To ask if any of you didn't move into your "forever house" till' the DC were older?

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

I hate that term....it seems overly romantic but I get the meaning of it. Basically we're going to be moving into a home forever within a year and our DC will be 7 and 11.

I wish they could have grown up in one house but it's not been possible. We've had two rentals...well within their memory! One was for 9 years and this one has been just over a year.

Will they have just as secure a childhood memory? Did your DC like the new house? Tell me your stories if you rented or moved about for any reason.

They've always had the same school which is nice...that never changed.

Like others have said, I think you gain far more in life experience and opportunities by moving around and learning about different life styles etc than sticking in one home forever. . We have moved three or four times in the last 15 years and DS has learned to adapt, change schools and meet new friends. All great life skills.

You read so many threads on Mumsnet about people who find it hard to make friends, adapt to change etc. I think that is sad.

I loathe the idea of a 'forever' home ............. nothing lasts forever and it is a bit of an unrealistic idea.

I would be wary of using the term 'forever home' and over romanticising the whole thing.
We live opposite a beautiful (much larger than our) house and about 3 years ago a new family moved into it with preschool children. When we first met the mother proudly announced she was so happy to have found her "forever home" and how it was a fantastic home for her children to grow up in. 2 years on her husband's role was made redundant, could not find another job locally and they eventually had to relocate overseas. She was visibly upset for ages - you could tell her dreams had been shattered. So I would only use the term if you are 100% certain you would remain there after a change of circumstance/ major life event.

I've lived here 11 yrs already & I'm itching to move. This is way too long in one place. DD is very sentimental about this specific house but I don't know if the DSs would care about us moving.

I won't ever be able to afford my ideal / forever home, so kind of a silly idea to me. When I'm old I want somewhere small & cute. DC can camp in the garden if no room inside.

OP it's great that you've had the opportunity to buy a lovely home. However, your OP does read as if you are looking down on those who can't and think they are damaging their children. I know you clarified your past housing later in the thread but that is how the OP read.

We will never be able to buy anything, never mind a "forever" home dd1 (10) is in her 6th and dd in her 4th home. One of these was a single room emergency homeless accommodation which came after redundancy and a couple of financial problems that were not fully within our control.

Why do children need "forever houses" (also hate that term)

Before the age of 12 I had lived in four different houses.

Me and my sister absolutely loved moving house, new bedrooms, different gardens, different streets to play in, lots of different children to make friends with etc. It was great, it was like a big exciting adventure every time