Do you know what you want to do? Where you'd go and do you have UK family for support?
At 15 the oldest really would have to do what the rest of the family does, if you are going to move him, then I suppose it's now or never.
I remember the Cadets in town when I was younger I bet they still have that program going Here they are Sell it as he could show them a thing or two I bet he'd love it.
At least them Mom would be happy so chances are the rest would follow suit.

I am fully aware of how different teenagers are and am not that naive that next year my daughter won't become more streetwise when she hits year 8. I wasn't slagging off anywhere I was merely stating that my exposure to crap is far less where I live now. Your outlook on life depends where you came from and where you live now. Clearly Manchester is better for you than where you live in Perth. I cannot say the same for my former village and my area now. Everyone is different and I have never stated otherwise.

You did say exposure in Aus...was less than the U.K ....exposure is not great anywhere...a relative of mine living in America says the same about her children living there...she says kids cannot be kids for long in the USA..(I replied it's the same everywhere not just the USA)pressure for children not to be children for long is everywhere, t.v, movies,radio...I would never generalise anyone country for that...and just say I did not like a certain country I would not blame state things just for the heck of it....my returning to the UK and near to Manchester has nothing to do with this...I just take offense when you generalise people/places.....I have in the past made that mistake but you live and learn. I live in Perth and to my mind it's all swings and roundabouts....is here any different from the UK...again its mainly comes down to how you bring your children up and what company they "end up hanging around with"...year 7 is soooooooooo different to year 8 etc....just as it is the world over....a lady I knew here use to go on and on about her son...she was proud of him as we all are with our children...her son was Faction Captain at Primary School, played AFL, actually played sports all year round....went to private school and bless her she is still singing his praises...what she does not know is her little angle is on drugs and is often driving around the street like he is in a Formula 1 race he is using his art on not just paper and has dropped out of school for a gap year so she tells everyone, her son has no intention of going back to education...oh he has been drinking since year 9...we all want our children to be safe/educated...alas...we do not always get what want.

I said no such thing, you need to read my post properly. I said my exposure in my area here and my exposure in my area in the UK. I can only compare my experiences in those places. I have never, and would never compare 2 countries as a whole.

You cannot compare areas either..it's people...you can great people in a scruffy area and visa versa...I live in a very nice area and all kinds of people live here..rough,nice etc...I cannot compare here to where I live in the UK both are equally nice areas diferent types of people though...lifestyles...you really should not compare certain things.

Of course you can compare how your life is in 2 different areas you have lived. You can compare anything that you have an experience of. My village in England although lovely was full of kids I didn't want my kids hanging around with. My area here in Perth has kids I don't want my kids hanging around with but not as many. The kids in my daughters primary school here are far nicer kids than the school she went to in the UK. I can compare those things because I have experience of both of them. For crying out loud, it is like beating my head against a brick wall.

Just because your exposure to it is less in Perth doesn't mean it is not there. I liken Perth suburbia to living in a bubble, especially when your children are young. As they get older and go to high school they are exposed to the same things that they would be exposed to in any high school anywhere in the world, private or state.

As we are leaving Perth shortly we have been having a few nights out with friends and I have been quite shocked at some of the sights I've seen in and around Perth at night. Certainly no different to any town or city in the UK.

I never said it wasn't there, I don't deny it is there. My life is better because it isn't in my face. In my village in the UK it was in my face therefore my life suffered. I don't dispute anti-social behaviour happens in Perth just that it doesn't affect me. I am not sure how much clearer I can make that. I am a person that doesn't get bothered about stuff if it isn't affecting me. I don't watch the news because if it isn't in my own back yard and bothering me and mine I don't give a stuff.

Oh please most of us have had experience in living in different countries...does not make you an expert. For me to call a place lovely is usually has to contain the "whole" package so if the Primary School was not good then that would be a no go area for us...why because if children are acting not to nicley at a young age then they tend to go through life acting the same....it sounds to me like we cannot compare what we class as nice areas..hence my point. Our sons Primary School in the U.K was lovely and still is...well mannered and polite children does really well in the stats..how do I know this..well my friend now teaches at the school, my brothers children attend the school along with my friends children and one whos grandchildren now attend....all lovely people because we do come from a nice area and usually nice area's attracked nice people....seems to me your relative is the U.K and not the U.K on a whole is at fault if there children are acting as they do....that can happen anywhere..your daughter is only young and I should imagine you pick and choose whom she really "hangs" around with...but that all changes when they are in High School....you don't have such a huge say on who the choose to spend their time with....as I said you cannot compare everything and it is a bit silly that you think your area is better just because your children are behaving better than your family in the U.K...you can have the same problems with a family living down the road from you here in Aus....you should pat yourself on the back for doing well with your family but really it is not because you are in Perth.....more than you are keeping an eye on your family....maybe you should give some hints to your family in the UK....

you just aren't getting it are you. I shall just give up now and let you interpret my posts as you wish.

Have to agree with you on the nights out...not wanting to get on a bang waggon here honestly...but if people really do think life is all milk and honey here and just no trouble then either they are wearing blinkers, never go out or are use to that type of behaviour and don't recognise it as trouble....as I have always said good and bad happen everywhere and in all walks of life...no matter where you live....good luck T. I think I saw your container today..not sure it was your house though if so good luck and take care....

That is very kind of you I shall honour you the same accord...I do understand your opinion...I never said otherwise...what I did say was though that you cannot compare your life to others....so I got that....seems to me though you are not understanding the fact I don't judge people on where they live to represent how they act....to me that is soley down to the individual family/person....not on where they live..and I certainly never think that because I have been fortunate enough to always lived in "lovely" areas that my family will never go through any of life's problems....if you think like that then you may be in for a big fall....I really do hope your life continues as it is....as I said before NB your advice would be much more suited to people coming to Aus....your wasting your talents on this site....

I am not comparing my life with anyone elses. I am comparing MY life here and MY life in the UK. I am not giving anyone advice about anything. I am not judging anyone.

Sorry I must of misread/understood this part of your reply "When I compare my kids (particularly my 12 year old) to my nieces and nephews in the UK," when I was taught as school when I wanted to use the word compare it meant "Examine and note the similarities or differences " so I took this as meaning that you were not just comparing your children here in Aus but also your nephew and neices in the UK....this thread NB was started with help wanted...not a put down on someone who is thinking of returning to the UK....I cannot quite see how your reply helped in the first instance...as I have said before I do not jump on the site for Brits etc coming to Aus I could easily dance on their parade so to speak but I would not dream of doing that...and no matter how anyone wants to "dress it up as" comments like yours were negative....

Right Brits1, you listening love. The top 2 posts are what I was responding to, I was responding to Rachel (aka Nu Shooz) and her response to PoppetUK. I was not putting anyones dreams down, was not judging anyone and not giving any advice. As you will see from my quote, I will highlight it just in case, I said that these issues exist in Australia but I don't see them. I do go around with blinkers on but I am aware of what exists outside those blinkers. I just don't want to know until I have to deal with it which in years to come I am sure I will. I hope I have brought both my girls up to be well balanced, well behaved, respectful individuals - their reports seem to indicate I have done an OK job. I hope they make the right choices in life but hey who knows. Life is too short to be miserable hence you guys all going home and me coming here. Hopefully everyone will find their place in the world and be happy.