We have just had our visa granted, yippee !!!

But...........now that we are going public on our news to friends and family, my eldest daughter aged 12 is very concerned about telling her friends at school tomorrow.

To those of you who have been through this with their own children, my daughter would be very grateful for any advice, comments or suggestions on how to tell her friends.

Thanks in advance
Theresa

Difficult, my daughter who is 10 was ecstatic and told all her friends that we were going to live in Oz before we even got the visa, my son on the other hand who is 12, has said very little about it, I know it's not a lot of use but she could use the "we will be able to visit on holiday kind of thing" Her good friends will understand. sorry I can't be of more help. Andy

my daughter has told her friends, i dont think they believe her!!

Theresa - so happy for you - I bet you can't believe it's finally happened. I'm sure everything will be fine with your daughter. These things are bound to take a little time to settle in and then she'll just be too excited about your new life in Autralia!

i have got three girls, oz has always been an open conversation, so there was never a big "telling everyone" and we dont have our visa yet!!

i would suggest a party when it comes closer to you actually leaving, this will make it an exciting thing to be telling her friends about!!

amanda

Ditto this post. Everyone one knows that we are intending to go. We too have told our son that he can have a big party and invite everyone. He has loads of different friends because he does so many activities - school, football, cricket, tennis, karate, scouts, neighbours. Crikey, I had better start saving

We got a buyer for the house last week Harriet promptly went round telling everyone we are going to Australia in 8 weeks........ I wish!!!! lol

we haven't got a visa yet . When our daughter finished school - (just taken GCSEs) 2 weeks ago she told her school friends shes going to live in OZ and they put "best wishes in oz on her leaving card"! Goodness knows what she'll do if the job and visa don't happen soon.

Try something along the lines of:

"I'm going to Australia ... you're not ... ner, ner, ner, ner ... ner !!!"

Should go down well.

Our daughter is also 12 and she has been honest with her friends right from the start (we started the process in January). There is no denying that there has been some jealousy and anger towards her - she has received comments like 'it's ok for you, you're going to a lovely new country and starting a lovely new life', but on the whole, her friends have got used to the idea and really make an effort to be with her and do lots of things with her. I would say to your daughter that telling her friends at first will be hard, but they will come around and the world these days is a very small place - with internet, webcams and cheap phonecalls, people are never really that far away.

Hope it goes ok.

Sarah