Hang onto your hats: an expat is landing

[darthwitless]

After 10 years away, and two DSs later, we are moving back to the UK - a terrifying prospect. How am I ever going to learn all those rules about playdates, playground rules, etc etc without seriously putting my foot in it? Mumsnet of course. So, what are your top 3 tips for public parenting in the UK?

I guess it depends where you're moving from but having had all my kids abroad, I found the following:

Moving from a capital city with a transient expat population to a small town where people had lived for generations was hard. Some people can be pretty unfriendly to new arrivals, both adults and children.

I really missed the attention the kids got from people in supermarkets/queues/people passing. It's just not done here and I think the children here really lose out on that social contact, especially when little.

We lived somewhere hot so social life, both ours and the kids was very outside-y. I loved big impromptu barbeques etc where kids of varying ages would all play together quite happily. It just doesn't happen here - houses and gardens are smaller and the weather is either too cold or unreliable.

Umm, will think some more..

How old are your kids?

3 & 7. so one has been in school and one is about to start. and, yes, I am worried about the unfriendliness thing. we need to choose between Clapham and Brighton (huge commute for DH, which will be a big shock to the system).

Yes, time (or the lack of it) - blimey.

I think both the places you mention are pretty cosmopolitan so you may not experience too much "outsider" type unfriendliness.

My big advice for you is to research schools thoroughly - schooling is a massive nightmare in certain areas, both in terms of quality and availability of places, so don't rent/buy anywhere assuming that you will be able to send your children to a local school.

Can you say where you're coming from?

Paris (after Asia). oh wail!!

I'm doing the same in August with an older DD. We will be moving back to England, although we've eased ourselves into it a bit. DD was born in Oman, we then spent four years in Bangkok, three in Switzerland and a year in Belgium.

Moving back this summer too. After 4 countries in 20 years and with one 10 year old DS. Left London in 1990 with 2 suitcases and a trunk. Going back with rather more collected on our travels.

DS is alternating between telling us we are ruining his life and saying he can't wait.