When is the right time to come home? Any wise words appreciated!

[childrenknowyourlimits]

We lived in Nigeria for 2 years and have been in Kazakhstan for 1 year. My DSs have just finished the US equivalent of Year 3 and 5. We will have at least one more year in Kaz and more if we want it and then a possible move to the US. This is all very nice but I have real concerns about the boys' education. They have been in the American system for 3 years now and am worried about how they will adjust if/when we come back to the UK. My gut feeling is that we should come home this time next year so my DS1 can start back in UK system for Year 7. If we consider staying abroad longer I feel as though we need to commit to staying in the US for a long time so as not to disrupt their schooling too much. DH wants to go to US if the opportunity comes up but I am less convinced. Any thoughts anyone? It is so confusing! This was not part of my plan!!

Schools in the US can be great. Less so US schools overseas, which are often a long way behind English schools in the primary years.

Thanks for your comment.

We are in the british school system in the USA and speaking to expat friends in the local USA system, the two seem to grow apart from about year 4 or 5, the way maths is taught, differences in history and science etc. it is possible to swap between the two higher up but apparently there would be some tutoring needed to fill gaps. Would switching to the British system in the USA be an option? Where would you be located in the USA and would you get education costs included in a package? Tricky situation.....

We are kind of in the same place at the moment. Trying to work out the best time to move the children in school. I realized there isn't a good time.
We have been away from the UK since before they started school (ds went to nursery) and they have been in the local school system for the last 4 years. We have just moved them to an International school so they can have some learning experience in the english language.
They will still be completely out of sync with the Uk school system though as there is still a 2 year difference.
I think you have to seriously decide IF you are moving back to the UK.
It is really difficult, wanting the experiences and opportunities that moving around the world offers to wanting the educational stability for our children to thrive.
Unfortunately education is not uniform around the globe which makes for really hard compromises and decisions to be made.
We have decided that we will return to the UK, it's the when that's causing the angst...We have narrowed it down to "Within 5 years"
Good luck with the decision making.......