Moving? Here’s some advice on moving with kids from the book “How to Survive a Move” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who’ve done it:
“We moved to a new house in the same city, when our oldest was about to turn 4. I drove him past the new house so many times before we actually moved in, the neighbors probably thought we were stalkers. But by the time moving day arrived, he was really excited and didn’t feel apprehensive at all because it was already so familiar. He had already come to think of it as ‘his’ house.”
– Paula Andruss
“We made our kids ride the bus home from school. I knew it would help them get to know kids in the neighborhood. I was right. My daughter met a girl who would soon become her best friend. They’re going to room together at college next year.”
– Pat Curry, Watkinsville, Ga., 4 moves
“If your kids are older, discuss the pros and cons of moving with them. We sat down with our kids a couple of times at meals and made a list of what they were anxious about, versus what they were looking forward to. Then, after being here a few months we referred back to the lists. We asked them, “Has this turned out to be true, this thing you were worried about?’ It gave them a way of keeping track of themselves. It was helpful to me, too.”
– E.T., Portland, Maine, 4 moves
“You can’t afford not to hire a babysitter for a move. When we moved out, I was so preoccupied with my son that I wasn’t able to pay attention to the movers as carefully as I should have, and they ended up breaking a very expensive vase. On the move in, he was totally underfoot, and he just missed having a heavy box topple on him. I could imagine a kid getting seriously hurt on moving day.”
– Susan M., Chicago, 4 moves
“Let the kids pick two or three stuffed animals and a blanket to travel with them, outside the moving van.”
– Susie Walton, San Diego, 7 moves
“Ask a relative who’s not directly involved with helping you move to take the kids somewhere fun for the day of the move. It gets them out of the way so they are not underfoot, primarily. But it also keeps them from having any bad feelings about seeing all your stuff packed up. To watch that can be traumatic for young kids. When we moved, my mom took my kids to the movies all day. When they got back, we were in the new place and they were excited about it.”
– M.K.M., Owings, Md., 3 moves
Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share. Visit www.hundredsofheads.com to share your advice or get more information.
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