Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
Silly ? Is there no class distinction in the Britain you experienced ?
#18
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
This is the age old dilemma of most expats. Of course the biggest issue is that of employment that underpins everything. Have you considered moving elsewhere inside Canada rather than return to UK? Finding a job is difficult no matter where you are.
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
Finding a job is pretty easy but finding a job that pays is harder.
#20
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
Scot you like myself being from the dark ages, what would you say are the modern day class distinction in Britain?
With money (I mean real money) anyone can have just about anything
So, win the lottery & do whatever, so a lowly working class labourer could send their child to a 'snob' school, buy that Bentley, live in a million pound home, join an expensive members club. There isn't a door that one cannot open... all it takes is money.
"class distinction" the haves & the have nots
With money (I mean real money) anyone can have just about anything
So, win the lottery & do whatever, so a lowly working class labourer could send their child to a 'snob' school, buy that Bentley, live in a million pound home, join an expensive members club. There isn't a door that one cannot open... all it takes is money.
"class distinction" the haves & the have nots
#21
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
I personally don't think that Canada would have offered my children anything that they can't get in the UK (with the possible exception of skiing every weekend!). We were moving from rural Home Counties to central Vancouver, I'm sure it would have been very different had we been coming from a grotty estate to somewhere nicer.
Sorry to hear that your husband has been made redundant. That was one of the factors in our decision too, after being transferred to his Vancouver office and told it would be permanent, they changed their minds after a brief amount of time - thankfully we hadn't sold up and moved everything! So we just scrapped the PR application and moved to Berkshire instead.
Best decision we ever made, I can't see any advantage that my children would have had being brought up in Vancouver personally, and I think they would have been disadvantaged in many ways. Out of interest, what reasons have your relatives given for thinking your children would be better off in Canada?
Best of luck to you.
Sorry to hear that your husband has been made redundant. That was one of the factors in our decision too, after being transferred to his Vancouver office and told it would be permanent, they changed their minds after a brief amount of time - thankfully we hadn't sold up and moved everything! So we just scrapped the PR application and moved to Berkshire instead.
Best decision we ever made, I can't see any advantage that my children would have had being brought up in Vancouver personally, and I think they would have been disadvantaged in many ways. Out of interest, what reasons have your relatives given for thinking your children would be better off in Canada?
Best of luck to you.
Last edited by christmasoompa; Feb 8th 2017 at 1:37 pm.
#22
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
You don't say how old your kids are, but unless they are very young four years is probably long enough for them to already be settled. But they sound active and involved, and you obviously care enough for them to be OK wherever you end up.
I would say that the biggest threat to their well-being is if you and your husband become entrenched on opposite sides of this dilemma.
You say that your new doctor has helped your health improve. If your illness was caused by wanting to return to the uk you have still managed to improve things while still being in Canada, and maybe you will find it better now you feel better?
Obviously all you can do is keep talking, but maybe it's not the best time to make a huge decision when you've just had the big shock of redundancy?
#23
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
The best place to raise children is one where they are surrounded by people who love and support them. The actual country isn't that important. Children succeed in all countries just as some children don't succeed in all countries. It's who is encouraging and supporting them that matters.
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: 1066 Country UK & Saskatoon Canada
Posts: 42
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
We are outside Calgary. My kids ski in the winter, as does my husband when he is physically able to (back injury). I don't ski and don't like the cold (I know, all I can say is that I must have really loved my husband!).
We hike in the summer however with kids and other stuff going on we only get out about 4-5 times over the summer.
We have tried hard to integrate and have made some good friends (some Canadians and some ex pats), but I just think about the future and the people I want around me as I age and they're all in the UK. Plus that the kids are missing out on knowing family and building those relationships.
I don't hate it here (apart from winters), I know there are pros and cons to both places, we have been here over 4 years and have given it our best shot. I still just don't feel like I belong and I have no idea why I feel like this.
We hike in the summer however with kids and other stuff going on we only get out about 4-5 times over the summer.
We have tried hard to integrate and have made some good friends (some Canadians and some ex pats), but I just think about the future and the people I want around me as I age and they're all in the UK. Plus that the kids are missing out on knowing family and building those relationships.
I don't hate it here (apart from winters), I know there are pros and cons to both places, we have been here over 4 years and have given it our best shot. I still just don't feel like I belong and I have no idea why I feel like this.
Hi Bumblebee, word for word I could of written exactly what you just wrote.
We have been here in Saskatoon nearly 8 years, moved house 4 times & now have the house of my dreams. I have 4 children, 1 of which has just moved to Vancouver and the younger 3 are still at school. My husband has a job which takes him away from us sometime 3 weeks at a time & because of this I stay at home and don't work.
I too still to this day don't feel like I fit in here, I have made some nice friends but its not the same friendship as my home friends.
I detest the winters here, we're not a winter sporting family ie we don't skate or ski so winter for us is hibernation period................I hate that.
I hate that we cant just nip to shop or take a nice stroll without getting bundled up. Theres many many more reasons but these are just a few.
So all in all I want to go home. My husband and kids are all on board so it should be easy right?
