Imagine, if you will, that you are a fun-loving, imaginative, tenacious, curious, fairly easy-going orange-haired three year old boy. Your mom and dad went to Africa and left you with friends for eleven days and when they came back, they spent the next four and half days crazily tossing every physical thing in your house into cardboard boxes (between telling you to "Leave that ALONE!!!"). The second part of that half-day, you and your mama got to ride on big airplanes all the way from your home in Boise, ID to your grandparents home in Plainfield, IL. Without your daddy. In fact, you woke up from your nap on the airplane, crying, "I want my DADDY!!!!" Your mama was very sad for you, but she really didn't know what to do but cuddle you a little closer.

Grandma's house is nice and all, but she doesn't have any toys. Except the really cool model cars in the basement that she says are Uncle Matt's and only for big boys. There's lots of stuff here you're not allowed to touch--lots of buttons you desperately want to push (Gramma Linda and Grandpa Ken have always been "gadget" people), but aren't allowed to. There are FOUR remotes for the TV system--surely they could spare one for you!

And, Daddy's not here. You're really not sure where he is, but you hardly had enough time with him between Africa and the airplanes to get here. Yesterday, in one of your many tantrums (after all, all of this is pretty stressful for you), you wailed, "I want to go HOME!!!" and poor mommy was at even more of a loss for how to comfort you. You have no home. And, you'll never go back to your old home. Sure, you're going to go live on a 200-acre farm and that's going to be really fun, but it'll take a while before that starts to feel like home. And you're the kind of orange-haired three year old boy who sorta likes his routine and takes security from predictability. Spontaneity is fun, but only in small doses. And when you're feeling stable in the major things in life. Which you don't right now.

On top of everything, Mama's hormonal and neither of you is sleeping very well these days. Mama says Daddy will be here Saturday evening. And that you'll go to the zoo and maybe the aquarium and things like that when he gets here. But, it really doesn't make you feel much better. And, Mama knows that when you all get to the farm (Sept. 30), she and Daddy will be jumping right into work (Oct. 1!). Transition is tough, even on a big guy like you, or a big girl like Mama. You just hope you both keep it together long enough to make it through. Maybe some of Mama's blog-stalkers will pray for you both, and Daddy too. That's sure to help. That, and a nice long nap.