Moving and Grandparents

.

Your daughter is too young to remember what you've done now or during the next two years. I suggest that there is nothing you can do at this point to ease the transition.

Besides, a lot can happen in two years. You really don't know what or where you'll be in two years.

Sounds like my daughter and her grandfather : )

I wouldn't do anything at this point and until a few months before the move. I'd then take an overnight trip with her away from Grandpa, then a few weeks later leave for a couple of days, and do this a few times as you prepare for the move so she can adjust to being away from him without going cold turkey.

There's lots of books for children her age about moving, and, if money and time permit, take her to see the place you'll be living before the actual move, and explain that she'll still see your parents, just not live with them anymore. If she'll be going to preschool give her that to look forward to. Keep a positive outlook on the move and she'ill pick up on your vibes and do fine.

At that age, they have no concept of time. They live in the present, and if you tell her "we'll be moving next year" or "in a few months" or anything, she won't have any idea when that is and will assume that it's going to happen tomorrow. It's best to wait until you are actually preparing to move before you explain it to her; this way you can do more concrete things to prepare her and she'll realize that it is happening soon. She can help pack up her stuff and you can learn new things about the place you're going to move to (you can look up info and pics on the internet to show her "Look, this is the city we're going to move to!" and come up with all the fun things you'll be able to do there). But until then, just keep on living life as usual. Good luck with school!

I personally think it's way too soon to even mention anything to her now. Little kids don't have the same concept of time that we do. There is no need to get her upset or thinking about something so far in the future. Yes, for adults, two years goes by quickly, but that's a long time to draw out the anxiety of life changing for your child.
Besides that, you can plan and plan, but you have no way of knowing what will actually happen two years from now. A lot can change in that time.
I would just give your daughter the security of her situation for now and deal with things as they unfold much closer to when the time comes.

Just my opinion.

Perhaps you can try Exxon in Billings or Conoco-Phillips. I know tons of engineers that are in the Utah Valley too. I think there would be jobs within at least a few hundred miles so you, and they, can do weekend visits. There are also many engineers in the Denver area too. All within a few hours drive of St. George. Or even new Mexico, we looked at a Mining job there when my husband was at Conoco in the 90's.

Also, consider staying in for the Masters degree or Doctorate then you can teach on a university level and make more money and have stable employment. So many engineers are laid off after they have been with a company long enough to get the good pay raises, then they lay them off and hire a fresh college graduate that will take on many more projects and for much less pay.

My BIL worked for the same company for 25 years and they had a program for people who wanted to go to college. They paid for much of his education, he graduated in the top few of his class. They laid him off after his first year as an electrical engineer. They spent all that money on his education then placed him over projects...he did a good job but they fired him after his first year due to financial cutbacks.

So I think getting that Masters or Doctorate would be a good use of time too.

I lived with my grandparents for the first 5 years of my life. My parents decided to emigrate to South Africa when I was 8 years old and my grandparents remained in Italy. From personal experience I can tell you that at age 4, the less "fuss" you make about moving the better! When you are ready to move (no longer than max. 2 weeks before the time .... remember that for little kids time seems to be way longer than for adults! She'll be counting number of "sleeps" before departure!) tell her about the adventure you'll be going on and that she'll be able to talk to grandpa once a week (or every day ... whatever works for you) and will see them again for Christmas (or whenever they can visit you or you them). Do NOT lie to her and tell her you're going for a little while if its not true!! I felt devastated when I realised that I would not be seeing my grandma for years ... not so much because I was more attached to her than my biological mom, but because she had LIED to me! It was the first time (that I knew of) that this "perfect" loving person had "betrayed" me!! Meanwhile, enjoy the time that you all have together and don't let your possible future spoil your present. Best of luck with everything! :)