I’ve been living in the Midlands or the South of England for 14 years now, but I’m slowly starting to realise my heart belongs in the North. Just lately I’ve been feeling more and more unsettled down here, something doesn’t feel right. I don’t feel like I fit in so well anymore. I don’t know whether its winter blues, or the fact that I just really really dislike the daily drive to school or that we have three demanding children and very little help.
I never thought I would want to move back, perhaps part of it is that my new ‘working from home mum’ status is quite challenging. Basically I have the kids in the day and work in the evenings, which generally means I am never on top of the washing and cleaning and its all quite stressful. Especially as somehow I have to get on top of this lot.
The school situation here does not help my mood. Z is at a lovely school, but it’s out of our catchment area as the catchment school is over subscribed. His school is also only infants so we will most likely face a struggle to get him into the next school as well as finding somewhere for his sisters to go. I find the uncertainty all quite troubling.
If we moved further north, we’d be able to get a bigger house, hopefully within walking distance of a school Z would actually get into. We’d be nearer family and therefore babysitters and might even be able to go out every now and then, and we still have lots of friends up there. It seems like a no brainer, but of course moving house and uprooting children is not so simple. Z is happy and settled in school and S in nursery, but does that mean we can never move? A bigger issue is that at least one of us would need a job up there, but in the meantime I can still get out the mortgage calculator and dream.
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Come & be my neighbour…not quite ‘up north’ but you’d be well on your way….and I’d be happy to babysit your 3 anytime…of course as long as the favour was returned 😉
x
Of course, we could take it in turns!
Where are you from then originally?
Manchester
We moved back to the North East when I was pregnant with Mini.
Are you glad you did?
We moved when my daughter had finished her first year of school and the second child was in playschool. The reasons were much the same as yours. The move was one of the best decisions we ever made .We’re now back in my home town with friends and family at every turn. I LOVE it and it’s even worth the fact that we have to pay full rent on our current house and half the mortgage on our old house (that we couldn’t sell). I realise no that we were living half a life and there is simply no substitute to belonging. Good luck with the decision!
Thanks Kate, all these comments are definitely making me think moving would be the right thing to do. I’m glad your move was so postitive.
I’d better start job hunting! xx
Well, I moved north way before I even considered children but still.. Where I actually live, I wouldn’t have got my children into the only school within walking distance although that might have now changed, given that a new school has opened on a new estate and taken pressure off it. It’s a church school so people from further away were going to church just to get in there.
Anyway…. I love living in the North. I love that where we live, we are near fields but also motorways. In fact, we live near 3 motorways and can get easily to most places in the NW fairly easily (and even into Yorkshire). The weather is never as good.
As for moving, I think it’s always better to move with children sooner rather than later. The older they get, the more settled they get and take longer to adjust. Certainly, if you’re going to do it, it’s better to moves before Z moves up to middle school. Both children have had new friends join their class (as well as some move on) and the children have just slotted in – children of that age still make friendships quite easily.
I guess it’s one of those things that you will regret if you don’t try. Better to regret the things you’ve done than ones you haven’t. At least if you try, you will know. If you don’t, you won’t ever find out.
Thanks Kate. I wish we’d thought about all this before Z started school really, but its good to know children joining has not been a problem at your school.
xx
I know you are unsettled and a bit unhappy but YAYE…please move back up north. I’m only a 35-40 minute drive from Manchester (I’m Chester/North Wales border) and I’d love to meet up with you! It’s far better up this way 😉 xx
Yay, it would be great to meet up. I’ll keep you posted!
I am sorry that you are feeling a bit unsettled Emma, I had a hectic week last week and didn’t get a chance to read many blogs so I am just catching up now. The North is a lovely place, I lived in Leeds for a few years and hubby is from Manchester as you know. But the South would really miss you I am sure. x
hmmm maybe. Thanks Katie. I’m sure it will all work itself out. x