In considering moving overseas for upto two years?

[MrsDe]

Just that really. I've been asked whether I'm interested in putting my name forward for a secondment opportunity in one of our overseas offices. Possibly Australia and would be for a minimum of one year and maximum of two years.

Would it be unreasonable on my family to consider this? I have a 6 yr old and a 4 yr old and they're currently settled in their school (which is fee paying so would I lose the place if we left for upto two years?). Is that a good time to uproot them? Also my DH has just had a promotion in work so it would mean uprooting him as well. He's put his career on the back burner for mine for some time so I'd feel bad him doing that. BUT, it would be an amazing opportunity to live somewhere else, get different experiences (both professionally and as a family) and I'm tempted. DH is considering it but hasn't said no outright.

Has anyone done this - i.e. stepped out of their lives here for a few years and then moved back? We live in a relatively nice part of London and think we could easily rent out our house over that time which would pay the mortgage etc.

Any thoughts/tales of experiences welcome!!

Haven't done this but really wish we had when our dd's were younger. Now they are 14 and 12, dd1 about to start GCSE work.

Hi, I am in the process of doing this we moved a few months ago. I had gone into it with what i thought was a good attitude - an adventure etc. I am extremely outgoing but it has been really stressful. I realise how lucky I was before if nothing else. I am a trailing spouse so look after my 2 pre-schoolers. We have had huge difficulty finding anywhere to live and have ended up compromising on location and school to save my sanity of living in a hotel with the kids all day. I am yet to make any friends (having not thrown myself into anything local as we didn't know where we were going to live). My husband is enjoying the work and seems to have a flair for it.
In terms of timing, the ages are pretty good, do you know anyone you can ask about areas to live, childcare and schools? I would also have a massive discussion with your partner about what happens when you review and if you like it and they don't. for me, "following" someone is hard. Sorry to be on a downer. I have moved several times in my life but for some reason am finding this one with 2 kids extremely difficult. I'm sure it can only get better from here.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Did this when my oldest was young, he wasn't in school yet but we took him away from friends and family. Still best decision we have ever made. Been here 15 years now even though original contract was two.

Oh and the first six months was awful and frustrating but after that we settled in. It took a full two years for it to feel like home though, before that it was like an extended holiday.

Great, thanks for the responses. Snowman, it does sound tough and so will need to think about how this will affect my DH. It's a huge ask.

Selfconfessed - thanks for your experiences too. Not sure therefore if it would worth it for two years.

Friends of ours did this for twelve months - 12 years later they're still there!!!

We did! Initially for two years, but it lasted five. No young children, ours were older.. Moved back to old house here, which we rented out while we were away.
It was a great "life experience", but here's a few things to consider.
Can DH work where you're going? If not, it's difficult. I'd have had to retrain, so became a housewife, putting the kybosh on my career.
One of you may love it enough to want to stay longer. The other may want to return after two years. Sorry to sound depressing, but it can break up marriages.
Rent, don't buy!.
I'd say your children are at just the right age for this.
Go on the British Expats forum. There's a thread for Australia. They will give good advice. Failing that, there's a Living overseas thread on MN.
Oh, and two years would fly by, what with all the new experiences.
Good luck with your decision!

Currently living overseas now, so I can't comment on the moving back bit.

At times it's been difficult, and it took a while to get sorted & organised. But there are no regrets about the move. It's been very positive for DH (he was the one with the job offer) and he's happier at work than he has been for years and getting some really good opportunities. I've also found work and it's working out well.

Our only DC is small (3) and after a long search I found a lovely preschool for him. He's happy and learning a second language, which is something he never would have done at his old nursery at home.

We're also able to take short trips and long weekends away to fantastic places that we might not otherwise get to.

I think we may stay beyond the original three years we gave ourselves.

If your DH is for it, do it!

Great, thanks again all. Helza, will look at the forum - thank you. TerroAustralis - thanks for your reply too, good to know you've found your feet a bit.
Have to get back to work now but will look at the thread later.

Thanks again all.

Do it! The experience will be so enriching and the DCs are young enough to adapt quickly.

When I say thread I mean board!

Do it, as long as your DH stands a reasonable chance at getting employed (or you're both happy and can afford him to SAH).

My parents moved us abroad when I was 6 and my sister 2. Sure it was a little hard at first, but then we had the added difficulty in not being able to make ourselves understood (I went to an American school and had to learn English, my sister went to Dutch nursery). Australia wouldn't be as tough as they'd know the language already.

But even then it was a great experience, and one I wouldn't have been without. It taught me English (which has been awesome), gave me friends from all over the world (though being pre-social media I don't actually stay in touch with any now) and a huge appreciation of other cultures.

I think it would be totally worth it for two years, it was for us.