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Every parent loves the mantra "Do as I say, not as I do!"  and even though our stuff isn't even on the road to Washington yet, I already have a bucket load to say about the many ways we've fumbled our interstate move.  I thought if I just did enough detailed planning and research, everything would be fine, but I've never been more wrong in my life.  Here is a list of stuff I was too pig-headed to do the right way the first time around:

1)  If you have small children, lead them around your current home and let them kiss everything goodbye.  Then send them to Grandma's house for a week or two until the nightmare of your move is over.  I dragged my children through the hell of watching all their stuff get thrown into boxes and the bazillion "no, I can't play with you right now's" to know that they deserved a lot better.

2) Pick a leader.  This has proved to be our biggest challenge thus far.  Because my husband was still working full time, I was delegated the task of planning, organizing and carrying out everything move-related.  Which would've been fine and dandy if he hadn't then decided to ask, complain, double-check and NAG me ceaselessly about every. single. item on my to do list. We ended up doing all the planning twice and he spent just as much time micromanaging me as it would've taken him to just do the job himself in the first place. 

But before you go getting annoyed at my husband, do realize that had HE been in charge of organizing the move, I'd have nagged him just as much.  This is what you get when two strong-willed people form a union.  Honestly, though, for the sake of your sanity, if you plan to move any time soon, remember that SOMEBODY has to be Tony Soprano.  We all know what happens when two bosses vie for the same territory.

3) This probably goes without saying, but whatever your personal Tony Soprano asks, just do it.  Don't question why he or she wants to pack the pillows in one box and the sheets in another.  Just do it.  In fact, go one step further and do it with a smile.  Even if you secretly wish to rat the boss out to the FBI and then go into the witness protection program, following the leader is the best way to keep your marriage in tact while you move. 

4)  Kill each other with kindness.  I can't stress this enough.  I am not a nice person to move with.  I have been cranky, tired, over-extended and just plain mean for the past three weeks.  My family deserved better.  They still do and fortunately there's still time for me to change.