Thinking of living in 2 places?!

[Monkeypuzzletreat]

We moved out of London to a stunning coastal area for the kids to have more space/ be outdoors more- but I hate it. The schools are a bit shit too (imho), when I see what my friends children are doing in the same year at schools in London, their standard is way above... anyhow...
I’d like to do a kind of house swap with another family say 6 months a year... anyone done anything similar at all?

I've never heard of this but it must be possible. Won't it cause issues with school places etc?

Yeah, I did think of that- direct school swap?? White kids the same age? I know its very unlikely and probably too disruptive...
or home school/ remote schooling for part of the year... I don’t know... just throwing the idea out there in case someone actually has done this...

I can't imagine how that would work with school age kids. It would be totally disruptive with friendships, and if they're in state schools they can't have two places open at the same time. Add to that the fact that the two schools might be on different places on the curriculum/doing things in a different order....it would be chaotic even if it was allowed.

**WITH not White!!!!!!

Yup! Good point with the different places in the curriculum with schooling...

I'm not sure how it would work?
You want another family to live there in the winter and you come back and enjoy the summer holidays?

Re the school - I suspect your coastal school is funded considerably less than the London school. That's why they had such a rapid rise in attainment in the last 15 years.

You’ll lose your school place if you don’t attend. The next child on the waiting list will take the place - not the people who live in your houses they’ll go to the bottom of the list. You’ll need to home school - at least for the london part of the year - if your local coastal school is under subscribed then you might be able to get back in. Suspect it would be hugely disruptive for the children moving every 6 months? Could you move back to london and weekend at the coast?

@Theworldisfullofgs

I'm not sure how it would work? You want another family to live there in the winter and you come back and enjoy the summer holidays?

Re the school - I suspect your coastal school is funded considerably less than the London school. That's why they had such a rapid rise in attainment in the last 15 years.

Actually, I was thinking of the summer time in London...

I guess I just wondered if someone had made it work... home schooling would be the only way, I guess...

What about the children’s friends? Are they supposed to just not see them for six month each year?

If the move didn’t work out, return to your previous location. Don’t just cart the children about so you can live your dream of poncing about by the sea, which is exactly what this sounds like.

@Shiningpath

What about the children’s friends? Are they supposed to just not see them for six month each year?

If the move didn’t work out, return to your previous location. Don’t just cart the children about so you can live your dream of poncing about by the sea, which is exactly what this sounds like.

Bizarre reaction! FYI I’ve been picking my dad up off the floor every day and changing his effing trousers as he’s become incontinent and unable to walk. Moved to be closer to family, but hey, if you want to get all aggressive for no reason and assume from your perspective, go ahead!

A friend has lived between the UK and France for the past year with both her secondary age children doing online school. They join in with extra curricular activities like sport when they are in each place. Not for me.

Yeah, I’m thinking more of a move back might be better. Thanks riverpebbles

Fair enough but how’s your dad going to be cared for if you’re not there six months of the year? You need to find some way to deal with schooling situation, whether it’s topping it up with tutoring, going private or the children return to London and you remain by the seaside.

Difficult situation. The conflict between caring for your dad and wanting to go back to London. No advice but best wishes and hope you work something out.

Sorry to hear about your Dad OP. Life is shit sometimes.

Myself and DH miss London like crazy but enjoy the choices we have living 1.5 hours away in Midlands. It took us 4 years to figure out this was the better option for our family.

These things need time and please don't compare curriculums either. Their chances at being academic/great actor etc are the same no matter where they live as long as you as the parent give them as many opportunities possible.

Home education is the only way you can achieve your dream of living in 2 locations, then you have full control over the curriculum which can be quite daunting.

Good luck OP.

We planned to move to the coast but were guzumped at the last minute. It was awful at the time but I’m so relieved it didn’t happen now. Our teens like being in London and we have decided to finish their education here, then we will all move to the Netherlands for their uni years.

I’m not sure how living in two places would work really, my dc would not enjoy online schooling. Good luck with it all.

Ok- can we stop the moral high ground messages, please.
I am not my dads sole carer by any means, this isn’t going to happen tomorrow- I am not just ‘leaving’ my dad so concerns for my dads wellbeing are sweet, but he’ll be fine.

I was making the point that I’m not ‘poncing’ by the coast living a dreamy, privileged life...

I moved back to where I am from, in case anyone assumes that its a case of ‘rich Londoner buying up local homes’, and house prices round here are not like London.

We have tried to re imaging what life can be like for the kids- with experiencing beyond just a small area- and I thought a house swap would be an economical option. But hey, I just was wondering if anyone had done something similar...

@Xtraincome

Myself and DH miss London like crazy but enjoy the choices we have living 1.5 hours away in Midlands. It took us 4 years to figure out this was the better option for our family.

These things need time and please don't compare curriculums either. Their chances at being academic/great actor etc are the same no matter where they live as long as you as the parent give them as many opportunities possible.

Home education is the only way you can achieve your dream of living in 2 locations, then you have full control over the curriculum which can be quite daunting.

Good luck OP.

Thanks for that. Really encouraging in loads of ways. Appreciate it!

@IpanemaPeaHen

We planned to move to the coast but were guzumped at the last minute. It was awful at the time but I’m so relieved it didn’t happen now. Our teens like being in London and we have decided to finish their education here, then we will all move to the Netherlands for their uni years.

I’m not sure how living in two places would work really, my dc would not enjoy online schooling. Good luck with it all.

Funny how things work out. Glad your kids are happy - that’s massive.

Best of luck to you too, sound great

You're welcome OP. Do let us know what you decide to do.

It is a massive change but I stayed away from the coast as the leaving London option as I am from the Midlands, and remember doing things my London-born counterparts never had the chance to do in the abundance I did:
-National Trusting loads
-Visiting other amazing cities with ease
-Enjoying real countryside and untouched landscape

• discovering the rich history from other counties
• more spacious housing
• enjoying London too of course

I know life is what you make of it, but when you're in a slightly dull part of the country it can feel almost suffocating- trust me, I've been there!

DH and I are low earners but bloody love the masses of space we have in our house compared to our one bed HA flat- I am not in the majority here on MN as my London life was quite poor. DH is London born and bred and counts his blessings often for the move.

Right, stopping the pep talk now.

Can you not stay where you are and just get a tutor for your child? Best of both worlds? Education and countryside.