There are lots of things you can do to make the process as easy as it possibly can be.
Ireland’s housing crisis has led to parents having to move a lot or at least until they can afford to buy their own home. However, whether you are moving to your own home or a rented place, the guidelines for moving with kids remain the same.
There are lots of things you can do to make the process as easy as it possibly can be and here, we offer lots of tips so you can relax a tiny bit more:
Tell the kids about the move – In some cases, your children will be delighted to be moving house but in other cases, they may be sad. Moving is a big deal when you are a kid especially if you have pals in the area and are close to everyone. Be prepared for some nervousness and encourage your kids to chat with you and if possible, bring them to their new home and make it extra special. There may be a great park nearby or a pool – find something they love to do and show them to encourage a good attitude towards the move.
Get everyone involved - If your kids are old enough, ensure they take part in the move and encourage them to pack boxes and help with everything else. Perhaps, older siblings can care for the smaller ones while you are busy planning and arranging things. The home (you currently live in) will need some cleaning and tidying up before you move so get everyone to pull up their sleeves and muck in.
Look at stuff together – The move is stressful enough without crying kids and disgruntled children so give them some say in what is going on. Bring them to the shop to look at something for their room and plan what theme they would like though you may not be able to do everything right away, a simple toy or box/storage unit can make your child feel important as well as new bed sheets, cushions or a cuddle teddy.
Ask for help – It is ok to ask for help and on the moving days, you may need to ask someone to care for your kids and to help. Make your unpacking easier by marking boxes for the kid’s rooms and marking bedsheets – ensure the sheets are the first ones unpacked and make up the beds so once everyone is exhausted, they can fall into bed comfortably.
Keep to the normal routine – This is especially important if you are moving during the school term as kids need a good routine. If it is the summer, it makes things a good bit easier with no early mornings, homework and multiple activities happening at one time. However, moving doesn’t necessarily go to plan and if it needs to be done during term time, so be it. Keep the kids to a normal routine and have the things you need at hand easily.
Ask other parents for help- if possible and get the kids cared for after school so you can work on unpacking and making the house comfortable.
Relax – It is easy to get stressed and moving to a new house is one of the most stressful things people must do in life, but your kids will get upset if they see you stressed so try and relax. Laugh at the silly things and make the move fun by investing in a takeaway or going to the kid’s favourite restaurant to pick out their dinner as no one will want to cook on moving day. It takes time to settle in but give it time and everyone will be perfectly happy in their new home!
Emma Hayes is a thirty-something mum of two girls aged 16 and 10, planting her right into the teenage and tween-age years! Follow her on Twitter at @EmmaHayes25.