We are in Australia, have two boys aged 12 and 10. We are British, have lived here for 15 years.
We’ve toyed with moving back for a number of years but covid put paid to that and now it’s really the last time we can come back as our oldest would go into year 9 next year.
We came back in the summer, loved it, loved seeing friends and family. Family all getting older but still in good health. We also run a business in the U.K. and would have a good income and work.
The kids have now been accepted into nice schools for next year and are quite keen for a move despite both being at a good school here, getting on well etc.
Now that the decision time is here I’m getting such cold feet about it!
Pros - family close by, no evening work, no huge expensive trips over twice a year (and husband even more often), Europe to explore, more stuff to do (I love the English countryside, national trust, London, museums etc), good schools, access to great universities in the future.
Cons - we know it here, we’re happy, we have a nice comfortable life, what if the kids aren’t happy, what if they’re really behind at school, hat if they hate it and resent us for moving?
Aaaaaaahhhh! I’m so stuck. If we stay it means my husband probably being away for 2-3 weeks every 2-3 months plus us travelling back twice a year and all the expense associated with that. Equally, moving back involves buying a house and moving schools etc. My main worry is the kids. They’ve only been there on holidays (although for 5 or so weeks at a time) and I just remember how busy everywhere is, the amount of traffic etc. Equally, the countryside is so lovely, safe, you can be in a dozen European countries in a couple of hours rather than a days flight from here.
I literally have no idea what the right decision is.