Today dd will find out her friend isn't coming back next term

[thefuturesnotourstosee]

Her friends mum told me this morning. Its only just been decided as her DH has got a new job in New Zealand and they'll move over the summer! They only told her DD last night.

The two of them have lived almost in each others pockets since they met in nursery when they were 3 and they're now in year 2 and will both be 8 in the Autumn.

Has anyone been through this and how should I deal with it? I forsee tears. Yes she'll have a ready made pen pal but its not going to be the same :(

I think you can help in two ways.

1. Reassure your DD she can stay in touch with her friend. Get them oranised to Skype each other and may be treat your DD to some nice writing paper.

2. Help your DD build her other friendships, set up some play dates over the holidays with other children, maybe encourage her to join in something new and exciting, such Brownies or another activity. Distract her from dwelling on her missing friend and get her focused on the future.

She will be fine, but it might be painful for a while.

Thanks for replying piprabbit. I've been out for a few hours and just seen this.

She's in Brownies and luckily does have other friends. I like the idea of Skype - no idea how to use it but its time to learn . She'll love it. They swapped phone numbers and started phoning each other at the age of 5!! I'm hoping for my phone bill they do not do this to New Zealand.

I've always wondered if this might happen as her friends dad has the sort of job that always looked like it may take him abroad so I've always encouraged other friends - lots of play dates and so on. For me its not a huge shock but I know it will be to her.