to sustain myself in this city (Midland). Rent for a one bedroom is 1200 bucks! The cost of living is insane. Second, I got denied day care assistance. Since daycare cost me half my bi weekly paycheck, it was impossible to pay my car payment, phone payment and insurance. Let alone food costs, gas and other needed things.
Thirdly, a woman rammed her car into mine in a parking lot. She hit me pretty hard, causing my rear passenger door to cave in. It still closes, thankfully. The seat belt left an awesome bruise on my neck and shoulder, but at least I didn't go flying around the car like the last wreck I was in.
By the time I got home from errands I was tired, I had a massive headache and my mood was shot. I hadn't even sat down before my sister asked me if I wanted to move to Wyoming this week. I didn't hesitate, I had had it with the rejections and the bad luck, I thought, "Why the hell not?" Other reasons swam in my mind also so it just seemed like it was meant to be.
The past couple of days I have been packing. Now, packing up your stuff with a 2 year old is an adventure. You have to be crafty. Because the normal way (e.g. putting things in a box, closing box and setting box aside) will not work. You have to first make it a game. If the child feels the object of the game is to put things in a box, they won't be pulling it out every second. Hopefully. Then you make them queen/king of the packing tape. Their job is to carry the tape everywhere they go. They have to keep it ready. Then when you need it, call for it. "You're majesty, the tape!"
When you start to pack up their toys, no amount of games or fun will make them settle. At this point, a gate to another dimension (preferably one made up of marshmellows and rainbows) would be handy. If such a gate is absent, then you must then wait for the child to go out with grandparents or other various family members. Then pack up 2/3 of their toys. You don't want them coming home when you get their stuff packed and them seeing their stuff gone. They would feel betrayed, hurt. They would start plotting their revenge in horrible ways.  No, 2/3 of their stuff packed away will be fine because they will most likely have so many toys they won't even notice. Mine didn't.
The whole time, you have to keep telling them that you are moving. That you are going to a new home. You can tell them once, but they won't get it. You have to set your watch's timer to every 10-15 minutes to go off so you can slowly brainwash them into accepting it.
When you are finally ready to pack the vehicle, it's best to set up a play area outside so you can keep them out from under foot. However, be aware that every time you walk past them you will HAVE to drink the tea they offer from a purple princess cup. If you don't, fits will ensue and you will get nothing done. No matter how heavy your box is that you are carrying, if you are offered tea, drink it.
So far that is all I have in this experience. I move on Wednesday and I am sure I will have more instructional information to share. Wish me luck. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

It takes forever to do anything!

This is my first time doing the whole mom gig. I had my daughter when I was 29, so it's not like I didn't get to enjoy my freedom and youth. I spent a lot of time doing whatever I felt like, and I look back on it and think to myself, "Boy, I used to do such and such so quickly!" Even creating this blog took an entire morning to accomplish. I had to find foam numbers, help pick out a Dora DVD, kick a plastic, loud orange cat out of my way to the coffee pot, apply a bandaid to a bleeding toe from said plastic cat, apply . I a bandaid to my daughters fake boo boo that suddenly appeared after she saw my own bandaid, answer an entire list of questions, and stop about 4 potential emotional crisis breakdowns due to a teddy bear getting stuck behind a bed.

But she teaches me something everyday. Yesterday I was working furiously on a Chemistry assignment and she kept trying to make me color with her. She tossed her crayons at me. I told her, gently, "Mommy has to work, we can play in a little while." She tossed her coloring book on my laptop. "Color mommy!"

"No, baby, mommy's almost done."

Then the whining started. Finally I said in a firm voice, "Mommy is busy!"

She smile sweetly and said, "NO. You're not busy, you're mommy!"

I sat there a second and realized she was right. I was missing a fun moment with my child because of some imagined responsibility that wasn't going anywhere. My assignment would still be there after I colored a picture with her. I was Mommy, and that should be my first job, not my second or my third. So, I got on the floor and colored with her.
There are days I would love to rip my hair out and find a corner to sob into. Then there are days (more than the former, thank goodness) that fulfill me spiritually and emotionally. Things are rough, sure. It's a hard job to do all by yourself. I can't get her to pee in a toilet to save my life, but her little hugs and kisses and 'I wuv you mommy!"s make the job totally worth it. Now if I can only get a hair cut and a manicure sometime in the future, I would be set.