Some of you may remember me, after living in Brisbane, Australia for 17 years we moved back home to South Devon 4 years ago in May. Wife never wanted to come back, she now loves it and would never return to Australia to live. The business I set up here for my Australian employer is booming and we now turnover more than the Australian office, have 9 employees and still growing. Our 23 year old daughter still lives in Brisbane but is on about getting a transfer to London next year (works for Deloitte). Our 11 year old son loves it here and is doing much better at school than he was in Brisbane, our 24 year old son is currently living with us (working for me) after getting a one way ticket over from Australia (via 3 months trekking around SE Asia). All in all moving home was the best thing we ever did, we absolutely love living here in Ivybridge.

sdunx,

That is so encouraging! I love hearing about those who have returned home and their successes. I look forward to hearing more about what's happening at home and look forward to my return home later this year

Good to hear that things are going well for you! I can remember you moving over (gosh, been on this board far too long!) and it doesnt seem THAT long ago! It is funny how the kids move back too even if they linger a while longer than you do.

Hope things keep going well!

Hi,
Great to hear how things went for you.
Can I just ask, I guess your daughter was 19 when you left. How did you find leaving her so far away? I only ask as we are returning from NZ and our 18 (but 19 by the time I leave) is determined to stay here. Its really holding me back from leaving which we really want to do.
She would be at Uni but it still seems wrong.
Thanks
Carole

Sdunx, great to hear your success story. Curious... what is the business you set up. if you don't mind me asking? It is so good to know that it has worked out so well for you. Soon you will have the whole family on that side of the pond.

Spacecake, it's only my opinion but I think you have to do this for yourself. Your daughter in Uni is forging a life for herself and can visit you or vice versa. Who knows, she might end up over there like Sdunx's daughter.

Hi,

Thanks and I do agree its just putting it in to practice Im finding hard.

Was made easier because she was living with her boyfriend at the time, she's since split with him and is living in a shared house. It's been a good thing actually because she's grown up and been forced to take responsibility for herself rather than relying on us for everything. You also have to remember it's a small world, a friend of mine from Plymouth has three kids 1 lives in NZ and 2 in Thailand so no matter where you are there's no guarantees your children will stay with you.

www.multitrode.com this is the business, I'm ex UK water industry so is pretty suited to me

Hi 3.5 years....amazing, it took me back to reading your threads. So pleased everything has worked out for you all, it is always nice to hear people being happy. All the best for everything.

I feel the same. My daughter will be 18 next year and I have a bad feeling she won't want to return to England with us. It makes me feel sick thinking I may have to leave her behind.
She is really quiet and struggling to get even a part time job at the moment so I am scared to leave her
I know that we need them more than they need us and she will probably be fine once she has to cope on her own, but I don't feel comfortable.
I also know that one day she could meet a man, get married and emigrate to OZ,NZ, or wherever and won't think twice about leaving me

Would it stop you going?
As you say, alot of decisions they make in the future will be about them and not how we feel.
We also have a 12 yr old son. The time is right to get him back in the UK education system. I don't like the teaching methods here. If we wait until our daughter is even older we will then have our son also finishing school etc.

I really know how you feel....its so hard when you cannot just say to your children..."right we are all going...." I use to dread the day when I thought our two would fly the next.....one is nearly 21 and the other is 18....they are quite happy to still be at home but I know they will eventually go, gulp...but that does not mean its the end...your daughter will always need you in some shape or form wherever she is be it down the road or overseas, she might even surprise you and say she will come with you, ask her and see what she says, you might be worrying about nothing. Being a parent is hard especially when you are really close but you have to remember you have a life to lead as well and you have to be happy, you deserve that. Good luck and hope it all works out for the best.

Thanks
I'm not sure if it will stop me going back. I really don't want to leave her here alone with no family but I also have another child who will be 10 next year and if I leave it another few years, she will be 18 and may not want to leave.
That's when you get stuck and end up staying for years!
I think I'm going to have to be selfish, tell her we're going and just hope for the best
She has a boyfriend at the moment but I'm hoping it won't last long as I don't want her to fall in love and stay

Well you will not know until you ask....our children will leave us eventually and thats when you really need to be in "your happy place" or as happy as you can be....hard as it might be you start having to take little steps at a time to your independance as another person mentioned you could stay where you are and one day your children are living around the globe....take care and try not to worry about the distant future too much.

Thanks Brits1
You are right, I cannot worry yet about what might or might not happen. We are thinking of waiting until later in the year to break the news when we are 100% sure we are going.