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in touch with long-distance friends.

Books about moving can be very helpful for kids of all ages. There are books that provide moving guidance, such as: Moving with Kids: 25 Ways to Ease Your Family's Transition to a New Home, by Lori Collins Burgan, or The Moving Book: A Kid's Survival Guide, by Gabriel Davis. There are also storybooks about moving, including: The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day, by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Telling Extended Family and Friends About the Move

It may be difficult to tell close family and friends about a long distance move, particularly if you spend a lot of time together. While loved ones do want the best for you, they may be disappointed at the idea of not seeing you regularly or worried about losing touch once you move away.

You will want to tell friends and family yourself and not let them hear it from someone else. This may be easiest if you tell everyone at once. This also avoids anyone feeling slighted for not being told first.

Plan to have everyone over to your home and broach the subject over dinner. Be prepared for some initial disappointment. It is all right to express your own sadness at moving away from such good friends and family, but be clear about the benefits of your move. This will help friends and family understand and support your decision.

Remind friends and relatives of the ways you can stay in touch despite the distance. Consider buying webcams for parents or others who do not have them and help them set them up before you leave. Webcams are a great way to interact with young children who are too little to carry on extended phone or email conversations.

Even local moves can cause some concern among family and friends. Some parents or close relatives may feel slighted if they are not involved in choosing the new home. Or perhaps they are concerned about the cost of your home, its location, or other considerations. Be firm in these situations. Express appreciation for the concern, but remind loved ones that it is your decision to make.

If you do plan to ask for advice from family or friends when choosing your new home, set the expectation that you will have the final decision. Narrow down the prospective houses yourself and bring in others for a second opinion only when you would like help with the final details.

Advice from parents or more experienced relatives may be especially helpful when buying your first home. However, be aware that you may have to move quickly if other buyers are interested in the same home.

Moving your family to a new home is a milestone event, but with some advance planning and some consideration for everyone's feelings, it can be a satisfying experience.

Learn more about this author, Susan Quilty.
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