A few years ago I saw a former client (lets call her Christine) in a social setting. She had just gotten married, was about to have a baby, left her job, and moved from an urban area to a suburban one. As she updated me on things in her life, she expressed confidence in her decisions but also confessed it was rough at times. She then apologized for the latter pretty quickly, lest she sound ungrateful.

Why wouldnt it be hard? I said. Youve made a number of major changes in your life.

Her face instantly brightened and I thought she might cry with happiness.

Yes! she said. Yes. Thats true. No one wants to hear me say that because they say I have all these things I always said I wanted.

To be clear, these were still things she wanted. A life partner she loved and all that comes with building that life together.

This was really about the whole grass is greener issue. A little bit on Christines part, but more so on the part of the female friends who were pooh-poohing her for being the least bit freaked out by all the change.

Lets review. Completely different way of life in suburbia. A grinding halt to an active career (a temporary one, but a halt nonetheless). Independence vs. partnership. And on the brink of being a parent for the first time.

Hello, adjustment period.

Does anyone honestly think they can wrap their head around all that and just keep going? Yes, if youre emotionally healthy you count your blessings. But you also ask yourself over and over again if you knew what you were getting into. Because boy are you going to be experiencing some radical change.

Meanwhile, Christines friends were wondering why she wasnt hanging off a chandelier doing twirls in a blissful state. And it had her wondering, too.

Read more here:
Greener Grass Requires Adjustment Periods