I've lived, studied and worked in a few countries and have always thought that I would do so again. My career is fairly transportable so it's not impossible.
But - now I have 2 children I find myself having a wobble about it all. I'm a planner by nature so just "going with the flow" doesn't come easily and I keep wondering whether we even could realistically go anywhere now without potentially damaging the kids!
Would it be fair to take them away from their home and grandparents and everything they know?
Would it bugger them up academically? We live in a super selective 11+ area so have concerns about jeopardizing that as if we moved within Europe we'd want them to go to local schools for the language opportunity.
Would they struggle with cultural identity if we stayed long-term?
I moved 20 minutes down the road to a different school when I was 8 (parents split) and I do think it affected me. I think of my old house and my old school and they feel like home, solid and secure. My new school and new home didn't ever feel the same.
I'm guessing a lot of this has come about due to my oldest DC getting her primary school place for September. She's so excited to be going with all her little friends and I know that the majority of them will ride out their school years in one chunk in the same place and I think there is a lot of value in that type of consistency and familiarity.
I get that a new culture and language and something new and different could be exciting, after all it excites me, but is that better than stability and familiarity and that sense of home?
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Living overseas
Moving abroad - impact on kids
23 replies
fatflaps · 25/04/2016 20:18
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