Top 5 Reasons It's Time To Leave Norway

The day has finally arrived. It's moving day. Leaving day. Goodbye day. We are off to England for three weeks with Mike's family. We fly out at 3 pm, and we are going to have a great time. First we are 'doing' London for about a week. Then we'll make a stopover in Cambridge, before we return to Ripon near Leeds in Yorkshire for a couple of weeks of family time.

I know it's going to be lots of fun.

But right now, nothing feels great. It's 5 am, and I'm wide awake. In between goodbye parties, packing, quality family time, farewell dinners and shopping, I've been handling this whole leaving business with aplomb. But this morning I woke up with a big, aching hole in my stomach. I feel so torn right now, between desperately wanting to stay and recognizing that our life is back in Canada - and that it is really a very good life.

A nagging voice at the back of my head keeps asking me how I can have a good life so far away from my family. Isn't family what life is all about? But I KNOW that once I come back to my old life, I will be happy to see all my wonderful friends, my house and the lovely weather that is Ontario in the summer.

Mike is being very good about this whole thing. During times where I've been excessively whiny about going back, he's even suggested that we could consider moving here permanently if, after spending some time back in Canada, we find life really is better for us here. But, in all seriousness, I couldn't do that to him. There's nothing for him here, except language barriers. He'd give it a try if I asked him to, but I am not that selfish (I hope).

So I know these next few hours are the last of 'living' in Norway, at least for the foreseeable future.

The boys and their cousins had a final sleepover last night. My nephews are skipping school today, and all four boys are currently snoozing away. I'm going to miss these weekend campouts as much as anything else. I've gotten used to have three or four boys, not just two. And this morning, these four boys are going to 'save' me from totally breaking down. They will keep me busy making breakfast and doling out washing and clothing instructions. Then we'll drop off the nephews at home, while we pack two cars with our luggage and head towards the airport.

In closing, and in a pathetic attempt to lighten the mood somewhat, I give you:

The Top 5 Reasons It's Time To Leave Norway

5. When your child complains that he's had a long school day after finishing at 1 pm.

How is he going to re-adjust to school ending at 3:30 pm every single day if we don't take him back now?

4. When you can no longer button your pants due to an overindulgence of rich and creamy Norwegian chocolate.

Although that's not really a good reason to leave -- why not just chuck your old pants and pick up new ones, with friendlier sizing and elastic waistband?

3. When your oldest child just received a cell phone, but isn't happy with the GPS-less model.

Seriously - kids in Norway are way too technologically endowed.

2. When you realize you just paid 6 dollars for 7 strawberries.

Or $20 for a glass of wine, $15 for a movie ticket, not to mention $200 dollars for a pizza dinner. And you didn't bat an eyelid.

1. When you know that if you stay here one more month, or even just one more day, you will never, ever agree to leave, and your husband will have to carry you, kicking and screaming, onto that airplane.

And that's all.