So I move countries in a week and a half

[zikreetdreaming]

Packers come on Saturday. Other than generally panicking, is there anything I should be thinking about?

I've moved countries lots of times before but never since I've had kids and never with much more than a suitcase before!

Any tips appreciated.

[MissTeriName]

How exciting!

General panic is perfectly normal. Make sure you have stashed everything you do NOT want the packers to take. It's not unheard of to unpack a full dustbin at the other end! Put paperwork etc in the car or something.

It helps if the kids can be elsewhere, unless they are old enough to understand and cope with the upheaval.

Good luck!

[SavoyCabbage]

Make sure you write the room on every box. It's all so fast with the packers. I'd wished I'd written "kitchen - cutlery, toaster, tea towels".

[Glastokitty]

Don't forget to forward your mail. Pack one box with all the things you will need for your first night. Find out what is difficult to get or expensive in new country and pack some. Good luck!

[citychick]

when i cleared out all our kitchen cupboards i gave all of the tins of food and unopened long life things to my mum. wish i had packed it up too. throw in some toiletries u like. we found sudacreme in our bathroom box and i was delighted to see it

good luck

[LexLoofah]

Take some familiar stuff for the kids to have right away rather than ship that will comfort them like a small blanket and beloved books to make the first few nights easier, we took special cushions that always lived on their bed to make their new bed feel like theirs right away

Are they seasoned travelers? There are books about airports if you think that would help, usborne do one with stickers so keeps them busy too

Is everything sorted on the other end? Do you know when the shops open and where they are? Not all countries have the same hours ours do, where we used to live they were shut on a Sunday for example

Good luck

[mumhum]

We are moving abroad in Feb. DC 9m and 5y. How about you OP?

[DesertOrDessert]

Roughly pack the suitcases your taking with you, and shut in a room the packers aren't going to. Ensures your not left next week with 3 suitcases and 4 suitcases worth of stuff.
Unless you are going somewhere really remote, you can buy most stuff.
So, some clothes (weather appropriate for destination), toiletries, previous kids stuff, and all your paperwork that will be a disaster if it gets mislayed anywhere (I took this all as hand luggage)
I used a needle and thread an auful lot in the first few weeks. Mainly labeling and adjusting new school uniforms.

[zikreetdreaming]

Thanks everyone. Lots of great tips, really appreciated.

DC are 4 and 6 and are very seasoned travellers (we're moving from one GCC country to another). They we both born here though so this is a big change for them (younger DC cries everything we sell anything, apparently she really loved the fridge )

Nothing at all is sorted the other end as all at the mercy of an HR department who have all gone on holiday. That's except school places, maybe the kids can kip in the classroom if HR haven't sorted a hotel out . I'm ignoring that bit (a lot - we may not actually be leaving in a week an a half) because I can do nothing about it about yelling pointlessly at DH.

Oh and my inlaws are here for Christmas and have decided that it would be a great idea to leave on Sunday and then book a hotel in the city we're moving to so they can be there when we arrive. I'm not sure what planet they are actually living on that they think I want to be entertaining them my first week in a new country. The only advantage to HR not having sorted a hotel yet is that means FIL's initial plan of booking a room in the same hotel as us has been thwarted. is the only answer.