How to Handle the Emotions of Moving from Georgia to Texas

One thing I learned the hard way is to let them participate in the move as much as possible. Let them help pack their things and unload/unpack them at the new house. Also, if possible, let them have some say in picking their bedroom at the new house. My son was much younger, only 2, the first time we moved. We presented him to a new town and new home with no warning and he cried for 2 days asking to go home. We moved from that apartment (ugh) to a house 6 months later and let him help with what he was able and he adjusted much more easily. Since then we have kept both kids very involved in the moving process. It made life much easier, but after 4 states in 7 years, I hope I never have to move again!!!!!!!

Try to move early in the summer as possible. Texas tends to start school mid-August. Moving early in the summer will give your kids time to adjust to the new area, make a few friends before school starts.

There may be some summer coarses or camps that they could be part of that would help them make friends.

Welcome to Texas, what part?

I agree with what a lot of the other posters say, make it an adventure, etc.

We moved here in 1989 from Charlotte, NC and it was a shock to us getting used to open sky. Now, when we travel back to NC, etc, it is a shock and we are claustrophobic with all the trees and not being about to see the big sky.

We love watching the weather movements come through, love the weather, love our schools, and overall we are very happy with our decision. We've had oportunities presented to us to move out of Texas and we have declined.

It is a great state and people are nice. MANY people are transplants like us (and you will be). The economy has not hit Texas as hard as it has hit the rest of the country... many benefits to being in Texas! Welcome.

PM me if you like, especially if you are moving to the Plano/Allen area.

Moving away from what you know IS scary--especially when you love everything about where you are. We moved from Texas to Illinois this past August for the same reason you are moving. It is SO nice to have Daddy home every night.

I don't really have any advice for you, but you are in my thoughts. I am glad you are staying positive and upbeat for yourself and the kids!! Yay, you!!

My hubby was transferred from Iowa to Texas in 1992..... actually, the news came the day before our 4th child was born! ("No, the news didn't bother my wife at all... she just went into labor!) We've been here for almost 20 years, now.

Anyway, just talk about all the positive things, all the adventure you will have.... down-play the part of missing your friends, your church, and stuff like that.

Have the kids get involved with the thought of helping to pick out things for their new bedrooms, and stuff like that.

Also.... play up the BEST part of all... that daddy will be home almost EVERY night, now!

We went through the same thing in Aug of last year. With a 11yr old going into 6th grade and one going into Kindergarten. To put it mildly, the 11 yr old WAS NOT HAPPY.
My advice, don't let the burden/stress/anxiety of the move fall on their shoulders, we as parents should take the brunt of that. Let them vent when needed. More importantly, let them be a part of the house hunt or packing, traveling plans etc. Don't over talk it with them, make it a non event as much as possible. I know that's easier said than done, but I hope you get what I'm trying to say.
If you are moving to a bigger city, you will have your feet planted quicker than you think. Hang in there.
There are two types of people, those born in Texas and those that got here as fast as they could :)

I have to say, your post made me giggle a little. As just a year ago we faced the same thing, but in reverse. We spent ten years in Texas, and had to move to Georgia. For my kids (13,10, and 4 now), that was most of their little lives, so it was somewhat scary for them. But then, we were lucky as we got to spend so long in one place. We're a military family, so this is close to unheard of.

Staying positive and making it a great adventure for the kids is actually the best way to go about it. Start helping them research their new home. Show them pictures and videos of landmarks, and find fun places you'll be able to explore once you get there.

Before going, try to go to all the places you love the most at your current home. Take lots of pictures and video. have them make up a book (with pictures if possible) full of their friends addresses, phone numbers, and emails. That way they won't feel so much like their 'losing' their friends.

If you have the time during the move, if you're driving that is, stop here and there and have picnics. Take pictures, and show them where they are on a map. Maybe have them help make a scrap book. "Today we stopped for lunch in *place*." And have them write out what they saw, what they thought of the place, what everyone ate, etc.

Be extra sure to let them pack a few favorite things, stuffed animals, other toys, clothes, books, special pillow and blanket, etc. That way the new place won't seem so foreign and daunting. If they have their favorite comfort items with them, it helps prevent the scary because then, "Mr. Panda isn't alone in a box." As my daughter recently put it.

If you can, and know some, talk to military parents who've been through this a bazillion times.

Above all, do what you've been doing. Stay positive and upbeat, because as soon as mommy thinks it's scary, it becomes scary to them.

Going to link you to a pretty good article for military parents dealing with moves, I know it helped me the first few moves, and it was a good refresher with this most current one.

http://www.military.com/spouse/content/military-relocatio...

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or just need to chat.

Remember, your not losing your home, your neighborhood just got a lot bigger. Good luck and grats to your husband on the new job!

