Do you return? The joys of emigrating...
 

Making plans to head back to Canada from the UK in the Autumn. Been back in the UK a little while to spend quality time with my kids. Now in their 20s.

Just thought I'd ask others experiences of living away from your children. Especially if you are 'the one moving...'

I really enjoy Canada and spent several years there. Now with the intention of going back,but funny how it plays on your sense of being a long way from your off spring. Even though, they could emigrate somewhere themselves. Or even just to opposite ends of the UK, you'd tend not to see them much anyway.

I guess if we're in another country - have to accept if grandkids come along, won't see them much. If you get sick, have to accept the kids can't 'pop in.'

Always good to hear others views. I appreciate this topic has been discussed a lot. It's a biggy for most people. I always feel we're lucky of course to have choice in this way. Being able to decide on 2 different countries on where to settle.

Re: Do you return? The joys of emigrating...
 

We've lived in Canada since 1968. Our daughter was born here ....... she has lived in NS since she married in 1999.

It takes almost as long to get to NS from Vancouver (8+ hours door to door) as it does to get to the UK

It costs much more to get to NS from Vancouver than it does to get to the UK

But that is what happens

We left our parents without too much thought in 1967 to go to the US and then up here.

My father died before our daughter was born, my mother had died young.

OH's parents would come over here about every 2 years, staying with us for half the trip and half with OH's sister who also emigrated to BC.

We went back about every 5 or 6 years for 4-6 weeks, but only spent about 10-14 days of that with family.

As I say, we never thought very much about what it meant to the parents ....... they'd given us their blessing to leave the UK, saying they wished they could have done it when they were younger.

It is only to be expected that our children will move away from us for work, love, or whatever.

That's life.

Daughter and grandson are currently staying with us for a week, and we go over there every other Christmas. We actually see more of them than we would if they lived in Vancouver.

You become self-sufficient ......... we've never had family close by to pop in (heaven forbid!!), or help out in emergencies. We've developed our own traditions for major festivals, and have never had to unwillingly do this or that because of family pressure.

We have to save up so we can fund future care for ourselves, without expecting daughter to pick up the slack.

Re: Do you return? The joys of emigrating...
 

Hi Scilly,

Thanks for sharing that. Good points.
It's great you've made it work.
Yes for airfares, it's bazaar it costs more to fly within Canada to NS than to the UK from Vancouver. Sounds like you've had some fine adventures and enjoyed living in both the US and Canada.
In my case, it's me 'the Parent' who is going overseas, rather than the kids. Ex lives in the UK now and is quite happy. The kids lived in Canada and liked it but came back to the UK for Univ. and stayed on. (They all went back to Blighty from Canada but I stayed on and 'flew the Canadian flag...:)!' Came back to the UK for a year to see how it goes. But still prefer Canadian lifestyle.
During my time in Canada previously, I visited the UK every 9 months or so. And the kids came to stay on occasion with their mates.
If I go back, just need to make a fine effort to get a Canadian partner....:)
mm

Re: Do you return? The joys of emigrating...
 

good luck!

I'm sure you will do well.

We have had some wonderful times here :lol: and I think that we have done far better than we would in England, even though OH would have had a good job back there

We have a very old (as in long time) friend who thought that he would return to the UK after retirement.

He and his wife had lived in Ontario since 1964, youngest daughter had died very tragically (murdered), but his 2 other children were very happily settled back in England.

Luckily for him he worked in a university and was able to take a 6 month sabbatical 2 years before retirement. They rented a renovated barn in, I think, Suffolk and just tried out the British way of life for 6 months.

That solved the question for them ......... stay in Canada and make long visits back to see the kids.

He has now been retired for about 12 years, wife has died, but he has found a new Canadian companion, and is extremely happy.