If you’re in the military in Fayetteville, you’re probably used to moving around a lot. But if you have young kids, you might be wondering how to explain the move to them in a way that won’t upset or confuse them.
It’s important to be honest with your kids about why you’re moving. Don’t try to sugarcoat it or make up some story that they’re going to be more likely to believe. Just tell them straight up that you’re being transferred or deployed and that you have to move. But there are ways to break the news to them gently, and we can show you how.
1. Keep it positive.
Talk about all the great things that come with moving to a new place. This is an adventure! A chance to make new friends and explore a new city or town. Focus on the positive aspects of the move and try not to dwell on any possible negative aspects.
There are a lot of things to consider when you’re moving with kids. How will they adjust to the new school? Will they make new friends quickly? How will they handle being in a new place?
But even with all the unknowns, try to keep a positive attitude. Yes, there may be some challenges along the way, but those are outweighed by the positives. So stay positive and upbeat, and help your kids do the same!
2. Be honest.
Kids are pretty perceptive and they’ll quickly catch on if you’re trying to sugarcoat things or hide the truth from them. So, it’s important to be honest with them about why you’re moving and what that will mean for the family. For example, if you’re moving because of a job change, explain that Daddy or Mommy got a new job away from Fayetteville and we’re going to live closer to where they work now.
If you’re moving because of deployment, explain that daddy or mommy has to go away for work for a little while but you’ll be able to start a video call with them every day. No matter the reason for the move, just be honest with your kids and answer any questions they have as best as you can.
3. Get them involved in the process.
As much as possible, involve your kids in the process of packing up and getting ready for the move. Let them help pack their own belongings (within reason) and pick out which items they want to take with them and which ones they want to leave behind. This will help them feel like they have some control over the situation and make the whole process less daunting for them.
Kids are often very curious about why their parents have to move and they may have a lot of questions. It’s important to answer their questions as honestly as possible and to be patient with them. They may not understand everything right away, but with time and a proper explanation, they will come to terms with the move.
4. Be prepared for questions (and tears).
No matter how well you think you’ve explained things to your kids, they’re likely still going to have questions—and possibly some tears too. That’s perfectly normal! Just be prepared to answer their questions as best as you can and provide reassurance that everything is going to be okay. In time, they’ll adjust to their new surroundings and life will go back to normal again (or at least, as normal as it can be for a military family!)
Moving is never easy—but it can be especially tough when you have young kids in tow. By following these tips, however, you can help make the transition a little bit smoother for everyone involved. And before you know it, your kids will be settled into their new home and life will carry on as usual!
However, you might be wondering what to do about your Fayetteville home. At Allora Homes, we buy houses fast for cash in Fayetteville, NC, and are especially experienced at helping military families cope with the stresses that come with constantly moving. Give us a call to get started, and we can close in as little as 14 days.