Hello All

Just a question to all you lovely people with Children, we have a girl of 8 and a boy of 5. I wanted to know if anybody was worried about how it affects them and for the people that are already settled how the children coped, it is really worrying me, when my son starts to talk about it he crys!!! I know he is only 5 and doesn't really comprehend what we are doing, but it still makes me worry about how they will settle!!!

I wondered if anybody else was going through the same worries and what your children think about going!!

Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

Donna 2

They will settle quicker and better than you ... fact.

They are so adaptable. Problems start around the adolescent years.

Regards

Dr. Three Legs

I don't know about words of wisdom, but here goes!
My 2 boys are 8 and 5. When we left our family at the airport lounge my youngest and I were crying. He continued to cry whilst we were waiting to get on the plane. On the flight to Gatwick he would suddenly burst into tears and start crying, saying he did not want to leave his family. Prior to this he had been quite happy to go. He eventually settled down but I was suprised at how he kept mentioning his 'nanna'. My older son gets upset sometimes (we've been here 4 months) and again I thought he would be Ok. I know its early days yet and they have adapted to some degree.
I think it will just take time and although they don't appreciate what we have done for them just at the moment, I'm sure they will soon. However, it does upset me when they talk about leaving their family, but I'm sure it will get better.
Good luck

Tracey

Hi there,

We've got a girl, Asha who's 4 and Sam our boy is 7. Every time we talk he also crys. He's a very emotional person at the best of times but as for moving to the otherside of the world and leaving his friends it doesn't bear thinking about. My daughter wants to go now! Only four but going on forty-four! Friends of ours went back three years ago. Kids were 3 and 4. They found that the kids coped better with having familiar things around such as their own beds and sofa and the like. Their girl cried a lot as she missed one of her friends but now she sees the UK as a holiday and Oz as home.

I'm dreading it with my son but I know that they will settle if we settle. It's going to be tough I expect but something I'm looking forward to.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Ginny

Hi,
We moved here in January with a girl (6) and boy (3). They have both settled really well, and as someone else said they adapt quicker than you do! We have had a few tears from my daughter about missing her old school but that was back in term 2 (about April/May I think). Since then she has been fine and really enjoying life here. I still miss "home" though! But we do so much more as a family - even in 'winter' in Melbourne! We have been out for day trips most weekends to the zoos, national parks, hanging rock (which was excellent) etc. Its still early days and I don't know at this stage if we'll stay forever. Just get the kids involved from an early stage, let them know whats happening etc. Also having their familiar things around will also help. We sent a couple of boxes of their toys by plane so it was here when we arrived for the kids!
Good luck,
Ruth

Your Kids will love it . There is loads to do for them ,we took our 5yr old last year on hols to aus and he has not shut up about it since .
Its probably one of the best things you can do for them in there life !

Just don't go for a picnic at hanging rock :scared:

We did!!!! It was great - kids loved climbing on all the rocks and a friendly kangaroo wanted to share our picnic!!

You've not seen the film then ?LOL

search it on here www.play.com

We have been here for just over a year now. Here's our experience. We have 3 children (2 girls: 12 and 9, 1 boy: 7 1/2) We suspected that our eldest daughter would find it hardest to adjust and settle. However both girls settled in quickly to school life - making new friends and adjusting to Australian School life well. Our son, however really struggled to make friends and fit in and was homesick every bed time. Each night it would be something different that he missed.
A year on - Our son has settled in better and made lots of friends and been part of a local junior soccer team (which has been great for him).
All three of our children have at various times over this year asked to go back to England. We have had to just reassure them how many more opportunities they have had over here and all the good things they have done. Middle daughter was involved in Little Athletics in the summer and had a fantastic first season (this sort of opportunity few and far between in England). Sport is such a big thing here in Australia and children are encouraged in a big way.
I'm told a year is such a short time and with family and friends half-way round the world it will be hard at times.
The childrens' good times and the positives outweigh the childrens' negative times.

Hope this helps you a bit.

Thank you everybody for the input! Helps to know we are not alone!!