I have just started panicking about my move, help me!

[beansmum]

I have 8 months until we (me and ds) are moving back to NZ, I have nothing organised except flights. I don't even know where we are going as it depends which university I decide to go to. I think I must be slightly mad.

I am really stressing about finding somewhere to live, the plan at the moment is to turn up with enough money to stay in a b&b for a fortnight and hope I find a flat before my money runs out. Doesn't sound too good does it?! But how can I find a flat before leaving?

Canterbury has before and after school childcare, call them and ask them for advice

www.canterbury.ac.nz/adultstudents/childcare.shtml

You could try contacting the adult student advisor there too for some tips. You won't be the only student with dc

You could also try calling some of those places you mailed to follow up your emails. They might be more helpful if you speak in person and be willing to make an exception since you are coming from so far away. How old will ds be when you travel- 3?

They have two early learning centres as well M-Fr 8-5pm
See here and check out the other link at the bottom of the page.

Thanks!

I had already contacted the uni childcare centre, they said they would put ds on the waiting list if I came into the office and filled in an enrolment form. I can't believe they make every student travel to Christchurch to enrol, I have emailed and will hopefully get a reply from someone more helpful! ds will be 4 when we arrive, so will only need a full time place until he starts school in June, but I'll be there to arrange before and after school care so that shouldn't be too much of a problem

Did they click that you're applying from the UK for that place? Jsut wondering because it seems a bit of a daft answer to tell you to come into the office in person so they can put you on a waiting list. So what are you supposed to do, move to NZ, put your name on the list and hang about living off your savings till you can get a place for him and start studying? Makes no sense to me. Could you call and ask to speak to whoever is in charge, explain your situation, that really you couldn't move out there to study from so far away without being sure you had care organised for your ds.

I was wondering if that adult student advisor would have a word with them for you to help you out. Should think they could really guarantee you a place as a single mum travelling half way across the world to study there. Pretty sure it will get sorted but I know what it is like trying to plan these things with dc to consider. It's a bl* nightmare, isn't it?

They could mail you the enrolment form as pdf or fax/post it and you could fax it back.