It’s been a wild few weeks for Krause House this side of the Pacific. After being rocked by the worst chest cold I’ve ever had, followed by the worst sinus infection I’ve ever had, I am slowly but surely on the mend. Being sick for over a week in another country while staying in an Airbnb is not ideal. Nor is spending five days with rain, chilly weather and clouds, without seeing the sun appear once (literally).

For me especially, last week felt like falling into a dark valley, in which I truly felt extremely down and hopeless. Rainy weather and zero sunshine can bring the best of us down, but pair that with being incredibly sick, getting an update from family that my Grandpa had been hospitalized (he’s okay, thankfully), and grieving my mom on what would have been her birthday – well, that’s just a recipe for negativity and depression. Did I mention I also got my period and started getting hot flashes? (Sorry gentlemen, but I like to keep it real, and lady hormones are the absolute worst).

Equally challenging has been working through the struggles of parenting a child overseas and helping Larsen navigate the complexities of this new life. For those who don’t know, Larsen was diagnosed with ADHD last year. Austin and I have spent years working with her doctors and therapists to not only provide medical and therapeutic support, but educate ourselves on how to best parent her through moments of tension. For any parents out there navigating a child with ADHD, you understand what I mean when I say it is one of the hardest things you will ever face. It’s not just about finding the right medication if they require it, but more so about learning what happens in their brains when they’re triggered, what those triggers are, how to avoid them, and what to do when the bomb goes off and everyone’s nervous system is on overdrive. It’s overwhelming, exhausting, and can feel like an impossible task some days.

Thankfully, I have landed myself the best partner the world could have ever provided me. Austin is the husband and father of my dreams, literally. No sarcasm, no jokes, no exaggeration. That man spent last week not only taking care of me, making sure I rested and reminding me to not feel guilty for being unable to help, but he worked tirelessly to support Larsen through the tough transition from one Airbnb to another.

Transitions and change are particularly hard for children with ADHD, so living overseas with only a fraction of our belongings and a never-ending path of change ahead of us…you can imagine the mental exhaustion and emotional turmoil this causes in a child who requires routine and consistency. And yet, Austin rose to the challenge and got us through one of our toughest weeks yet. But something we all have likely learned throughout our lives is that our bodies will heal, the sun will shine again, and we’ll find the strength to climb out of our valley and reach a peak once more.

Despite the negativity I experienced last week, Larsen was able to join in on a holiday arts program, thanks to a two-week holiday break for public schools. All last week, Larsen spent her days at Lake House Arts in Takapuna, making friends and engaging in art classes where she has been learning about all forms of art. The relief and joy of hearing your child excitedly share that she’s made a friend and had a good day is like nothing else. If you could bottle that emotion into a pill form, you could make a killing! We are so proud of Larsen’s bravery for trying something new, and it has been so much fun seeing the projects she brings home with her each day.

While Larsen is busy at camp, Austin and I have been able to prepare for our upcoming move in October. Buying appliances, furniture, and household items is much easier to do without an 8-year-old complaining she’s bored the entire time. And thanks to the two-week holiday break, every store we visited had major sale promotions that helped us find everything we need at significantly lower costs (my clearance-shopping mother would be so proud). The dopamine high of spending three days straight shopping and spending money was incredible…though I think Austin might feel differently (he is the accountant of the family after all).

Perhaps most exciting was our first trip to New Zealand’s only Costco. Walking through the store with our cart felt like being back home, if only for a bit. We had heard from many Kiwis, “Beware! It gets SUPER busy!” As we navigated our way through the store, we laughed at how not-busy it was compared to the treacherous Sunday Costco trips we would accidentally find ourselves on. This NZ Costco has nothing on U.S.

Discovering that we could purchase meat at a much cheaper price via Costco provided us some major monetary relief. Groceries, particularly meat and some produce, are incredibly expensive in New Zealand, so discovering some of your favorite brands for less is like finding gold in a mine. I literally jumped with joy when I found Skippy peanut butter. Typically, I choose off-brand items for less, but I will fall on a sword for Skippy crunchy peanut butter any day of the week!

After a week of art camp and three full days of shopping, our family was eager for some sunshine and fresh air. Thankfully, Auckland’s We the Young festival on Saturday offered the perfect venue for both. A celebration of arts, imagination and adventure, the We the Young festival at Aotea Square included free activities for kids, including culturally specific games. We had so much fun learning and playing traditional Māori games, such as Takinga and Patikitiki (pictured below).

As we hit our one-month milestone in New Zealand, I’m amazed at all that we have done and accomplished in such a short span of time. This move has been anything but easy. Each week feels like whiplash as we ride the extreme peaks and valleys of moving abroad. But these past few weeks have reminded me that if we stick together, lean on each other when we feel weak, and remember that the hard parts will always be met with brighter days, then I think we just might be okay in the end.