How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Dec 3rd 2013, 6:14 pm
#1
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How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
I'm interested to hear from people with kids who have moved to the US -- what were the pros and cons, and how did the kids adjust?
Dec 3rd 2013, 6:23 pm
#2
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Might want to have a search back as there's been a similar thread a few weeks back and a couple decent ones over the summer.
Lot of it depended on kids ages and where they moved in the UK/US as it's going to be really different moving from a village school to down town school in a big city and then add the difference in the country...
Lot of it depended on kids ages and where they moved in the UK/US as it's going to be really different moving from a village school to down town school in a big city and then add the difference in the country...
Dec 3rd 2013, 9:33 pm
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Aha - I had a look and couldn't find it. Will look again.
Dec 3rd 2013, 10:38 pm
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
My two were 7 and 6. That was 18 months ago. They also had 16 weeks out of school, as we moved mid May and couldn't get them registered for school quick enough before the summer vacation started.
They found starting school hard, but settled well and made friends relatively quickly. We went from a village school of 135 children total, to an elementary of almost 500! Quite a shock to the system.
The biggest thing was knowing what the American kids were into - no Moshi Monsters here! The first summer was long and I am sooooo lucky they get on really well.
We moved again this summer (only 7 miles), but a new school again. This time they fitted straight in and made friends much easier.
My daughter (now 8) is sounding more American everyday. Girls seems to change easier to fit in, although I have heard the odd 'zee' and 'aloominium' from my 9 year old son as well.
They found starting school hard, but settled well and made friends relatively quickly. We went from a village school of 135 children total, to an elementary of almost 500! Quite a shock to the system.
The biggest thing was knowing what the American kids were into - no Moshi Monsters here! The first summer was long and I am sooooo lucky they get on really well.
We moved again this summer (only 7 miles), but a new school again. This time they fitted straight in and made friends much easier.
My daughter (now 8) is sounding more American everyday. Girls seems to change easier to fit in, although I have heard the odd 'zee' and 'aloominium' from my 9 year old son as well.
Dec 3rd 2013, 11:18 pm
#5
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
My son was 6 & my daughter was 4. They both took it in their stride and loved their new environment. My son had a little 'blip' in school and was moved from 1st grade to Kindergarten but it was the right thing to do. They are now 8 and 10 and are thriving here. They both love it and have no desire to move back to the UK. Just as well really as neither their dad or I want to move back either.
My son is keeping his English accent but I think he likes that people comment on it. His sister sounds more American than British now. They both have become involved in school activities and love travelling around with us during school breaks to see other parts of the country.
My son is keeping his English accent but I think he likes that people comment on it. His sister sounds more American than British now. They both have become involved in school activities and love travelling around with us during school breaks to see other parts of the country.
Dec 3rd 2013, 11:26 pm
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
My daughter was 9 and found it fine. She seems to like the superficial fashion stuff and cliques, which helps.
My son was 12 and found it much harder. Grade 7, halfway through middle school, and he hated the la-la land stuff and the dry landscape. Also hated being different, being called 'Johnny English' etc.
Age has a bearing, also their individual personalities.
This was 8 years ago, my son has settled into university now, my daughter is in the last year of high school. We are now contemplating a return to the UK. Son will stay here, and daughter seems happy to go back.
My son was 12 and found it much harder. Grade 7, halfway through middle school, and he hated the la-la land stuff and the dry landscape. Also hated being different, being called 'Johnny English' etc.
Age has a bearing, also their individual personalities.
This was 8 years ago, my son has settled into university now, my daughter is in the last year of high school. We are now contemplating a return to the UK. Son will stay here, and daughter seems happy to go back.
Last edited by Sally Redux; Dec 3rd 2013 at 11:29 pm.
Dec 4th 2013, 8:23 am
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
These are all very interesting -- thanks! Can anyone dig up the link to the earlier thread on this topic? I can't seem to find it.
