Anyone in Canada? Moving there soon and I’m crying

[Janice88]

Well thought through move. We loved Canada when we spent many holidays there. House sold and we are completing mid March (buyers were kind enough to agree to a 6 week timeline).Now that our move is CERTAIN, I’m really down. I’ve been crying a lot today. We don’t have family here, but we have a lot of good friends. I will miss everyone. I will miss England. A lot.
I’m worried sick about winters in Toronto. Crazy worried about how the kids will cope. Worried about the unknowns.
Pls can someone hold my hand and say everything will be ok?

Canada is gorgeous. Everyone I know who has moved there or lived there says it is wonderful. You and the kids will make lots of friends. Everything is set up for the winter weather, not like here where a few flakes of snow shut everything down.
And if it’s good enough for Megs and Harry...!

Thanks Hun. I’m a worrier. It was never this bad though.

The winters will be tough, no point in denying it, it in just about every other respect you will have a fantastic quality of life. And Ontario is an easy flight back to the UK for visits. It’s natural to be getting cold feet, it’s a huge decision but given that you already have friends there I think you’ll soon realise you were worrying for nothing.

Loads of kids do organised sport throughout the winters in Canada. I have a friend who emigrated there and she loves it xx

It’s natural to feel nervous before any big move, whether five miles down the road, or to another country.

It's always hard, that time when you're in the thick of getting everything done that needs to be done, and the irrevocable certainty just continues to creep up on you apace.

There will be much that you miss. There will be much that you enjoy and appreciate in your new home.

Just let yourself feel, make sure you do everything you need to do, and see everyone you need to see, to feel that you are leaving 'in good standing', to use a very old fashioned phrase! (I also brought about a suitcase worth's of tastes of home with me - crisps, chocolate, sweets, condiments, soap, wine. . .)

And the kids will cope. Just make sure they get to say all their goodbyes, do what they need to do. We drew up a list as a family of all the things we were looking forward to, that we could refer to when feeling particularly down. They will have good days and bad days. Everyone needs to know it's okay to feel sad, feel angry, to be homesick - but this is it, and we're going to make the best of the opportunities and the new home we have.

You will be fine, winter soon over you can enjoy the spring and summer. Canadians are so friendly, you will settle in quickly. Am jealous.

Toronto is an amazing city, so much to do there - you'll love it, stop worrying! Sure winters are cold, but they're not generally exceptionally harsh, just wrap up warm and you'll be fine! And the SUMMERS, ahhh the amazing summers, bliss....

How the kids will cope? They'll fridding love the sledging, skating, boarding, skiing that's what! Picked DS up from school yesterday, there's 100 kids all playing outside, loving it! As long as they're well dressed, you're fine.

You need to learn to change with the seasons. We're much slower in the winter. Sleep longer, work less. Read more books, after year of living in London and now being in Maine I feel so much more at peace with myself. Our bodies rest and recharge in the winter.

And there's NOTHING like a snow day. That feeling of quiet. Then everyone heading out to go sledding or skiing.

We get to -30 in the winter. DH has said he's never felt as bone chillingly cold as when he's in the UK though.

dressingfortv - yes! I've finally learnt to accept winter, and be at peace with being indoors a lot, reading a lot, resting a lot. And snow days are so so lovely.

Then in summer we'll be outside almost constantly.

OP it will be okay. You'll have ups and downs, but embrace your new life. Remember why you're moving, and all the things you love. You're brave to be moving, and it will pay off.

Yes lobster! We are never inside in the summer. Nothing like months of snow to make you appreciate the sun!

I'm surprised we haven't had a snow day called today as it's chucking it down.

You'll cope just fine! I moved to Toronto nearly 5 years ago with my 2 DC from the south of Spain and we've adapted pretty well. The winters here in Toronto are nowhere near as bad as I imagined they would be and this year has been exceptionally mild to be honest. Just make sure you are well dressed for the cold and snow when it happens! Something I found interesting was that the snow doesn't stop people from going out - you see the elderly out and about doing their shopping etc without a care in the world which was not what I had imagined before moving here and was the complete opposite to my visions of being snowed in for months on end and not being able to go out in winter!

-40 here in the westish. It’s lovely. Got up to nearly freezing today and beautiful blue sky Can’t help you with Toronto but snow and cold is fine. Skating, skiing, hockey, all good.
And if you hate it, go back. Nothing is forever, choice is a thing.

dressingfortv - can I be you? You just described my ideal life. My goodness, it is out there and dressing is living it!

OP - I went to Canada last year for the first time. I was astounded! Spotless, affordable, wonderful people, great food, empty, culture - I think you have made a very good choice, one I would love to make myself. Allow yourself some sorrow. Parting is hard. Indulge it. And soon the excitement will come! GOOD LUCK. Am cheering for you and DH and DCs. Will you come back and let us know?

Moved to Canada 4 years ago and absolutely love it. The kids will love it. As previous posters said, the right winter gear and they have so much freedom and joy year round. Yes winter is bitter (we just got through -50 with windchill) but it's not damp cold. It feels different and everywhere is set up so well for it. Emigration always has its difficulties, but you really hit the jackpot with Canada.

Do you have a particular area around Toronto in mind? How old are your kids? They will love it though - everyone will love their accents, the winters are full of fun snow-related stuff and not as cold and difficult as you might think, the summers are full of all sorts of amazing things.

Homesickness for you may be pretty tough. I found two years in to be a turning point - prior to that was very up and down. Loads of fantastic distractions for the hard times though!

That you Harry?

Harry? Is that you?

Haha, how in sync we were! That's so funny!

Come home son - we all still love you.

How are you doing Janice88? Are you feeling any better about the move?

@Janice88 how is it going?
I’m in Montreal arrived on 25th January, I’m not here for good yet (selling house in uk so have to go back) but my DH is here full time.
We’ve spent the last few weeks looking for an apartment and think we have finally found one (made more difficult as we have a dog who will come in April) but we hope to get the keys 1st March.
We have 2 boys at uni in UK so leaving them behind is a big thing, and being in Montreal the French will make it difficult for me to find work.
Loving it so far, we’ve had quite a bit of snow and boy it gets cold at times but if you have the right clothes it’s fine, the cold makes me feel so alive but it’s easy to get back indoor into the warm in the city.
I’m loving finding all the new places and Canadians have so far proved to be very friendly and engaging.
Everything is new and some of it weird, but it’s certainly shaken me out of my comfort zone which I see as a good thing.
Must say I’m not looking forward to going back to UK and doing the final house sort out, but I am looking forward to seeing my friends.