Anyone regret relocating for the lure of greener grass?

[Dangit]

My constant googling won’t give me an answer of my question about the future.
In short, we want more out of life than our small Warwickshire life. We have lovely holidays and maybe that should be enough. But I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m almost convinced but then my partner rang me today and said he had been talking to job agencies in new location and I immediately thought ‘no! I can’t!’ But I can’t stand to live my life being Afraid of change. Having Kids puts down such massive roots.
Now my eldest is nearly 9 I realise we could have done it a few years ago. But my middle daughter 7 has found a real bestie mate. My dad is a strong tie too. He’s hopefully got another 10 years good health in him so If we go now at least he can visit us - a potential 4 hour drive).
Feels like sometimes it would be better to just have something to force us to go, like relocating for a job, but having to seek out that job ain’t quite the same.
Hoping for some success stories.

We had to relocate back to the UK from the Middle East when dds were 7 and 10. Except for a month or two each summer, they had been abroad their entire lives until then.
They settled reasonably quickly into new schools and a rather different kind of life altogether.

If you're going to do it, far better now than when either is at senior school. Your 7 year old is likely to find a new best friend soon - at that age children often fall out anyway.

My very best friend at school - had been since day one - found another best friend when I was off school ill for a few weeks at about 8. Just saying.

Watching with interest. We're half thinking about relocating because we get so much more house for our money elsewhere. (Looking at your neck of the woods incidentally as DH does a lot of work up there).
BUT whilst the lure of a potentially nicer house is tempting, I wonder about losing our ties and support network here. I'm not entirely sure it's worth it.
Fwiw my two are 10 and 7. They have best friends too, but they're kids, they'll soon make more. It's me holding us back!

Oh no gettinglikemymother, that’s so harsh about your friend! But yes your right it can totally be like that. In fact I had three best friends leave the school over the years.
Well we’ve been seeing how far we can with the move without actually having to commit to anything. I got in touch with the Local school admissions today and even if we do decide to go for it I’m not sure we’d get them all a place at the same school. And that is not really moving for the better to have a nightmare school arrangement. I feel quite defeated. I’m not bothered about getting the best school and all that but I do want a school with a nice feel to it not one just allocated at random. How do people do this??!
forgotpassword How long a journey would you have to see family? With a 7 year old you would at least meet people in the playground.

We moved for work and it was one of the best things we ever did.

I think the children will be fine with the right move. You just need to pick somewhere that will work for them as they grow into teenagers. IME moving to a sleepy village with 1 bus a day to raise chickens and grow your own veg is not a great move for teens/older tweens. It depends what your dream is I guess.

Yes we are definitely thinking about their independence as they get older. Do you have teenagers sky? What sort of things do they like doing?
I’d definitely like a train station near by. I made lots of use of them as a teenager.

We relocated from the south east to the midlands... I'm not really happy with the move. The upside is that my family live down here and I get to see them all the time, and I can help my grandmother out with things she can't do herself.. the downside is I miss my old town, my friends, my old home. I wish I could go back to be honest. I have no friends here and my days are lonely. I see my old friends less than once a month. I've never said it to anyone, but I genuinely regret moving

How long ago did you move? We moved from London back here to be able to buy a house and to give my children a relationship with my parents 8 years ago. It took along time to get over my old life and old identity. My mum then moved abroad. Big sore spot. But I don’t miss London now. It’s still there to go and visit and it’s all still ticking along. I don’t see old friends though, it’s been difficult as it was just me who had kids. But I am happy here, I just want to make sure I’m going to be happy being here another decade or so.
Are your kids at school yet?

We moved in September just gone, so I suppose it's still a bit raw for me. I genuinely get upset if I sit there and think about my old life. Sound pathetic I know my eldest is at school but my youngest is only at nursery 3 days a week so I struggle to entertain her on her days off. I really wish I didn't feel like this though, I should be grateful that I live 5 minutes from all my family!

I completely understand. Before I moved I had a career and after I moved no one ever talked about LBM - life before motherhood. I felt stripped of everything I’d achieved. It still annoys me a bit but I’m further down the road now and have been able to work from home.
It’s winter it’s so wet dull and depressing out, hang in there. Do you have a chance to go along to things with your eldests class like library walks etc? I can see in our playground it’s harder to make friends after reception as people seem to get into little groups. Joining the PTA is a good way to get invloved and get to know the other mums.
I guess the thing is, unless you can move back, you need to do your best to start a new chapter. Maybe your going through a kind of grievance for your old life right now. If your not happy, it’s so hard being happy with a little one. And so hard to put in the effort to speak to other mums at playgroup etc. Maybe give yourself some slack to get over this feeling and make a fresh come spring. Spring is so so much better.

We moved from London with two DCs to a tiny village hundreds of miles away, away from all family in the SE and couldn't be happier 😁 but we do all love the 'great outdoors'. I haven't made loads of friends and my friends in London are all doing amazing things with their careers, but I feel more relaxed and happy where we are now. I guess I was quite stressed with my city life. And I quite enjoy winter in the countryside etc.

This is only my experience.

Good luck with your decision making 😊

Yes we are definitely thinking about their independence as they get older. Do you have teenagers sky? What sort of things do they like doing?
I’d definitely like a train station near by. I made lots of use of them as a teenager.

My eldest is 11, but I'm thinking of the move my parents made when I was a similar age. They thought it would be wonderful for us to have a big garden etc but I was just about too old for making dens and mud pies. Knew no one in the village, no shops, no clubs or sports, no buses or trains, very little in walking distance. I'm no city chick but for our own children I'd like them to be able to get to a swimming pool, cinema, a few shops, their friends under their own steam at least. I'm not suggesting you avoid a move, I'm just saying make sure it works for you all.

I think the move really worked for my parents though. They loved their new house and the countryside round there was beautiful.

StopTaking that sounds really hard. It is still early days for making friends via school/nursery and no one hangs about to chat in January. Hope spring brings some steps forward.

It’s insightful your views as an 11 year old sky. I agree about children being able to get places off their own steam. Certainly feel up for moving now. Just got to figure out how to get the school situation to work!