But no, I have this terrible feeling that I would be doing the wrong thing. My main problem is schools for the kids. My youngest is 5 and hasn't started kindergarten yet which means already she would be a year behind in the UK. The curriculum in the UK is a lot tougher than here.
People keep telling me to stay put as its far better for the kids here in Canada, but isn't it better if they have a happier Mummy? I try very hard to be merry and happy but I think they just know.
Its such a difficult choice to make.
We've moved 4 times here because each move I think will be better, this last move, we've bought the house of my dreams, Ill never get a house like this back in the UK, and yet, I'm still not happy.
Sorry to bang on but really I wanted to let you know, I feel your troubles as I too am having the same doubts.
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,213
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
Hi,
I'm curious as to what you believe as to this.
My husband was made redundant recently (very unexpectedly), and in considering our options, one of which is returning to the UK so I can work, I have encountered some very strong opinions.
My MIL told me we would be crazy to consider returning, and many others have told us our children will have a far better life in Canada than the UK.
Has anyone had responses like this and what were your thoughts?
Prior to this (we have been here just over 4 years) I had started to become homesick and was at the point of considering returning. Especially before our kids become too settled. I miss family, the sense of humour, the lack of -30's!
I just don't want to make the wrong decision for our family and uproot everyone again. My husband spent 8-9 years here as a child and was the driving force for us to move here so he would not be happy to move back.
Anyway, sorry for waffling but I hope some of you here could offer your points of view please!
Thanks!
I'm curious as to what you believe as to this.
My husband was made redundant recently (very unexpectedly), and in considering our options, one of which is returning to the UK so I can work, I have encountered some very strong opinions.
My MIL told me we would be crazy to consider returning, and many others have told us our children will have a far better life in Canada than the UK.
Has anyone had responses like this and what were your thoughts?
Prior to this (we have been here just over 4 years) I had started to become homesick and was at the point of considering returning. Especially before our kids become too settled. I miss family, the sense of humour, the lack of -30's!
I just don't want to make the wrong decision for our family and uproot everyone again. My husband spent 8-9 years here as a child and was the driving force for us to move here so he would not be happy to move back.
Anyway, sorry for waffling but I hope some of you here could offer your points of view please!
Thanks!
#26
The Brit is back
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,211
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
Hi,
I'm curious as to what you believe as to this.
My husband was made redundant recently (very unexpectedly), and in considering our options, one of which is returning to the UK so I can work, I have encountered some very strong opinions.
My MIL told me we would be crazy to consider returning, and many others have told us our children will have a far better life in Canada than the UK.
Has anyone had responses like this and what were your thoughts?
Prior to this (we have been here just over 4 years) I had started to become homesick and was at the point of considering returning. Especially before our kids become too settled. I miss family, the sense of humour, the lack of -30's!
I just don't want to make the wrong decision for our family and uproot everyone again. My husband spent 8-9 years here as a child and was the driving force for us to move here so he would not be happy to move back.
Anyway, sorry for waffling but I hope some of you here could offer your points of view please!
Thanks!
I'm curious as to what you believe as to this.
My husband was made redundant recently (very unexpectedly), and in considering our options, one of which is returning to the UK so I can work, I have encountered some very strong opinions.
My MIL told me we would be crazy to consider returning, and many others have told us our children will have a far better life in Canada than the UK.
Has anyone had responses like this and what were your thoughts?
Prior to this (we have been here just over 4 years) I had started to become homesick and was at the point of considering returning. Especially before our kids become too settled. I miss family, the sense of humour, the lack of -30's!
I just don't want to make the wrong decision for our family and uproot everyone again. My husband spent 8-9 years here as a child and was the driving force for us to move here so he would not be happy to move back.
Anyway, sorry for waffling but I hope some of you here could offer your points of view please!
Thanks!
I highlighted that sentence because I wonder if those people have lived in Canada, or indeed any other country, or have they always lived in the UK?
Due to our fantastic gutter press, people here are often down about their country, believing things are far worse than they actually are. The grass is always greener, right?
I fell for all that when I first left England for NS in 2007. I ran from that and other personal circumstances.
In 2013, we returned following my awful homesickness and depression.
Yes, we were scared. More scared than leaving for Canada in the first place.
I have no regrets about returning. I feel like I really belong here and see new things every day. My youngest, age 14 is doing fantastic at school and is happy. Hubby works in London and I work at home selling cruises.
Please do not be too influenced by those who have never left the country. There is a lot of good here and a lot of very good people.
Good luck with your hard decision.
#27
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
It's an exaggeration but makes the point quite nicely and is similar to the following...
If you have the money for the nice parts of London or The Cotswolds, then great.
If job and/or resources limit you to Oldham - no offence intended, I simply picked from a "most deprived town" in England list - or some place rife with street crime or some area with poor housing conditions, then staying in Anytown, Canada - even with cold and snowy winters - might be preferable.
#29
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
#30
Re: Do you believe that children have a better life growing up somewhere like Canada?
By referencing the best parts of London and The Cotswolds I was illustrating 'the country' and parts of a city rather than just England.