Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Hi. Like so many before me I have been following posts on this forum for a long time and the knowledge we have gained from everyone's posts has been invaluable.
Now, 3 weeks before we begin our new lives in Halifax, I thought I'd post for the first time to share with you a poem my 12 year old daughter gave to me this morning.

Exploring Canada

"Do you have to move?"
"Please keep in touch"
"What will you remember?"
"Will you miss us much?"
"Write to me."
"And me! Every day!"
"You'll really be missed."
This is what they say.

I don't want to move,
Well, sometimes I do.
I feel very excited,
But nervous too,
I have so many things
I want to find out,
But no-one has answers,
I'm ready to shout.

I'll miss lots of people,
Friends from my school
I hope they think of me,
And give me a call.
My family - them too
They go with the flow,
But truly I'm sure
They don't want us to go.

I must leave my house,
And other places too.
What will happen then?
I don't have a clue.
We'll be out on our own,
A family of four,
Will it all go OK?
I'm not really sure.

But then I get thinking,
There's lots out there you know!
There are beaches and fields,
Mountains with snow.
They'll be new things to try,
More friends to make,
Wonderful scenery
Chances to take.

So maybe it's worth it,
We can give it a go!
We'll just play along,
Take everything slow.
We'll come back to visit,
Friends come and stay,
It will be an adventure,
Exploring Canada, eh?


:)Sums it up for me I think!

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Sounds like you have a very balanced young lady there, I am sure she will settle just fine.

Welcome to BE. Where about are you going to be living/working?

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Thanks destinationnovascotia, hope you're right! Can't help but worry about how the move will affect the kids, but hopefully we've prepared them for complete chaos!

We are landing in 3 weeks but hubby is returning to try and sell the house.:(
At the moment we're looking at Hammonds Plains and Bedford areas to live, but are renting for a while first.

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

What a great poem and one that should be put on a sticky me thinks!!

I was wondering whether there could be a kids section on this site - purely where other kids can talk to one another.

I have a 10 year old and 8 year old... My daughter loves to write poems and stories too and I thought that when we eventually get to Canada she could write something to share her highs and lows of moving over..to help others in the throws of doing so..its a great way for them to express their feelings.

What a gift your daughter has too!

Perhaps we could start a "kids view" thread where our kids can come on and say what they think! This could be very interesting of course haahha.

Good luck with everything - we too are trying to sell - so I send you all the good vibes I can!

Well done that Kiddo!

Natalie

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

What a clever little girl.:)

Tell her that we all say thank you, I'm going to show it to my kids tonight, they feel abit confused at times too.;)

Good luck with the house:thumbsup:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Wow i think the poem is fab,I have a 12 year old boy and a 9 year old daughter and I will be showing it to them. Well done she obviously has really thought about it it's great
good luck with everything!!
Bella
xx

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

There is one here http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=93

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Cool! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks
Nats

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I've found it difficult to always reassure both my girls (aged 10 and 12) because I simply don't have the answers to all their questions!
For example, we have discussed French Immersion with my eldest, but I don't really feel that I have enough knowledge to advise her properly. We've said that we'll wait and speak to people who know about these things once we get there!!
Mind you, us adults don't know all the answers to our own questions either - Isn't that part of the adventure?
PS good luck to NatsnSid with your house sale.

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Thats a fab poem from a 12 yr old :thumbsup:.

My daughter is 11(12 in Dec) and she has adapted really well :thumbup:.

She managed to get 3 wks of school in before they finished for the summer break which helped because she has friends to go to school with, she has been on numourous sleep-overs & parties as well:D.

Your daughters will fit in great, everyone wants to be new friends with the 'brit kids' :lol:.

Of course we have had the odd tears but nothing really major, this internet is a great thing, she goes on the web-cam and chats with friends and family back in the UK regulary.

I'm sure they will love Canada, we have seen some amazing sights and we have only been here a few months :thumbsup:.

I must remember to get my daughter to join the 'young person' forum on here. :)

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

uh ... I doubt she'd thank you for that comment! :rofl:

Great poem anyway! :thumbsup:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

What a wonderful and thoughtful poem; as DNS writes, your daughter seems a well balance child (if there is such a thing :rofl:) give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done.

Good luck in your journey to Canada. :thumbup:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

wow loved it, you must be proud of your daughter.

x

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Hi

Welcome to BE, what a really nice poem and as you say, "says it all":)

Good luck with your move over to NS:thumbup:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Many thanks, she's glad you like her poem and I'm sure that there are lots of other kids out there who are also feeling mixed emotions about their big move!

We just hold onto the fact that the life experiences gained will hopefully outweigh the negatives of leaving behind friends and family.

And they've learnt 'O Canada' ready for the start of each school day!!! :D

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

ooohhhh! that's so lovely.

i've passed that onto my 17year daughter who is on a roller coaster ride about going to canada; more on the up at the mo but the downs are steep.....

thanks xxx:wub:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

What a clever girl you have :thumbsup:

Just got my daughter to read that and she said its just how she feels, made her happy knowing that others feel the same way

Thank you gill :wub:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

What a fantastic poem, i think that sums it up for adults as well as children, if my child wrote that it would of sent a shiver down my spine of proudness, well done.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Thanks gibsonlanding, moondevil and janeymay.

I must admit, it did bring a lump to my throat as I read it out when she handed it to me. Although, I am a bit of an emotional sap at the moment!

We're at that stage with 3 weeks to go where everything we do is 'a last time' event.
Silly things like...

Our last Sunday roast at my mum and dad's house.
Our last shopping trip to Cribbs Causeway.
Our last journey to Wales to see aging relations.
Their last sleepovers with friends.
Their last sessions at swimming clubs.

etc, etc, etc.

Still doesn't seem real though!!!!!:confused:

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Your welcome and goodluck in your adventure, hopefully we will be there eventually.

We are flying out in 4 weeks time to Ontario where my OH has to write the Red Seal exam, so fingers crossed that he passes so he can get a job offer and live our dream, we will get a good taster what it will be like as we are staying in Canada for 4 weeks, thankfully we have some distant family that we are staying with to cut costs down.:p

All the best:)

Janeymay

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

ah....such talent...it's all in the teaching you know!


love from her FAVOURITE teacher! (also on my way soon...great minds and all that!)

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

Of course it's all down to your fantastic teaching! ;)

Glad to hear that everything's moving along nicely with your move too. Great news that you've exchanged (phew!) and it looks as though we've sold too! (Offer received for our new lower asking price!) :thumbsup:

So, we'll have to come and visit sunny Alberta for a holiday next year, and you're always welcome in foggy Halifax!! :D

Re: Sharing views of 12 year old daughter
 

I think it's probably down to Briony's talent rather than my teaching but aw shucks.. :wub:...thanks honey!
Great news about the house Adele, fingers crossed it all goes smoothly. Maybe Ian won't have to return here for long in September. We'll make sure he has some company when he returns to your big empty house x
I've printed the poem off for my mum. I read it to her on the phone today and it made her cry! Bless! See the power your daughter has with words? ;)