Single mum moving with a two year old

[percypig82]

I am moving at the end of April. I wanted to pick your brains on two things:

1. I am moving with my two year old child. We will be moving 2 hrs away from her father (in the nicest possible way, I don't need opinions on this as it all sorted and financially I don't have a choice). I just wanted to ask advice on how to talk to my two year old about the move and when to start mentioning it to her. Is there anything I can do to make this easier for her? I don't think she's too attached to this house and where we are moving to is much bigger and has lovely outside space. We can walk to shops and parks, whereas at the moment we have to walk everywhere. Also, she will obviously be changing nursery which I am nervous about too.

1. How do you move house with a toddler, when working full time? My flat is tiny but there is so much stuff. My daughter wants to be entertained all the time, so even doing the washing up when she is awake can be challenging. Any tips greatly appreciated.

In all honesty, she's 2, I don't think she'll bother too much so don't worry yourself about it.

The actual moving and packing, start with a room at a time. Dump as much as you can, be ruthless. Start dismantling and packing what you don't need day to day whenever you get time off.

Moving is hard, break it down as much as you can and you'll get there 😊

In terms of packing, can you hire a removals company? They'll have it all done in a day. Or take a day or two of annual leave while your DD is at nursery and get as much as possible done then. Or put her in nursery for a few days extra. Or ask her dad to have her for a day/a few hours of that possible. Basically, just find a way to be without your DD for a chunk of time and pack quickly!

Pack a suitcase for both of you with everything you'll need for the first few days after the move to take off the pressure of unpacking.

@ggbbnn1 thank you so much. I'm so worried about moving her away from everything she has ever known. Especially her nursery, she has been there since 11 months when me and her dad first split x we are moving to a family home so she will be familiar to the space

@NuffSaidSam yes, these are all really helpful. Last time I moved was when I was pregnant and I couldn't believe how much crap I'd managed to accumulate and the horror of that all over again is starting to make me anxious

As she's familiar with the place you're moving to I would start talking to her about it a couple of weeks before you move. They understand SO much more than you think. ''Let's put these books in the box, we'll be able to read them when we move to 'Granny's house'' 'let's put the cars in a box, they'll be fun to play with in Granny's Garden'. 'Shall we put your clothes into some suitcases? You'll need them at Granny's House'. 'Oh here are your summer shoes, we'll need them to wear to the park at Grannys' and let her 'help' you pack some of your things too so she understands you're going too. It will help her prepare & keep talking to her when you get there. They DO understand SO much more than you think & that they can say. Just be positive.

wishing you all the best with moving & with 'life' once you get there!!

She'll be fine. I moved with mine and changed nursery 8 months ago and am about to do it again (🤦). They don't have real friends at this age, especially at nursery - she literally never spoke about her old nursery again after we left it and if I mention it now she stares at me blankly.

She was a bit clingy the first couple of weeks. I let her co-sleep as much as she wanted and just made extra time for cuddles and attention. Maybe be prepared for a bit of wonky sleep and a few extra tantrums.

Moving - I can't help. It's a nightmare. But it's just a few shit days. I packed after she went to bed and paid for men to do the actual moving.

It's a few really hard weeks, but it sounds like a really positive thing for you both. Focus on that, grit your teeth and it'll be done before you know it.