But it is huge.
I grew up abroad and so for me it would be fantastic. If dh was offered a job in Australia I would leave tomorrow.
But living abroad isn?t for everyone. And if you have significant doubts about it then you need to weigh up the pros and cons and sit down and discuss it before making a final decision.
On the plus side, Australia is a fantastic country, it has a much better climate than here, so consequently the lifestyle is much different, ie outdoor living. Plus moving to a different country will mean you and your ds will experience different things than you would here etc.
But having said all that, the grass isn?t always greener. All countries have their issues, and as many Australians come to live over here as Brits go to live in Australia, so obviously for Australians there is as much insentive to leave as there Is insentive for Brits to go, iyswim?
Also you need to think about how you will find being on your own in another country with no support, ie people who will babysit so you can go out etc. Obviously you will make friends but this does take time, and if your ds is very young it can be daunting being in another country with a young child where you don?t know anyone and can?t just jump in the car and drive down to see a familiar face.
You also need to think of the impact this will have on your ds and his relationship with his extended family. We are fortunate now in that we have email and skype and webcams and all manner of ways of keeping in touch with people that we simply didn?t have when I was growing up which would mean that your ds would be able to talk to his family regularly, but this is not a substitute for real contact and it is very likely that his relationship with his extended family will be different than if he lived somewhere he could see them regularly.
He will not, for instance, grow up with his cousins. He will know who they are obviously but they will just be his cousins living in England and nothing more really.
I grew up in South Africa. I first went to live there when I was a baby but I came back when I was 4 and didn?t go back until I was 9. So I did know my grandparents, and my aunties and uncles, and my cousins. But as soon as I left the UK tat relationship changed and they were just my family in England. The grandparents sent letters and we spoke on the phone and they visited a couple of times, but I certainly never had a close relationship with any of them, not the type of relationship that the rest of my family had.
I now live back in the same town as all the family. My grandparents on my mum?s side of the family are both dead now, but I haven?t seen my nan on my dad?s side for over three years, and some of my cousins I haven?t seen since I left when I was 9, despite the fact we all live In the same town now. The rest I have seen a few times, but most wouldn?t know me if we passed in the street and vice versa.
To me it is as if I have parents but no extended family.
Having grown up like this it wouldn?t really bother me if ds grew up in a different country, because I?ve never known any different. Extended family means nothing to me. But if it?s important to you then it?s something you should consider.
Sorry, this sounds like a really negative post and it isn?t meant to be. You?ve been given a fantastic opportunity, and one which you could quite possibly regret if you don?t take it, but moving abroad is a massive step to take and is one which shouldn?t be taken lightly.
Good luck
Oh and, if your dh doesn't take the job, can mine have it?