Toddlers and Transitions

What a difference six months can make.

When we last checked in, I was living with my mom and preparing for a new job. The kids were playing in the mud and enjoying a new cat. Now it’s September and I’ve got updates to report.

First, the big one: we moved!

Yes we packed up a truck and hauled everything across town to a new apartment.

It’s been a lot of work, but we’re happy. We really haven’t had our own place since Leila was born. (Almost three years.) We lived in the kampong with Su’s parent’s, then moved in with my mom upon landing in the States. This is a big step for our family and we’re embracing it.

The apartment is spacious and has all the amenities we need. There’s a park and a playground down the street, with groceries just a few minutes away. This place checks all the boxes, and I feel good about spending a few years here until we’re ready to buy a house.

Meanwhile, we hit another big milestone this week as Adam started school.

Yes, our spirited boy is off to preschool three mornings a week. Nothing fancy, I just want him to have fun and learn something outside the home. It will be good structure and socialization, and he’s taken to it like a champ.

So how did my son go from this…

To this?

Gosh I don’t know. It’s cool watching him grow up and take on new things. I want to get him into some kind of sports activity or martial arts. He loves wrestling and roughhousing. I’m open to suggestions if you have any.

So what else is going on? New apartment. New school. That’s gotta be it, right? Not even close.

I’ll take this opportunity to announce that I’ll soon be starting a new job.

If you recall, I’ve been working since March as a Technical Writer for a medical device manufacturer. I mostly work on procedures and guides. Things like: “How to Operate the Laser Marking Machine” or “Calibrating Inspection Equipment”. I’ve met a lot of smart people and had my hand in some cool projects, but I’ve decided to move into something new when my six-month contract ends.

With that in mind, I’ve accepted a position as a Grant Writer for a local charter school. Grant writing is something I’ve wanted to get into for a while. It’s a genre of technical writing focused on strategic funding applications and proposals. It’s a field where you have to be very articulate and precise, but it also offers opportunities for creativity, storytelling, and persuasion.

I think I’ll be damn good at it, and I see it leading to exciting career opportunities down the road. I could work in education, nonprofits, social services, or the arts. Universities need grant writers. Research institutions. Advocacy groups. I think it lends well to my skill set, and it’s a path to doing some genuine good in the world.

I’ll also be managing the school website, writing newsletters, and whatever else they throw at me. It sounds like a very dynamic writing role, and I’m excited about helping kids and teachers through my work. I’ll formally start in October when we get back from Malaysia.

Wait… what?

Yep, we’re heading back across the pond(s) for a visit. We leave in about a month and we’ll spend over two weeks abroad. I’m stoked to return my wife and kids to their birthplace. It’s been almost a year and a half, and everyone has changed a lot. I’m curious to see how everything feels, and how Adam and Leila navigate the experience. The best part will be catching up with our big Malaysian family.

Of course, first we have to survive the journey. Getting to Malaysia is hard, even without toddlers in tow. It’s two long-haul flights and over twenty hours in the air. We learned some things on our last trip (read about it here) and this time we’ve scheduled long layovers, including two days in Tokyo for sightseeing.

Hopefully that helps everyone recharge en route. There’s really no easy way to do it, but we know the ropes by now. I’ll write a blog about the whole thing when we get back.

So that’s all my big news. We’ve had a great summer, and I look forward to the golden days of fall. Honestly the weather here has been amazing. It seems like half the planet is melting or burning or drowning, but Northeast Ohio has been mild all year. We’ll probably pay for it with ten feet of snow this winter. Fortunately, my new position lets me work from home!

Anyway, here’s a smattering of what the kids have been up to this summer:

We recently made a few drives down to Columbus, once to visit friends and once for a Malaysian picnic. This weekend we head to West Virginia for an annual cabin trip my Dad started ten years ago. Honestly, we’re on a roll right now. I’m sure Dad would be proud.

One last fun piece of news: My novel was shortlisted for a pair of literary awards.

I didn’t win anything, but it’s cool to make a shortlist and critical reception has been good. Here’s an excerpt from the Rubery review:

“Hoffman’s plot is wonderfully inventive. The story zips along and the jokes fly as fast as the action.”

Check out the book if you still haven’t read it. You can get a digital copy for 99 cents, or I’ll send you a signed paperback edition for $20. Just message me here: Contact Eric.

My life is in a pretty good place right now. New home. New job. I even recently bought a car. My son is starting school and we’re heading for Malaysia next month.

Hit me up with any comments, questions, or revelations you might have. Thank you for following me on this journey, and I’ll try not to go six months before updating again.

Cheers.

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