We've lived in a small village for 30 years. Our children went to school here and had loads of friends, but are now grown up. Youngest son has struggled with growing up and has had all sorts of drink/drug disasters. We love him dearly and have done our best to support him - perhaps too much. People who knew son when he was younger understand, but recently new couples have moved into our village who don't get what we have been through. I've ended up being outspoken in defence of my son as I've found strangers being judgemental quite difficult! We are finding ourselves more and more left out of social occasions and I have heard that they gossip about how awful my son is at things like book club, even though they've never met him. We have a lovely home here that we've put out heart and soul into over the years, but I just want to leave and have a fresh start elsewhere. Younger son is more independent.now. Moving would be expensive and it would be sad to leave our home, but I just feel I want out. I want a fresh start somewhere else. It makes me unhappy to be like this and increasingly we feel like shutting ourselves away. Younger son is more independent now.
Do I just live with this or move?