Dec 4th 2013, 11:24 am
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Mine were 2 and 3 (now 9 and 10) and don't have much recollection of living in England. Put them with a group of American kids and you'd have trouble guessing who the British ones were ... although their pasty skin might give them away.
They really had no trouble settling here, love school, love the American way of life but also love going back to England to visit. I hadn't realised how American they had become until this year, they stuck out like sore thumbs in England with their accents and sports gear!
They really had no trouble settling here, love school, love the American way of life but also love going back to England to visit. I hadn't realised how American they had become until this year, they stuck out like sore thumbs in England with their accents and sports gear!
Dec 4th 2013, 9:09 pm
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
My daughter was 9 and found it fine. She seems to like the superficial fashion stuff and cliques, which helps.
My son was 12 and found it much harder. Grade 7, halfway through middle school, and he hated the la-la land stuff and the dry landscape. Also hated being different, being called 'Johnny English' etc.
Age has a bearing, also their individual personalities.
This was 8 years ago, my son has settled into university now, my daughter is in the last year of high school. We are now contemplating a return to the UK. Son will stay here, and daughter seems happy to go back.
My son was 12 and found it much harder. Grade 7, halfway through middle school, and he hated the la-la land stuff and the dry landscape. Also hated being different, being called 'Johnny English' etc.
Age has a bearing, also their individual personalities.
This was 8 years ago, my son has settled into university now, my daughter is in the last year of high school. We are now contemplating a return to the UK. Son will stay here, and daughter seems happy to go back.
Dec 4th 2013, 9:12 pm
#10
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Grade 7 is a bitch in any case. I think it is a miracle that any kid survives Grade 7. [In my day, I attended "Junior High" which was 7-8-9 while "High School" was 10-11-12. I think that "Middle School" is an improvement. Older daughter was caught in the transition and did only 7-8 for her Middle School.]
Dec 4th 2013, 11:13 pm
#11
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Mine were 6, 4 and 2.
It was hardest for the 6yo - ignorant Americans making fun of her accent and the fact that she didn't know she was supposed to support the Red Sox. Having said that, she had a few wobbles in her first year then was fine.
The other two... I'm not sure they even noticed they were in a new country. Except that my 2yo hated snow during his first winter.
It was hardest for the 6yo - ignorant Americans making fun of her accent and the fact that she didn't know she was supposed to support the Red Sox. Having said that, she had a few wobbles in her first year then was fine.
The other two... I'm not sure they even noticed they were in a new country. Except that my 2yo hated snow during his first winter.
Dec 5th 2013, 3:02 am
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
My eldest totally crapped himself, cried quite a bit, there was lots of fighting with new "friends", that sort of thing. He was only 16 months at the time though.....
He's now having fun in the aforementioned 7th grade..
....and still getting Mickey taken about his English accent
He's now having fun in the aforementioned 7th grade..
....and still getting Mickey taken about his English accent
Dec 5th 2013, 5:33 am
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
My eldest totally crapped himself, cried quite a bit, there was lots of fighting with new "friends", that sort of thing. He was only 16 months at the time though.....
He's now having fun in the aforementioned 7th grade......and still getting Mickey taken about his English accent
He's now having fun in the aforementioned 7th grade..
....and still getting Mickey taken about his English accent
Dec 5th 2013, 5:58 am
#14
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Mine were 5 and 7. 5 year old found it easy. 7 year old found it v hard- American kids are into totally different things and he found it hard to fit in. People laughed at his accent. 3 months later and he is sporting an American accent, has discovered the great leveler that is Pokemon cards, and all is well
Dec 5th 2013, 6:54 am
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Re: How old were your kids when you moved, and how did they handle it?
Mine were 5 and 7. 5 year old found it easy. 7 year old found it v hard- American kids are into totally different things and he found it hard to fit in. People laughed at his accent. 3 months later and he is sporting an American accent, has discovered the great leveler that is Pokemon cards, and all is well
