We're wondering if we've done the right thing by coming here, and thinking of going back to the UK.
Things have been tough here since we came, I haven't found a job yet (one interview, one second interview in 15 months and 80+ applications, to jobs advertised and on spec), and money has been very tight. No treats, no days out.
My OH's job is OK, but has its downsides.
But on the upside we have a lovely house, and have made some friends.
The schools here have fallen very far short, and we are very worried at how far our children have dropped back.
The children (four, aged from 8 to 15) are not even starting to feel settled, and miss so many things. Our 15 year old daughter has become very depressed, and is desperate to go back.
At this point, we have to think that the move hasn't been a big success.
We knew and prepared for things to be tough, but we counted on the children being as positive as us.
If we go back, we will have much less money than we brought here. And our credit rating in the UK has taken a slide.
What to do?

Hello,
Well I came back in dec 11 and I'm lucky to have been offered my job back in Canada,I had no job interviews just as and when needed at post office for min wage,I think it was the worst mistake I made returning and soon as my LMO arrives I'm heading back,I don't know what job you are looking for but not much going in the uk(saying that am single no kids) but job market is prob worst here than Canada my guess.

What part of Canada are you living in? Is it worth considering another area where it is perhaps a little more "happening"? Canada is so diverse it appears that just from one town to the next things can be very different...
I have 4 kids too so I can understand how that might be a terrible idea in principle as it's yet another move for them but might be good in the long run...
I hope whatever you all decide something works out. Don't forget though that the UK will be a very depressing place to be too if you have no money and living in a shoebox because that is all you can afford...
Good luck

Sound slike what a lot of people go through immigrating. Not being alone may not make you feel much better, but you are probably in the majority.

Schools here are fine, my kids have done as well if not better than their cousins in the UK, university students from Canada seems to do OK.

It takes a few years too be settled, for us it was 3, and 10 before we felt like we were a fixture, now at coming up 20, could not imagine being anywhere else.

I was the only wage earner in our family, had a good job, then took a fun job for a while up North and whittled away at the nest egg to sustain us before going back to the real world to pay the bills.

I can empathise with you about not knowing what to do, we have been here seven years now and things are no easier than they were when we first arrived emotionally things are worse. I hate not knowing what to do for the best and we can't make any decisions for at least a year.

How long have you been here for??

It took my husband nearly 5 years to get a job, however I was fortunate to get one after 3 months..for us it was worth the wait - he now has a really good job, and things are starting to change. Like you our funds took a big hit with him not working, but honestly I am glad we stuck it out and didn't decide to return to UK. Yes we cut down on things that we normally took for granted, but we quickly found that there are lots of things that you can do on a tight budget, and we are nearly back on track. Good Luck with whatever you decide, only you as a family can make that decision

WHAT?!


Reading that makes me wonder about the wisdom of my leaving to go to Canada! What field is he in?

To the OP:
Hang tough! You know better than your kids and you have to convince them that staying is in their long term interests. Besides, as others pointed out, there could be better opportunities in other parts of the Province (even the country) and it sounds to me as though you're in that trough of not having been there long enough to feel settled but too long without productive work.

Good times are around the corner!

If you have a prospect of taking up where you left in the UK and you have been here more than 6 months then there is a lot to be said for planning your escape now while you can afford to do it.

If after a year its not working out, or the plus side isnt as great as you thought it would be then there is no shame in leaving. A big house is not the be all and end all of life.

Having kids who are not settling must be the hardest thing. Actually, having some that have and some that haven't must be worse!

As others have said, maybe other parts of Canada might work out better, but its a stretch of finances to do that and still have money left over to return to the UK if it doesnt work.

+1

No, a big house, two cars, a boat and an off road CR500 is though

Being the happy parent of happy kids trumps all that Im afraid. Soppy old sentimentalist that I am....

Anything is better than watching Liverpool ehh

I agree on this front entirely.

LOL Out voted then, well if you cant beat em

My lad "like Canada long time" and is looking fwd to getting a full or partial ride, via Soccer, at a Uni in the USA.

You can't make judgements that your life trumps someone else's because you have kids. For those of us that don't/can't have them, who are you to make that call?