Life in the U S of A

 Wow, it has been too long…the best laid plans as they say.  And apologies for no photos, hopefully next time!

It’s so hard to believe that we have been back in the US for over a year now.  Some days, it feels like living in London was just a dream, but other days, I really miss it and yearn for the ability to walk out my front door and be in the Co-op in 2 minutes time.

Moving back to a place you lived before, 6 years later, is an interesting experience.  It is as if I have slotted myself back into the life I had before; yet, I am a different person than I was when I left.  Not much has changed here in Prospect, but my perspective of the world has changed.  The lack of diversity is a lot more obvious; the size of our house is fantastic.  The amount of time I spend in the car is ridiculous; closing all of my rings on my Apple watch takes more initiative.  The ability to see my family easily is fabulous!

The kids have adjusted, but it has been hard.  Having to wear masks at school has definitely made things even more challenging.  Lauren did not enjoy her 8th grade year at NOMS, primarily because middle school is hard.  And being the new kid in 8th grade in the middle of a pandemic is tough, even when you are familiar with a few of the other students from when you were in second grade.  She is a completely different kid now that she has started at a new school, where all the girls were starting at a new school.  She is part of the Oldham County Performance Troupe, which has been so great for her.  She needed the boost of confidence, as she had to audition and she made it!

Alison is slowly adapting; it is much better now that they are in school every day rather than 50% like they were the last school year.  I think she would say her closest friends at at gymnastics, but she seems to be getting to know a few more of the kids at school.  She had her entire elementary school in London, and she had the same 30 kids in her class the entire time, so throwing her into middle school as one of the youngest ones and having different rosters in every class was a huge adjustment for her.  I appreciate that in England, they have a birthdate cut-off that is firm and unable to be challenged.  There is such an age discrepancy in the US.  There are some kids in Alison’s class that are more than a year older than her.  

Drew is LOVING being in the US because of the sports, but he says at least once a week that he wants to go back to London.  I think it is primarily because London is really his only place of reference.  He was so young when we moved to London, that he doesn’t have many memories of living in the US.  The masks make it a bit tough at school but he has made some friends.  It would be better if he didn’t have to get on the bus at 6:30!!  Having a smaller school in London and being with the same kids for all 5 years he was at school was different than here, but I think it makes it easier for middle school because he will know more of the kids that are his age.  He is enjoying his soccer club a lot!  The difference here is that they do the teams by calendar year, rather than school year; which means that he is one of the youngest since his birthday is in November.

Brad is really enjoying working at Texas Roadhouse.  It is a completely different culture from KFC; he can wear shorts to work!  (He said he never would, but when it was so hot here he definitely did!). He is feeling challenged and appreciated.  And it helps that the company is doing really well; they have had a lot of success during the pandemic, especially through several of the initiatives that Brad has been an integral part.  He has been taking Lauren to school every day because his office is about 2 miles from her school, which is convenient for everyone.

As for me, I have started a Cabi business, which I am loving!  It has gotten me out of my comfort zone, and I am so happy that I have shared Cabi with several friends who didn’t know anything about it!  And I love my team that I am a part of; such a caring, friendly group of women.  With the kid’s schedules, I am really unable to have an 8-5 job.  I have enjoyed meeting new people and having an entire rack of clothes at my disposal!!  I am thankful that I am able to be there for the kids, and drive them to their activities.  And I am also thankful for friends and family to help with the carpooling.  This season of parenting is definitely the busiest so far.  But I am beyond grateful that each of the kids has an activity which they love, and I am happy to spend time in the car to be able to get them where they need to be.

As Brad is always saying, rather than being sad that you are not still in London, be happy that we had the amazing opportunities that we did to live in London, travel in Europe, and for the kids to be able to see the world is made of so many different types of people.  I would not trade it for anything; anyone who has the opportunity to live overseas should take it without a second thought.

Here is my top ten differences of living in London vs living in Kentucky:

1. Walking/public transportation vs driving absolutely everywhere

2. NHS vs medical bills even though we have insurance

3. Seeing family for a few days a year vs seeing family every few months

4. A small house with one TV vs a big house with a finished basement, 5 TVs, a garage, and normal sized bedrooms for everyone

5. 1 car after living in London for 5 years vs 2 cars after living here for a month

6. Walking the kids to school vs the kids taking the bus/being driven to school

7. Multiple stops on the high street to complete my shopping list vs Target!!!!!

8. Premier League football vs NFL football, college football, baseball, basketball

9. WhatsApp vs Text messaging

10. Big city vs suburbs

And while I miss grocery delivery, I do like the grocery pickup; it is nice to be able to change my substitutions before I even receive my groceries.  

I think Lauren summed it up best when she said “I wish I could be in two places at once.”