should we move back to parentland after a great christmas???

[newmummy86]

we're a youngish couple in London with a one year old and planning more. We have great friends, jobs, neighbourhood etc here but are so tempted by the idea of moving back to the midlands to live in a big house with a big garden within a couple of miles of parents, sisters, nephews and nieces. What are other people's experiences of making the move? Will we love it or live to regret it?!

Hi there,

we've just moved near to DH's family in the north after living in London for a decade. I like the fact that DD will know her GP's, Great-GPs, aunties, and cousins properly. And we can actually afford a house in a neighbourhood with OK schools. I miss my friends in London a lot, and the whole busyness of London, but we do make an effort to visit regularly.

Hi

We did this in August. We used to live in very expensive Oxfordshire and now live in much cheaper Shrewsbury within spitting distance of both sets of parents and siblings.

The positives:
The DSs are really enjoying being near their GPs, cousins, etc and see them a lot.
I'm going to the dentist on Friday ON MY OWN!!!! I used to have to take children with me!
If I am ill I can shout for help! Before I use to have to just cope.
DH and I can go to the cinema without lots of forward planning.
Christmas was easy this year without having to spend hours in the car. It was really enjoyable actually.
The house is much, much bigger than our 2 1/2 bedroom cottage we lived in before.

The negatives:
I miss my old friends a lot. I cried buckets when we left.
Before now we lived in the country and now we live in a big town. The community spirit isn't the same. It might be just that we haven't settled in properly yet though.
I work freelance and I find it hard when in the middle of the week relatives expect me to just 'go shopping' with them' or 'come over for coffee' because they don't quite understand what I do and that I need to work!

Even though there are negatives I am very confident we did the right thing. My DSs are very happy here and they don't feel so attached to where we lived before as I did.

I'd say go with your gut feeling.