Well even if he does not come I'm sure I will enjoy it. Over the last month being on the web and talking to all the people who feel the same as me has been wonderful. It will be nice seeing all the faces that I write to.

I have a 9 month old son & the thought of him being on the other side of the world without me, would destroy me.

I know !! I would not be parted from my children without the use of force so I can understand how his dad must be feeling but he has a new family now and my son has been sidelined for quite a few years so I would just like him to talk to him and tell him that he will always be there for him etc and not pretend it isnt happening. The fact is he will be an adult before we know it and the desiscion on where he wants to live will be his alone but at least he will have had this experience.
Deb

My eldest is 19 and she is not coming with us, no matter how much i try to convince her she will have a whole new life there. Its a long story and there is a lot of history between us but even so it will be gut renching saying goodbye, our youngest daughter who is 11 is looking forward to going thank god!
hope it works out for you
rach x

Hi I just wanted to say I know how you feel as my 14 year old has been saying her Dad doesnt mention it and she wants to say things to him, but obviously feels that she cant and she is getting stressed.

On top of that she has been victimised at school over that last few weeks and was beaten up on the way to school today by some little b... who at this moment cannot be named, we have been to the police and school etc., but I just feel OMG what the hell is going on in her mind. This bullying has been going on and off for the last two years and today, it has reached boiling point. I was going to put a big post on the Lounge to see what people think I should do for her......she is now going to stay at her Dads in West Sussex for a few days but at the moment I cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel and dont know which way to turn..

so back to the issue above, (sorry Im just feeling really low at the moment, God knows how she feels)

I think that you just have to be really patient with him and remember as much as you are excited (and nervous) he feels exactly the same.

p.s. by the way I had to take my daughter to the doctors and report this incident and my doctor was totally behind us if the police have to question her....thats another reason we cant wait to leave this country!!!Hoping for a definately better life for her!!


Kath

Kath,

Really sorry to hear whats happened to your daughter, it must break your heart, I hope shes OK and you manage to sort it all out. I know its the latest in a lot of incidents for you, keep your chin up, dont let the b******s get you down.
Michaela

Debbie
You should have phoned!!!!!! It would have been great to chat!!

Same here girls, daughter is 15 this year adamant she wont be going with us next year after her exams. She makes me feel so guilty at times for wanting to better her life. We could do with a website just for teenagers emigrating to talk about their feelings.

Kath I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter it must be really terrible to know that she is being bullied. I totally sympathise and I bet you just want to get hold of the little ******. We had an incident before christmas with my son when some older boys found some tablets and decided to put the in other childrens food!! They had no idea what they were, just found the packet in the street!! My son was one who got given one in a chip would you believe Didnt notice a thing apparently (food doesnt touch the sides with him!!) cue lots of hilarity by these boys . Anyway major drama at the school, teachers nurses ringing me up , quite worrying for a while but in the end the chinese writing on the package was translated at the hospital to reveal that it was chinese herbal cold cure!!!
I could do with one now actually!!
I hope your daughter manages to rise above it and not get too down about it all
Debbie

Me again !! I agree about a site for the teenagers there is one on the pomsin perth site but its only a few girls at the moment talking about the bands they like etc.
Debbie

Could you make some arrangements for him to still see his Dad. Last time we flew back we sat near a little guy aged 12, flying all the way from Bris to Southampton to see his mum. He was really little for 12 and we got chatting to him, I am sure if a 12 year old can handle the flight a teen would be fine. It must be really hard for kids in this situation.

I used to love flying home on my own as a teenager. I would always bin the unacompanied child ticket so I could get hold of the free booze on offer.

Thanks Dotty, We have always said that we would do that anyway and I have even said that they could visit us in the future. My ex contributes towards his son at the mo but I would be unhappy for that to continue when I am taking his son to the other side of the world!! I have suggested that he saves this money once we have gone and it can be used for flights etc. He agreed but I'm not sure that his wife will be quite so keen on that idea
We have always been very amicable but when money raises it ugly head things can change, he didnt even tell her that he paid anything for years and she was annoyed when she found out what sort of dad did she think he wa!!!s. Oh well it takes all sorts!!
Debbie

Kath I so hope you get things sorted with your daughter. it must be so stressful for you all. I know if it was me I'd struggle not to go and wring the b****y culprits neck! Hope things settle soon.

Petra

My sister and I were moved away from my father by my mother and stepfather when I was eight years old. It wasn't even to a different country - just far enough away for him not to be able to see us regularly and it was very deterimental to our relationship with him.

I have always resented my parents for doing this, and would suggest that you seriously consider whether your intended move to Oz is worth it - having lived in Oz for 18 months now I would say probably not ! (But then that's just my jaundiced view).