Moving is often very hard. But you know what? You could be moving to Japan, Russian, California, Montana, etc.... Texas is really not very far from Georgia. You can even go home by train every couple of months if you want.

Just start trying to accept the idea, that is the biggest hurdle, some families move every few months. This is an opportunity for your family to grow closer, develop new life long relationships, turn over a new leaf, get a really cool new house, try to pick out positives and it will start going so much smoother.

Moving can certainly be scary for the kids (and the parents) but there are so many positives aside from having Daddy home every night (which is awesome). It broadens your horizons and boosts confidence, making it easier to walk into new situations and adapt. And staying in touch is easier than ever, they get to have pen pals or Skype pals and come back to visit!

As much as possible, get them involved in the move to the new place. Can you take them to house hunt or visit schools? When my sister moved from CO to Chicago, her daughter visited the two schools she could go to. The smaller Catholic school made welcome signs for her and they had a map of Colorado up to learn about where she was from, and that was before she was even enrolled! If they are part of the process, they can be interested in where they'll end up, if not down right excited.

Beyond that, give them space and permission to be sad and scared. Don't have to talk them out of it, don't follow with a BUT (you'll make new friends or whatever), that can make them feel like they're not supposed to be sad or scared or they have to tamp it down or hide it. Yes, it's hard to leave old friends. Yes, it's scary to go somewhere new. Yes.

They will be OK, you all will. I moved with my kids (then 5 and 4) from Chicago to California, and they talked about missing the old place a lot. We visit when we can, but we're doing well here. It's not the same, there are different things to appreciate about each place, but we've made a life here and we're happy. You will be too.

I feel for you - we just did the same thing this past August for the same reason! Only we moved from Maryland to Georgia. My kids were 9, 7 & 3 when we moved. I grew up in MD and I have lived within 45 minutes of my parents (whom I am very close to) my entire life (with the exception of 3 years in PA when I was 2 ½ hours away), so it was very hard for me too (we are now a 12 hour car ride away). My youngest 2 were born in MD and my oldest was almost 2 when we moved back, so we moved from the only house they all remembered living in.

One thing that I think really helped my kids is that we took our Spring Break trip to the area where we were moving to and since the new school was on a different schedule that their current school, I arranged for my girls (9 & 7) to shadow with their class for the day. They made friends and then the 1st day of school at the end of the summer was not so scary! I also found out about Girl Scouts and Dance classes so I could have them signed up and ready to go when school started, that way their routine stayed as normal as possible – albeit in a new place with new friends.

Another thing that my girls liked was the scrapbooks from their classes. My younger daughter has a book that has pictures of all her classmates with their name, address & phone number while my older daughter has one where her classmates each made her a page with whatever they wanted to put on it.

My girls also call and email their MD friends all the time & we visited as many as we could when we went home for Christmas this year.

I found that my almost 4-year old had the hardest time fully grasping what was going on. He loved having Daddy home every night, but couldn’t understand why he could not play with his best friend from Maryland. So we would call and they would talk on the phone (as much as 4-year olds do) and his Mom & I share pictures on FB so they can see what each other is doing.

Stay positive, but remember that you will have bad days and days where you feel sad and overwhelmed. Try not to let the kids see this. Keep things as upbeat as possible for them and let them help as much as possible.

Good-Luck & feel free to PM me if you want any more anecdotes of what made things easier and harder for us - I've got plenty! We also had the added joy of living in a hotel for 2 months while we found and settled on a house - 3 kids, 2 adults & 2 cats in a two-bedroom hotel for 2 months with the youngest 2 having birthdays!! Boy was that fun!

~ B.

We have moved my daughter and son 2 times b/c of my husband's employment. My son is young enough that he mentioned his friends a few times from Chicago but quickly moved on to his new friends here. My daughter was a different story. She had her school friends and was comfortable in her surroundings and we were happy with our church family, so it was tougher on her. Two years later, we are still keeping contact with her friends via email and regular mail. And we LOVE our new friends, LOVE our new church and are very happy and established here.
The one thing that I think made it exciting for her, was I researched all the "touristy" things to do in Atlanta, and put a little pamphlet booklet together for her with pictures and descriptions of all the fun things to do in our new town. She was able to bring it to her school in Chicago and show her friends where she was moving and the fun things she was going to do in her new home.

This is an adventure for your family!
You will all be together and dad will be home more!

You will get to add new friends. Technology is also a wonderful way to stay in touch.

Allow the kids to decorate their rooms extra special,
As holing as you are all together, hat IS home.

What part of Texas? I can help much more if I know where you are going to be.

Generically I can say - you're doing a great job by treating it as a great adventure.