I'm hoping if I give a brief run down of some changes that are possibly in the works you guys can help me pick it apart to tell me what (if anything) I may be missing, need to be aware of or watching for as we go through this transition phase.
1) We're moving into a house where the 2 separate families will be combined into a single household. This is a definite going to happen big change. It means a change in schools for my and Bud's children.
2) Sweet Lady's teenage children are choosing to remain in the same town they currently live so they can avoid changing schools. This means transitioning to living with their dad and being with us on weekends. I'm extremely concerned about how hard this could be on Sweet Lady. She says she's ok with it, wants to make the move with us but cries as she's saying these things. Not to mention I will miss them. They are good kids and fun to have around.
3) I will be taking on more hours at work in order to make enough money to ensure we can pay bills without feeling strapped for cash. This will mean I work Monday 9am-5pm, Tuesday 9am-5pm, Thursday 1-9pm. Friday I will begin my shift at 9am and it won't end until Sunday at 9am (full 48 hours away from home every weekend). This puts me at home only on Wednesdays and Sundays. Sweet Lady works Monday 5am-1pm, Tuesday 1-9pm, Thursday 1-9pm, Friday 7am-2pm, Sunday 5am-1pm. Bud is a full time college student as well as caregiver to our children who are all still young.
I've had this type of work schedule in the past. Bud, the kids and I were all fine through it. But Sweet Lady was just a friend at the time. Now that she's an integral part of my every day dynamic I'm having a hard time thinking about maintaining all of these relationships plus this work schedule. It was hard enough maintaining Bud & I when I worked these kind of hours. How on earth do I maintain Bud+me, Me+Sweet Lady, Bud+me+Sweet Lady all while working!!!! There is only so much of me to go around. My job as a crisis counselor is high stress, especially around the holidays.
1) We're moving into a house where the 2 separate families will be combined into a single household. This is a definite going to happen big change. It means a change in schools for my and Bud's children.
2) Sweet Lady's teenage children are choosing to remain in the same town they currently live so they can avoid changing schools. This means transitioning to living with their dad and being with us on weekends. I'm extremely concerned about how hard this could be on Sweet Lady. She says she's ok with it, wants to make the move with us but cries as she's saying these things. Not to mention I will miss them. They are good kids and fun to have around.
3) I will be taking on more hours at work in order to make enough money to ensure we can pay bills without feeling strapped for cash. This will mean I work Monday 9am-5pm, Tuesday 9am-5pm, Thursday 1-9pm. Friday I will begin my shift at 9am and it won't end until Sunday at 9am (full 48 hours away from home every weekend). This puts me at home only on Wednesdays and Sundays. Sweet Lady works Monday 5am-1pm, Tuesday 1-9pm, Thursday 1-9pm, Friday 7am-2pm, Sunday 5am-1pm. Bud is a full time college student as well as caregiver to our children who are all still young.
I've had this type of work schedule in the past. Bud, the kids and I were all fine through it. But Sweet Lady was just a friend at the time. Now that she's an integral part of my every day dynamic I'm having a hard time thinking about maintaining all of these relationships plus this work schedule. It was hard enough maintaining Bud & I when I worked these kind of hours. How on earth do I maintain Bud+me, Me+Sweet Lady, Bud+me+Sweet Lady all while working!!!! There is only so much of me to go around. My job as a crisis counselor is high stress, especially around the holidays.