Helping My Five Year Old Adjust to Relocation.

Homesickness is a difficult thing for anyone. It sounds like you are doing everything you can. It really will take time. As long as you allow her to miss them, and to talk about how she misses them, she can process it and will help her. Write letters, let her keep in touch daily. Videos might also be helpful. As she develops other relationships her dependance on those relationships will ease. Just keep allowing her to express her sadness while also offering activities to keep her occupied, too. Trust that this will be good for her in the long run and dont take on the guilt thoughts! If this is a good move for you, it ultimately will be good for her, too. Blessings to both of you.

I'm so happy for you that you are moving on and doing what is best for you and your daughter. Absolutely, your daughter is going to feel "home sick," miss her dad and have trouble adapting to a new place at first. Keep plugging in like you are and doing fun things with her and doing scrapbooking etc. Helping her to keep in touch with her dad and sister is great. She can even put together a scrapbook for her dad and sister. You can get those clear plastic covers that hold papers at Wal-mart. She can just get regular computer paper and draw pictures and put snapshots of her in her new home. You can put all the pages together with ribbon and make a little inexpensive book. Don't feel guilty about moving out here. You are doing what is best to take care of your family and I commend you for that. We have moved around a lot and lived in 5 different states going through missionary training. My children struggled but we tried to help them adjust by communicating with them and having fun with them. They soon learned to LOVE every place that we lived in. Now we have been in the same house for almost 4 years and our kids (two are teens now) are just fine. Good luck to you!

K.,

As a former Military Wife I can safly say I totally understand. We did a lot of moving as you can guess. I fortunately did not have your added stress of leaving her father, and I commend you on your ability to allow him to be a part of her life. As they say "This too shall pass". My daughter will be 5 in October. My daughter had finally been in a place where she had "friends" when we moved the final time. She had a really hard time with the final move. It just took time for her to make new friends and to get settled. Arizona does have some fun things for children. I am not sure where you are at in Phoenix, but if you want some suggestions, please feel free to e-mail me. I would be more than happy to help you find things to do.

Ally

Congrats on your fresh start! It is a difficult decision you have made! Our church has a wonderful care group for single parents and I like to invite you to. Vineyard Church, 63rd and Peoria. I'm not sure if it is close to you or not, however, I do know that many churches in the valley offer similar type of care. I know that they have potlucks, Diamondbacks games, all sorts of places for you and your daughter to go to. Feel free to e-mail me for more information. Take care and may you find everything you and your daughter need!

Congratulations on making a fresh start! You will be glad you did it. It shows initiative and a healthy sense of self for you and for your daughter. The best advice I have for you and your daughter is to get involved in your community, experience what AZ has to offer (see the beauty up north). When we relocated here, it was scary. All of our friends were 2000 miles away and our kids missed their friends and family terribly. Try not to dwell on those you miss but make new ones here. Get involved in the school and meet other parents by enrolling her in local inexpensive groups, sports or special interest classes. We have made new friends who relocated here for similar reasons we did. AZ needs parents to be very involved in the schools and volunteering is the best way to do that, you not only enhance your daughters life here but meet her classmates, the teachers and maybe help another child learn as well. Stay positive and believe in yourself.