Transition

My blog just hit the 1000+ hit mark. I know that's nothing big in the blogging world, but it still feels like an accomplishment to me.

It had me curious about what brings people to my blog. Besides the obvious friends and family - what is the draw? According to my blog stats, it's "the pursuit of happiness". How ironic - considering I'm feeling anything but happiness right now.

Life in the A Life of Liberti household is about to undergo a huge change. Tonester told me last night that he's been transferred to a different department within his store starting next Monday. He's been in his department for about 4 years, had complete control over his schedule and we were fortunate that his schedule flexibility enabled him to be there for every important event the kids have had. This move is a lateral move and supposedly has better potential for career growth, but this new position is going to put him, and subsequently me and the boys, on the bottom of the totem pole.

Tonester's being moved to the swing shift - which means he'll be working from 1-10PM+ weekdays. Weekends he'll be working 12-9. He'll be off on Monday and Friday.

I'm freaking out. When in the hell is he going to see the kids?? How does this schedule fit into our lives when I leave with the boys for school at 7:30AM and they don't get home from school until almost 4PM? Where is our family time?? What's left?? The few hours on Monday and Friday night between 4-8 and a little bit of Saturday/Sunday morning cartoons together and that's it.

THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TIME WITH HIS KIDS. OR ME.

A few years ago, Tonester had a very similar schedule - but at the time it was no big deal because the kids weren't yet in school. He had all morning to play and hang out, have lunch together and then I would put the kids down for naps and he'd head to work. He swears he's going to get up early every day and drive the kids to school, but I know that is not going to happen. He'll get home around 11PM, we'll all be asleep, he'll stay up watching god only knows what on TV, and when 7AM rolls around he'll be too tired to get up to take them. He'll make a good effort, but it will be easier to just let him sleep.

I know that I'm supposed to be grateful that he has a job. I know that I'm supposed to be thankful he's not in the military and fighting a horrible war across the world. I know that I should thank god everyday that he's alive and loves us with all his heart. I am and I do. But I'm still pissed about this massive change to our life.

I'd be a very rich woman if I had a nickle for every time that Rascal asks during the day now "when is dad going to be home?". How will I answer? "What's today? You will get to see him again on Friday." How will I explain to him he won't see his dad again for 3 days?? This is not like a job that travels some of the time. This is what our life will be for at least the foreseeable future.

I know that other families make this kind of schedule work but I'm not talking about other families. I'm talking about my 2 beautiful boys and their need for their daddy. I'm terrified about what this drastic reduction in time together as a family is going to do to us.

And I'm freaking the hell out.

A Life of Liberti - and our new pursuit of happiness....