Two Places at Once

We moved to Kentucky eight years ago. One of the primary reasons we decided to move here was because my husband was born and raised here, and most of his family still lived here. Coming from D.C., I felt like I was in the middle of Timbuktu. It took four years for it to start feeling like home, but I still felt alone sometimes, wishing I was in two places at once.

I missed my family, so I convinced my twin sister Biry to move here, and she did. Then we convinced our older sister Nity to move here, and she did. Finally, my mom moved down here. Now, my immediate family lives here, except for my eldest sister. So, you have three Mexican sisters and their mother, all living within a ten-mile radius of each other.

Biry and I are tied at the hip. We did everything together, but then she got married and entered the honeymoon phase, which was totally normal (eye roll). She is finally coming back to me, hahaha. I missed her terribly. I helped my older sister Nity and her four kids move into my farmhouse during that time. She has three boys and a girl. For several months, I became a second parent to her kids so she could get on her feet, and I absolutely loved it. I was able to nurture her children, which I have been unable to do because we have no children of our own.

I stayed very busy with Nity and the kids, and they, in turn, became dependent on me. Once my twin sister had her baby girl, I took on her postpartum care. My presence became scarce at the farmhouse, and I heard about it. I was scared Biry would fall into postpartum depression or not have the care she needed since her husband worked nights and was often very tired. I made sure to be there if she and her new daughter, Deny, needed anything.

It has been seven weeks, and I’m still keeping a very close eye on her and the baby, but they are doing great. On another note, in the middle of all that, my mom moved into the farmhouse a couple of months ago, and she has become an enormous help to our family by helping care for my sister’s children while she goes to work, but having had that role I know how taxing it can be, so I worry about her. She’s a grandmother but has graciously taken on full-time care for my 2-year-old niece and cares for the boys when they get home from school. I know she is feeling overwhelmed and I need to help her more, wishing I was in two places at once.

Did I mention my husband is taking all of this wonderfully? Haha. The man has a heart of gold. He took the boys under his wing without blinking an eye and is always teaching them things, which fills me with so much joy. My mother loves him, they bond over herbal medicine and gardening. He never makes a fuss about me going over to see my new baby niece, even if I’m gone all day. I miss him terribly when I am gone. I wish I could be in two places at once.

So now my mother is saying she is thinking about moving back to Florida, which would be a great loss to our family dynamics. My nephews are telling their mom they miss me and how come they don’t see me a lot anymore. My twin sister needs me a lot right now, and my husband is being overly patient. Needless to say, I don’t feel alone anymore HAHAHA. I wouldn’t change a thing except maybe having the ability to be in two places at once.