One of the big things talked about in our cross-cultural training to get ready for the move is how difficult "transitioning" is. This is the straight-forward term for the phase of physically and emotionally preparing to leave before moving and adjusting to your new culture.
Though we're still (probably) two months from leaving, I've discovered transitioning can indeed be challenging. It's life filled with perpetual questions - sometimes easy, sometimes hard - that daily we're having to try to answer.
How much smaller will our new house be?
Where do I get so many cardboard boxes?
Where should we store our stuff? Who should I give this other stuff to?
When can we see all our family "one last time" before leaving?
How is there enough time to see friends "one last time" before leaving?
How do I sort through "sad I'm leaving" with "happy about the new excitement ahead"?
Am I going to ever see this person again? How should I act about that?
How do I answer all my kids' questions?
How do I answer all MY questions?
You get the idea. But as I was sorting through this the other day, praying about it all, trying to give it to God (and not take it back), I was struck with this question and realization:
What if I had to do all of this every two or three years?...
That is exactly what military kids go through.
It really brought perspective on what we're going through, but more so, what we're going to go do. Military kids don't think about transitioning as much, simply because it's a way of life for them. These big questions and big emotions they just have to cope with. Maybe someone will help them deal with it, maybe they won't.
My prayer is that all that God teaches me through this process, he will use to help me empathize with these teenagers, and love them well through it.
