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Moving day has arrived.
The movers are late. Your significant other is out getting coffee and
sweet rolls for breakfast. Your phone has been turned off. And, to top
it off, your on, Tommy, is in his box-filled room crying his eyes out.
Sound familiar?
Don't make moving day a
horrible experience for everyone. Make it fun, especially for the kids!
You may even be able to eliminate some of the moving-day stress. Let's
face it - most people do not enjoy moving. In fact, many of us stress
out about moving.
Do you think it is any
different for our children?
The home you are leaving
may be the only home your child has known. Your child may be leaving
behind special friends, a school, boy/girl scout troop, friends from
church, sport teams and their own private haven - their bedroom! Talk
about stress?
Following are some
suggestions to ease the stress of moving:
Let
children decorate their new room.
If you make this promise
- stick by it - within reason, of course.) You can make a special day
between you and each of your children by shopping for new comforters,
wall paper, paint, window treatments, etc. Be reasonable and allow your
child to be creative. (If you are bossy - this will not work!)
Housewarming
party for your child's friends
This will help your child
to see that they will not lose their friends. (This could make the
transition easier.) Make the housewarming party fun and age appropriate.
(Older children may enjoy a sleepover.)
Help
your kids create a phone/address/e-mail book.
Again, this will help
them to see that they can still keep in touch with their friends. And,
with the internet - keeping in touch has become so easy. Also,
especially at first, do not be too restrictive with the time spent on
the telephone (particularly if your child has had a hard time
adjusting). If your child is old enough, use calling cards which will
teach them the value of money and time.
Don't
exclude your child from helping with the move
The stress moving creates
in many people causes us to want the children to be out of the way when
we are packing. Come on, I know you've felt this way before. Don't do
it! Let your child get a sense of closure (just like you are
experiencing). Let your child pack his/her room (with your
supervision, of course). Assign them age-appropriate tasks.
After
the move
It may take several days,
weeks and sometimes months to really feel settled in. However, do not
neglect your child. After you are down with the majority of unpacking
and moving, reassure your child that you will set aside a day to do
something fun - anything they would like. Maybe this could be used as an
incentive.
These are just a few
suggestions which may help your child (and, thus you) be less stressed
on moving day!
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