To want to emigrate?

[YaddaYaddaYadda]

I realise I'm going to sound like Victor Meldrew here, but I'm really questioning whether I want to bring my dd up in Britain. Quality of life isn't that great, everything's so expensive especailly childcare, house prices are ridiculous and I can't face the thought of trying to negotiate the system to get my dd into a half decent state school...

Exaggeration? The kindergarden where we were was from 8.45-12.00 that started in the academic year they were 6, they start full time in the year they are 7 so mine would have been 6 and a half. Ok exaggerated by 6 months?

I keep saying I'd like to bring the kids up in America. Then I speak to an American who says "you're so lucky, living in Britain, I've always wanted to bring the kids up there" so I guess its a case of the grass not always been greener.

But I do understand how you feel.

About early school start, depends on where you emigrate to. Sweden you would be allowed to choose as a parent whether you wanted them to start at age 6 or 7.

Trust me, you don't want to bring them up in the states. I've lived there for years, now living in the UK. The UK is by far better! And the states are not child and/or family friendly by any stretch of the imagination!

Molesworth - in answer to your question, Scotland

MadamAnt - you could be right there (except for the rain ). We lived there for a few months before moving down south. The people are so friendly and will stop for a chat unlike us ignorant English!! What with free prescriptions?, free hospital parking and no tuition fees, what are we all waiting for??!! Also I do think the Scottish education system is superior to ours as well.

Hmmm... you've made me realise maybe Britain isn't THAT bad. DH has come up with a new solution, he reckons the answer is to move out of London and is currently making me look at houses we could afford (if we could sell our flat). I just have a (completely irrational) fear of suburbia

We did. Been here a month. It's warmer. We're a lot less skint. I'm homesick.

Where would it be better?

Sweden is fabulous blah blah but they speak Swedish.

Canada seems quite good if you can get in.
Childcare is apparently so government supsidised in Sweden and Canada that it's almost free.

My DH and I have this conversation alot but I honestly think sometimes we're trying to escape the unescapable... Sometimes life is humdrum, the bins need putting out, the baby cries, call centre people piss me off...

His family are REALLY against it, so I'm not sure we'll ever go.

I've lived abroad off and on and always miss the uk for the following reasons:

1. The Humour
2. The relative tolerance
3. NHS
4. proper tea (lipton wtf)

Yes, in Spain you can't get hold of a cup of tea. Fabulous coffee lovely for the length of a holiday, but NO tea!?!?!?!?!?

I lived in Spain for a while. I did miss tea. I also missed SARCASM..

I have my doubts about where the Swedish school system is going- nothing's perfect.

Good glad to hear that. My Swedish friend bombards me with the fabulousness of Sweden compared to GB

Erm... there's plenty of space in the uk - it's just all up north. There are affordable houses up here too. And the Scottish school system is more flexible and there's far less stress about 'good' school places up here. And your kids will get to uni for free. Granted there are less jobs in the countryside but you'd have the 'what to do for a living' question anywhere you moved to.

In case you haven't guessed i live in Scotland and love it. I have lived in the SE Of England though, was there seven years so i do know what i'm talking about when it comes to the differences. The biggest one i noticed was far better work/life balance - absolutely no 'long hours' culture up here, everyone goes home between 5 and 6 and without long commutes they arrive home between 5.30 and 6.30.

Honestly, try looking around the UK a bit before you up and leave entirely.

I'm Swedish, Liffey, and I still like it here. Not that I hated it in Sweden, but both countries have good and bad points Having had to think seriously about emigration (got offered job in Norway) made me think more about the good things I have here. ANd I found there were lots of them

and to add to fluffles after my move up North,

less attitude and competitiveness too.

Yeah, there are cheap subsidized nurseries in Canada, but I'm told those nurseries suck. The legal adult-child ratio there, even for tinies, is like 1 to 8 (here it's 1 to 4).

I think the things that make ones life easier or more difficult are mostly down to ourselves. And you can't emigrate away from that.

I completely share some of the sentiments posted here about Canada - for some reason, it's made out to be some sort of Utopia. I got it into my head that it was the perfect place to live, but when we went for a tester period, found that people complaining about and fearing exactly the same things there as here: wild, violent teenagers; cost of living; useless politicians; perceived threat of immigration etc etc.

The UK really isn't so bad. I am however still drawn to the idea of the Scandies, and had a bit of a thing for Iceland until recently, but the UK is my home and I am as happy here as I'd be anywhere else.

I hasten to add, I am not dissing Canada. It seemed a perfectly fine pace to live, and has lots to commend it. It's just no better or worse than here, plus it's colder and the family are in the UK.

ah yes, nonkie, i agree - i am stunned by some of the stories on here regarding competitive mums. i haven't come across anythign like that up here.

Actually I quite fancy Scandanavia too. Everyone seems so reasonable. Pity the only words of Swedish I know are "I want tro go home to Mummy" .

I'm from Canada. And I agree. The usual problems of life are everywhere.

Even wealthy british can go to doc for free. This is incredible.

Fifty euro here. TG I'm on a medical card, it's free for me, but as soon as I get a job I'll have to pay.