Home is where the heart is. It may sound cliche' but it is absolutely true. My family was certainly proof that can't be denied. Home is not defined by a house or any other structure where you may happen to live.
In the 18 years that I lived at home, we lived in more different houses than I care to count. To be honest, I really can't tell you exactly how many because I'm not sure how many we lived in before I was old enough to remember. Let's just suffice to say that it was a lot. During my first 7 years we lived in 3 different towns and the rest were spent in the first town which is the one I consider my hometown. To give you just a slight idea of how frequently we moved - halfway through the second grade we moved to New Albany and moved back to Milltown the summer after third grade. In that one and a half years we lived in 3 houses. Many of our moves would be just down the street. Enough said.
I'm sure by now you are asking yourself why we moved around so much. Good question. It was never because we were vagrants or that we had to move for any logical reason. It was simply something my mom liked to do. She would no more than get one house fixed up perfectly until she would find another one she liked better. So, we packed up and moved.
Having said all this, I have to add that I had a wonderful childhood. It never occurred to me or any of us that we had any less of a home than kids who lived in the same house all their lives because we didn't. We were happy and loved and no matter how long we lived in a house mom and dad made it a home. Mom always fixed a home that was warm, cozy and welcoming. My friends always loved visiting at my house and did so quite often. Home for us was wherever the family was and we had the best home anyone could ask for.
Until next time...that's my view.
Kat
That's awesome that your mom made things so homey. I've moved so much that I refused to decorate anymore because I knew it would only have to be taken down later. I wonder how that made my son feel..though I never voiced why I didn't care about decorating.
ReplyDeleteI guess we were so used to it that it never seemed like we were moving that much although it really was quite a bit.
DeleteKat, thanks for this post! I spent all my 23 years at home before I got married. My kids have moved quite a bit in their childhood and you saying that you felt you had a happy childhood gives me peace. I have often wondered if we should have stayed put from the very beginning, but I am happy we made our way here on the Peninsula. I think it was meant to be. Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteKids are very resilient. It really never mattered to us kids that we moved from one house to another. By the time I was in high school it had slowed down and we only lived in 2 houses during those years. We always felt at home.
DeleteI don't much like moving any more, but I have had enough practice to be good at it. This was a sweet moment shared, thank you Kat. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't like to move either k~, probably because of all the practice. Kenneth and I have only lived in 2 houses in 40 years of marriage.
DeleteI am not so fond of moving. I have moved couple of times myself but not alot and I hate packing.
ReplyDeletewww.thoughtsofpaps.com
I hate it to Paps and do not do it. Kenneth and I have only lived in 2 houses in 40 years of marriage.
DeleteI'm a real home body. My home surrounding, my furnishing are far more8iortant to me than the clothes I wear.
ReplyDeleteI am too in my adult life Sandra.
DeleteSounds like it was a part of a wonderful and loving childhood. So often you hear about the downsided of moving - it was nice to read your positive experience and outlook of being "on the move".
ReplyDeleteSounds like it was a great part of your childhood. And so nice to hear your positive outlook of moving frequently. Sounds like it could bea great short story at least!
ReplyDeleteSo true Kat. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Daphne. You would definitely know about that.
DeleteThank you Daphne. You would definitely know about that.
DeleteGreat post. I've lived in my home for 46 years now, so it really IS home!
ReplyDeleteThank you Paula. Kenneth and I lived in our first house 16 years and then moved to the neighboring farm and have been here 24 years so I am pretty much a homebody now.
DeleteI would have liked your mom. I moved so many times in my 20's, I can't count. My husband is adamant that we stay in our current house until they take us out toe-first. It totally goes against my gypsy spirit.
ReplyDeleteThat is one trait I did not inherit from my mother. I don't like to move.
DeleteA house is a building, any building will do, a home is where you feel safe, secure and happy. I believe that could be anywhere. Absolutely anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this look into your childhood. ♥
Thank you Jo, I agree a home is what you make of it. I'm glad you enjoy my memories. ♥♥
DeleteNot a fan of moving, but I'm glad your mom made it work for you. You're totally right about it being all about the family - some people never move and still don't have a comfortable home, others move constantly and still make it work.
ReplyDeleteI'm really not a fan of moving either, Goddess, and don't want to do it. You are so right that some people can stay in the same house and still never have a home.
DeleteThis goes to prove that home is what you make it no matter where you are. I loved this. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteKathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/
Thank you Kathy. It really is what you make it.
DeleteWhen I moved my stuff to my college dorm, it was from the same house that my parents had brought me to when I came home from the hospital as a newborn. Yet we both had childhoods that were centered on family and felt stable. Home really is where the heart is!
ReplyDeleteYes, it definitely is, Beth. ♥
DeleteHome is where the heart is-- I do believe that... but when you move as often as I have-- home has a lot of different names as my heart was scattered across the country, a piece of it left every time we had to up and move once again. Thankfully as an adult--I'm in one place--giving my kids something I couldn't enjoy. Stability.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Jenn
http://www.wine-n-chat.com
Luckily, most of our moves were in the same town so I never really had to start over except once. It would really be tough to move cross country.
DeleteHow neat to live in so many homes- I do believe your mothers creative genius rubbed off on you-
ReplyDeleteLove and Light
Laura
Thank you so much Laura. They were all special in their own way.
DeleteSo true that home is where you feel safe and warm. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzy.
DeleteWe are like you!we moved quite a bit too! So true, home is where my family is!
ReplyDeleteA house does not a home make. I truly believe that. The family makes the home.
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