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Long haul to the unknown
By ella | July 23, 2008
Matthew is in the US again this week. Between business meetings he is driving around San Jose and environs looking for a place for us to live. He will rent us a place without me seeing it and although the company that is offering him this contract offered to fly us all out to visit, the only thing worse than moving into a house sight-unseen that has been rented by your spatially-unaware husband (’it didn’t look like a box room when I viewed it’) is flying twelve hours with three children under six and a new baby unless you absolutely have to.
I am so hiring a nanny to accompany us on the flight when we move.
I have had two months to come to terms with this move and the bit I am dreading most is the flight. On a recent trip back from San Francisco, Matthew sat behind a family with three small children and nary a peep was heard out of them. Great, I said. Yes it was, Matthew replied. So you asked them how they did it, right? I asked. Um…, he trailed. Men! (Although it’s okay, it’s certain to have been Phenergan because I know about these things. It was the first thing I Googled, right after ‘Silicon Valley bloggers’. Because this moving lark, it’s all about getting your priorities right.)
So Matthew will rent us a house and I will love it. Love it, ya hear?
And if one of the rooms turns out to be a boxroom, well you know where Matthew will be sleeping.
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Categories: Expat
I see you still have Sense of Humor on your packing list.
Produce a spreadsheet checklist for him to take with him on viewings and get him to take photos for you to look at before he signs on the dotted line.
I would hate to have to leave it to my husband but I agree the alternative is worse.
We are Brits but in USA… I was pregnant with number 3 and hubby came househunting with a video camera that I tehn watched on his return with all the possibilities… There was lots of ‘Why the hell would you even think that was ok?’ type issues. Most rentals here now should have websites and maybe virtual tours…..
Re flights - the one UK to US is hardest as its during the day time. Babies will sleep - its the others its harder for… movies on the plane - iPods/Nintendos for older ones are good…. and make sure you order kids meals for them.
Some suggest Benedryl / Pirotin (?) to make kids drowsy but I have also heard that it can make them hyper…..
At least CA is a good place to be - we used to be in San Diego.
Well the US will be a better place for having you in it, Ella! I dread flights with the kids, too. Haven’t been on one in a long time, and not even with all three. I was on a flight with David and Sofia when they were very small but it was only three hours. They did ok and something that helped immensely was buying brand new toys that they had never seen before we got on the flight. You could buy several small toy and activity type things and take them out of your bag just as they begin to get antsy. When they get bored with one, take out another. It will definitely buy you some quiet time, or at the very least some time when they aren’t crying! Of course then they will anticipate new toys for the next several weeks and not understand that it was just a one time deal!
I hope we can finally meet, Ella!
If he can take more than just a day to make the decision, have him take a camera and upload pictures for you to see. For what it’s worth, my husband rented a house on his own for us, and I was so nervous about it because he took the first one he saw! Luckily, he did a great job, and we were very happy there for three years. Lots of luck with your move!!