Hello !
Remember the article where the truck was outside your PREVIOUS home and everything and everybody were ready to fly to the new country ? Yes ? Great !
Now, switch the image. The truck is outside the NEW home in the new country and everything and everybody screams YOUR name to put everything and everybody in order... !
Yeap ! Sorry ladies, but... I am in the rather unpleasant situation to inform you that you don't have even a single minute to glance around.
Hands-on and start... !
Those are the first - crazy (tooooo crazy !!!) days that you cannot find the red (not the blue-yellow-white) t-shirt of your son ("no ! I want only the red!"), the favorite doll of your daughter (of course... only the specific one ...), something your husband remembered.... etc.
Ha... ! The picture is clear, isn't it...?
No matter how perfectly you have organized all about your move (colored labels, every carton in its room, etc) when you are in an empty house full of cartons and with a family around full of energy asking you to act and follow family's schedule exactly as it was a few hours ago (you know... in the PREVIOUS home-country-situation), don't tell me that you feel exactly as the twin sister of Dalai Lama...
Let's see what we can do to survive :
First of all, don't fool yourself. No matter how many discussions you may have done before about "all family's contribution", the power of habit will rule...
But don't worry ! Keep calm and continue. Your strongest partner in this game ? Your sense of humor and the mother's proverbial patience.
Be Realistic. There is no chance the house to be ready within a few hours nor within a few days. Admit it and live with it. Don't raise the bar and don't feel guilty. This is a complex project and you will manage it !
If you have a carton box with a label "First days' stuff" including pj's, brushes, toothpastes, clothes for the first 2-3 days for all members of the family, that's great ! Open it and then go to the kitchen to start unpacking. Don't panic... it's not necessary to prepare the meal. You can order a pizza or go to the closest local restaurant.
Prepare the absolutely necessary. Kitchen, bathroom, sheets and blankets in the bedrooms. If the furniture are already set, then children could start unpacking and organize their stuff (i.e. books, toys).
Check electricity and water supplies. Charge any appliances you will need later (cell phones, laptops, etc), plug-in electrical appliances (fridge - put a few first things you will need later in the day-, stove, washing machines, etc). Depending on the country the electricity company may be public or private, so check in advance and in any case, be sure that the date of your arrival, electricity-water-telephone-internet will all work !
Try to close your ears (a pair of earplugs would help...) to all voices like "I don't find my boooook" , "I can't find my favorite tv channeeeel", "I hate this", "I hate that", "Muuuuuuuuuuuuuum!!!"
Ok, I don't write them to panic you. And there is nothing to be panicked about. The picture here is not the idyllic sunset in the Maldives. Actually, it is far far away from even looking similar. But it's fine. And things every day will be even better. Just be prepared for all the mess, be prepared that you will be very tired (literally exhausted), very anxious, pressured, .............. (put in the blank the others).
But, If I may suggest something ? Enjoy it and don't let a mountain of carton boxes and some "melodies" coming out of your children mouths to make you lose your courage and confidence.
SMILE ! A new life begins.
