Moving Day Made Easier
By Marie Dittmer

While a picture captures a thousand words, the photo that was taken on our moving day also captured a thousand tears. Our family stood in front of our Wisconsin house for the last time before heading off to a new home, 1,500 miles away. Amid the smiles and excited looks was the tear-stained face of my young daughter — heartbroken to leave her home, grandparents and friends.

Moving is a time of change for all members of the family, but patience, love and a little planning can make the adventure easier. Here’s what I’ve learned through many moves with my kids:

1. Be a good listener. One day I found my son hiding in the bathroom, reluctant to come out. I listened as he poured out his heart about how much he missed his friends. Instead of getting frustrated, I hugged him and held him on my lap as he cried.

2. Maintain a routine. Children thrive on routine and moving can breed chaos. Ask friends and family members for help. It might be easier to maintain a regular routine at a friend’s house while you pack boxes at home. Try to keep dinner time and bedtime on schedule.

3. Be informative. Let your children hear information about the move from you — not the neighbors down the street. Build excitement about activities to do in your new town. Create a plan for new adventures and meeting new people.

4. Pray with your kids. Ask them for their prayer requests about the move, making new friends or any other fears. Praying out loud for your children lets them know you take their concerns seriously and want them to be happy in their new home. It's also a reminder that God has good plans and good friends in mind for them, too.

5. Lower your expectations. Moving creates many emotions in kids, and they may act out more than usual. Be more understanding and attempt to understand your children’s heart before you hand out consequences.

6. Pack assurance. Keep your children’s favorite toys or blankets out during the move so they don’t wonder if they’ll ever see these items again. Enlist their help in packing some of their favorite things and labeling the box clearly. Once in their new home they can have fun unpacking “their” box.

7. Be social. Get involved with a church and other community activities as soon as you can. Encourage your children to develop new friendships by providing opportunities to meet new people. Also, help your children to keep in touch with old friends through letters and email.

 
Marie Dittmer and her husband live in Montana with their four children. She’s a speaker for her local MOPS and Teen MOPS groups.