Move to forever home but leaving amazing community

[Roulett]

We live in a 3 bed semi in a cul de sac. My daughter’s best friends live here and we have an idyllic life they play out every day. We have two children and the house is a bit cramped now - the third bedroom is very small, no space for wardrobes, not much room for toys. It’s defining to not unmanageable but it’s a squeeze.

we have come into some money and can afford our dream home in the town 3 miles away. Would be a lot more convenient for trains/ schools etc but leaving behind our lifestyle breaks my heart and I know our eldest won’t want to go. She wouldn’t need to move school or anything but she would lose her daily playing out with friends and I’d miss it too. Having said that I think long term she and her sister would benefit from more space and a town location. Where we are is semi rural and not great for teens. We have no family nearby and our neighbours have become our support network we are with them daily and in and out of each others houses I know some would hate it but we love it. I’m torn WWYD

We lived in a close like this when my children were younger, being able to socialise and play out is very very valuable.

We moved just before end of primary, so in new school from year 6 & year 5. Covid had stopped the playing out anyway at that point so it was less of a wrench. The children who still lived there did still hang out a bit until about 12/13, but then they were out and about with other friends after that.

in your shoes I’d wait a couple more years.

Well, kids don't get the deciding vote on house moves, so if you want to go, then go. If you're still looking for tge right house, then what's the rush, maybe give them a few more years of playing with friends and then move? If you've actually found your dream home, though, then move. You'd be daft to abandon the ideal home for your family just because your seven year old likes her friends.

Do they all go to the same school? Can’t you recreate the playing out a bit with reciprocal play dates after school - one mum picks up and all the kids can play and you pick up after tea and another day you pick them up and they can play together at your new house? 3 miles is nothing.

I feel like at some point we will have to move. The house is feeling too small and there is zero public transport. Everytime we want to do something that isn’t at home or walking to the park it’s a drive to the local town. I can’t imagine teenagers living here it would be a squeeze. Feel like there’ll never be a perfect time to move as we are all so emotionally attached to here. I kind of wish this current house was larger and then we wouldn’t need to consider it but I think as teens our children wouldn’t want to be as rural

I think instagram has a lot to answer for with the need for a ‘forever home’, you sound like you are in a lovely area and your house is perfectly fine. Stay put.

One goes to the same school the other three don’t