Room to Breathe

I've felt the call of a simpler life even before Hayden was diagnosed with TS.  I was looking into the smaller towns that surround Norman, and I had pretty much made up my mind that we should leave the city and move to Washington, OK shortly before he was diagnosed.  It's only about 15-20 minutes outside of Norman and looks nearly like a town frozen in time...in a good way!  No fast food joints, 1 gas station, 1 main road through the center of town, no grocery store, etc.  I have several friends that live there and they love it.  Hayden would stay outdoors 24/7 if I'd let him, so I knew the country life would be right up his alley.

But, with the TS diagnosis, I decided maybe Norman public schools would be better equipped to handle what may lie ahead for us.  His tics were very bad at the time, and I was terrified they'd only get worse.  "Worse" could mean medicating him, lots of counseling, neurologist appointments, etc.

I put my dream of the quiet life aside and decided the hustle and bustle might suck, but maybe it's what's best for Hayden?  Seems a little contradictory, right?

I get MLS emails all the time...and they're all set to send me Norman listings only.  I'm not a big fan of torture, so why even look at what I can't have!?  Fate took it out of my hands and sent me this beauty late last week:

I'd seen the listing before and I loved it then.  Seriously, is that not the best view ever!?  I'd love waking up every day and looking out onto God's amazing creation...instead of my neighbor's patio door.

The house is dated (from what I can tell in the pics) and I have no clue if it needs a ton of work or not, but I can't help but love it.

It sits on 1.8 acres and that terrifies and excites me at the same time.  I want the country life, and I think know Hayden would flourish.  But, I still have reservations.  I'm terrified that whatever decision I make won't be the right one.  What if we stay in Norman and Hayden would've done better in a smaller town?  What if I bite off more than I can chew (read: 1.8 ACRES!)?  What if the school can't cope when/if his tics get worse?

I've nearly driven myself crazy this weekend with the incessant "what-if" internal conversation.  I emailed my friend, Michelle, at midnight last night to seek her advice.  She lives in Washington and had a special needs daughter (she went home to be with Jesus when she was about 2).  I knew I'd get a very honest answer from her.  She assured me, even if she could have had her sweet Angel here on earth longer, she'd still have left Norman for small town life, even though it would have required more driving for appointments, PT, etc.  The trade off is a quiet life that centers around God, family and a close knit community.  She knows my situation/fears and gave me a whole hearted "DO IT!".  She also pointed out that the school would be required by law to do whatever was necessary to accommodate Hayden.  Hadn't thought about that yet!

I'm still thinking a lot, and praying even more than I'm thinking (and I assure you, that is a LOT).  I know that God will lead me down the path he wants me to be on if my eyes are open to see it.  Everything happens for a reason, including an email I shouldn't have ever received...

What do you think?  Big city or small town?  Can a single Mom keep up with 1.8 acres?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!  (You know...because I like to think right now...a lot.)