Goodbye, Again!? Smarty Mom: Christine Stone

Today I am going to do something a little different for Smarty Mom. Instead of introducing you to someone new, I am going to reintroduce you to a previous Smarty Mom. No questions just my thoughts and reintroduction of a wonderful friend and neighbor.

Back in January of 2009, I introduced you to my friend, Smarty Mom Christine Stone. We were rejoicing her family’s return from a 2 year stint in India. They returned, settled back into their house, our kids began school together and all was right with the world. Fast forward to present day and they are packing up for another international move, this time Singapore!

Are you kidding me – how can this be happening? For the past several years I have had a best friend, second mom to my kids, sounding board, comic relief and when it comes down to it family member next door. How can they be leaving again? Her children are my children, our kids are interchangeable on any given day. Our husbands both travel for work and we have just dug in and helped each other with the day to day of raising our kids.

The past several months I have gone through a range of emotions – shock, happiness for an incredible career opportunity for a wonderful husband/dad (Brendan), thrilled for the chance to take my family on the adventure of a lifetime when we visit them, sadness and anger. My husband refers to Christine and I as Sister Wives and that got me to thinking…. I really want them to stay and Brendan is taking them away, so I should just sue him for alienation of affection! How am I supposed to manage without Teagan’s sassiness and Callum’s thoughtfulness. What is my dog Rosie supposed to do without her playdates with their dog Skye? It could work because darnit, he is taking a part of my daily life away!

I know many Smarty Moms but I have to put Christine at the top. She genuinely loves children. Over the past couple of years, she discovered a new passion, teaching. So she embarked on a career change, went to school at night to pursue her teaching degree, volunteered almost daily at our kids school and ultimately ended up an assistant 4th grade teacher. Her students (and parents) loved her. She has this innate ability to gage what each child needs and meet them where they are at. While most are standing on the sidelines, she is the one out kicking the soccer ball. Always ready with a hug, smile and most importantly her time! Does she have faults, sure – she can’t say no easily and one of my favorite things to say to her as she heads out for one more thing is SUCKA!!

This is Christine and how am I supposed to say goodbye, again. Our children are just wrapping their heads around it. They have spent more time together than apart and my youngest copes by saying that they are going to Singapore but are renting. The genius of children and the optimism. Will I miss them, yes but do I really need to say goodbye? I look at the path between our houses and know that I don’t have to because the path says it all, our homes are connected and a move will never change that.

Many say it takes a village, I agree and as a mom, this experience has taught me that we can’t do it alone, to be grateful and open to all those that are sent into our family’s lives. So not goodbye but safe and happy travels until we see you back on the path!