Did we miss our chance to leave the UK?

[Huffledor]

DH and I were seriously thinking of moving abroad (to northern/central Europe) after Brexit, but then Covid happened. DC are now 10 and 12 and it feels like it could be a really hard age to move kids.

Both are very bright but they have some mild special needs and don't speak any other languages, but have shown interest in learning languages. Neither has got a big set of friends but they do feel settled and we'd be leaving everything that's familiar to them. Part of me thinks they'd be fine and quickly adapt, but part of me worries they'd be at a massive disadvantage academically.

DH and I have moved around a lot. We loved the UK when we first moved here 15 years ago, but the future seems so much less promising now. But uprooting our children feels so risky. Is it too late for such a big change given that our youngest will start secondary next year?

Neither of us wants to move back to the country where we grew up (USA). We rarely visit and it doesn't feel like home anymore.

I've accepted that moving back to Europe would be tricky now, given our children's ages and special needs, our jobs and career prospects abroad. Staying here is logistically easier. I regret we didn't act sooner. Leaving after Brexit would have been the right time.

There is an EU country where English is the first language.. just highlighting it as an option, in case living in the EU is one of the key drivers.
We made the move at a similar age/life stage to you (albeit kids don’t have SEN) and haven’t looked back, despite several decades living in England.

@aiaiaioh It's been a while since we looked into Ireland but my general impression is that it has many of the same problems as the UK (like a struggling health system, out of control housing market, poor public transport, etc). Not particularly keen on church-run schools either. Maybe my knowledge is outdated or off the mark though.

Being in the EU would be brilliant, but overall it feels like Ireland would be a big disruption for the kids without many other benefits. Love the people though!

I wouldn't worry about the church run schools.

Many of the people I know look at the country around them and have the same thoughts. I would say that UK is only attractive to a young professional who doesn't have a family. Once you factor expensive housing, unaffordable childcare and poor education many people choose to leave.

However I was born abroad lived in UK from school age but went to my home country for couple of years in my 20s. I don't know what it is but I felt homesick all the time I was abroad. It was the happiest moment when I finally moved back to UK. With all of its problems there is something unique that makes you love it. You don't really appreciate it until you have lived abroad.

@Fox111 it sounds like you spent your formative years here and it really feels like home. It feels like home to me too, but I despair at how steeply the quality of life has declined in 15 years. I've lived in a few other countries. Each has pros and cons. But alas I think the point we're at right now in our family life and careers would make starting over a bit tricky.

Did you make the leap, OP? Always interested.

Our family are upping sticks this year. Life in the UK is just too difficult now with everything from fuel costs to local services... if we stay any longer we will never have the money to get out!