Has anyone moved multiple times with family?

[SarahBcn]

Have just moved back to the UK and really regret the decision. I just can't see myself settling in the place we have chosen to live. It's not a big city and I realise I loved being in the centre of all the bustling life and culture. Deep down we didn't want to return, but did so because of jobs, family and school system.
But, I'm already thinking that in a year I want to return to where we were living abroad.

However, the children are both really enjoying their school/nursery. Would I be an idiot/selfish to move back? They would be 8 and 4. We wouldn't be putting them into the school the eldest was in before, as it was an international one. If we move back I want them to be properly intergrated this time.
Do I just need to get on with life here? Anyone else moved back to the UK and off abroad again?

Lots of families who live an "expat" lifestyle move every 3-5 years throughout their children 's childhoods - but using international schools and often trying to stick to one school system (so international schools using the international baccalaureate system, or British international schools following a version of the national curriculum and GCSEs/ A level, or Japanese or French American international schools etc).

My personal opinion is that moving children without that can be quite difficult for children once they're school aged. A lot of people want to believe that it doesn't matter as long as the children are not exam aged, but my personal experience (my own and my siblings as children) contradicts this and is the reason we very consciously decided that we would only move once the eldest was at school if it were absolutely essential (i.e. job loss and genuinely impossible to find a new job. which would pay the bills within commuting distance).

Does your eldest speak the language of the country you want to return to? If she's completely fluent in both the written (age appropriate obviously) and spoken language then maybe it's a good idea if you'll be moving to somewhere more vibrant and with more long term prospects for her, but if she didn't learn the language properly at international school I'd say it's going to be very hard for your eldest to put her into local school and may be not in her best interest both ling and short term.

We’re practically nomads although DH’s current job is his dream job so we’ll probably live here in Switzerland till he retires.

Before that we moved every 3 years and DD went to international schools and did the baccalaureate curriculum.

She’s currently studying in University of Geneva. She didn’t speak French when we moved here when she was 16. She decided to do the mixed BAC where she did half English program half French. It was tough, even though she was already fluent in Italian. Now she’s fluent in French and doing a bachelor's through French language.

She’s a third culture kid as are all of her friends. They are far more confident and articulate than I ever was at her age. Your kids will be fine and will probably even benefit from the move.

Oh and just to add that we moved to Italy when DD was 8 and she had no language skills at that point beyond a few sentences (DH is Italian).

We put her into the local school in September and by Christmas she was favouring speaking Italian over English. They learn quickly!

I'm in the same shoes! We moved from our country to Norway first and really loved it. But then moved here to follow my husband's dream job (but just recently they opened remote option). 3 things I like about the UK: people, weather, language. But many other things make me anxious. However my kid picked up language here so fast and she thrives in the nursery so she could be really local here. And my husband loves it here. So I'm still thinking and counting our budget. If I move again to Nothern Europe I think I choose local schools. Kids would have stronger local friendships and the feel of belonging. For me it would be harder to communicate with other parents though as I don't speak the language. I think if you can't find the dream spot here for you it worth moving back. I still have several places to visit that I hope would have squares, wide pedestrian zones, decent schools, nice parks and good public transport. If I won't find something I love I would move again.