Aloha!
So, my husband and I had a big decision to make in regards to the house we wanted our family to live in for the next 3 years. You can catch up
here if you missed the last post. Sadly, I will not share our decision just yet. I guess you'll have to keep coming back!
As with most military spouses, we make the most of wherever the military sends us. It is what you make of it. As for our kids, even though they don't know it, their attitude is a pretty strong reflection of ours.
Do they miss their friends? Of course they do.
Do they miss their school? I'm sure they do.
Are they going to have to go through a period of transition that may be difficult? Yes.
As a parent, do I have some sort of control in how smooth the transition is? To answer in my most favorite wording, abso-fucking-lutely.
I do not want my kids to suppress their emotions and I feel it is important they understand that they can always share their feelings. I also want them to understand the importance of looking forward to the future, to upcoming experiences and to not wallow in what they left behind. The only way they will learn such an important life lesson is from us, the parents.
I'm not going to lie. I often get annoyed when I hear people immediately bashing a place and always comparing it to somewhere else. I'm not talking about looking back and reminiscing on good times. I mean when people outright complain and groan about their new place not being as good as where they came from. Scratch that, it doesn't just annoy me.
It.Irritates.The.Piss.Out.Of.Me.
Facebook is the WORST for seeing this. If you are writing negatively about your move in a fairly public forum, then most likely you are talking about it around your kids. I think to myself, "You do understand your kids are listening to you, right? Maybe they are crying, moaning, and carrying on in a two year old fashion because they hear YOU, the person they connect with on a daily, drone on incessantly about the move and all of its injustices." It's not a hard problem to rectify. Simply stop.
Wherever you go, hit the ground running. From the moment you get out of the car, from the second you step off that plane, completely immerse your family in your environment and take in all it has to offer.
We have only lived in Oahu for 78 days and many people are totally surprised by how much my family has already done and how well we get around the island. My husband only took 1 week of leave so it's not like we've done all of this as a family. I get my ass up, pack up my kids and all of their stuff, and we do something new almost everyday. From hitting up local beaches, easy hikes/strolls, local parks, checking out random lookout points, driving aimlessly through towns, to finding the different Costco's and eating our lunch in the form of samples. There are a million and one ways to keep your child's eyes not only on the future but to enjoy what is right at their fingertips.
So during this PCS season, remember to live kēia manawa!
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Our first restaurant experience on the island was at Haleiwa Joes in Kaneohe. Fantastic food, great service and an amazing view during dinner. Here is their
website
(Free range chickens all over the place)
(Our view during dinner)
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The first beach we went to was Pyramid Rock on MCBH. It was beautiful but the waves made me a little nervous. We bought life jackets the next day.
(Trying out his snorkel gear)
(The world is your oyster, little one)
(My little Christmas elf)
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We bought an island beater.
And we've already had to dump $800 under the hood of our island beater. Fail.........
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The Lodge at Kaneohe Bay wasn't too awful of a place to stay. I will admit that their cleaning crew wasn't the most thorough but hey, I'm sure it could have been worse. We had a great time meeting new friends, having cookouts, and enjoying the family events. Since most of us were there for over a month, we really got to know each other and develop a sense of community.
(Kids would gather at night and hunt for these frogs. They were huge!)
We eventually moved into a room that had a kitchenette and mid size fridge. It was so nice to be able to prepare food especially if we were cooking out with others.
(Candy for the candy kabobs)
(They look cute but are a pain to put together. The candy does not slide well on wooden skewers. Maybe metal ones will work better)
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Found the nearest K-mart. If you know me than you know how important a discovery that was.
Boom! Found a food truck outside of K-mart with amazing lumpia. She is there, everyday, waiting.
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We checked out Nalo Farms farmers market at Windward City Mall. Produce at the commissary is sketchy at best. I highly recommend buying your produce locally. The prices are the same, more or less, but the produce looks so much better than what you find in the commissary.
(This peanut butter is to die for. I've discovered that the kids and I like mochi.)
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I started collecting events and attraction pamphlets the moment we walked off the plane. They are one of the best ways to fill up your calendar.
Hawaii State Farm Fair at Kualoa Ranch
(This view will never get old)
(There is always that one kid.)
( That chick in the middle and I had a moment. I'm not sure if it was a good one...)
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That's enough "living in the moment " for now but I still have so much to share.
Aloha!
~Cheryl
