militarymoms

I thought PCS moves were a total pain.  Then I had kids.  Now I know the truth - PCS moves with kids should be on that list of the ten most devastating life events.  Not only do you have to uproot yourself, you have to drag your kids away from all that’s familiar.  You also have to plan, inventory, clean and pack your stuff.  So. Not. Fun.

There’s no great way to convince a child that moving is fun and that Mom will not always be a screaming, dust-covered wreck.  They just have to live through the Screaming Wreck stage and discover for themselves that you can get back to normal, once the boxes are unpacked.

I do have a few ideas for making PCS moves easier on both you and your children.

Explain things, but keep it simple.  Don’t go into tons of detail about each step of the move process.  Do tell your children what’s going on, especially if you have to take them with you to move-related appointments.

Read books about moving to/with your child.  My personal favorite is The Berenstain Bears Moving Day.  This process helps children understand that their feelings about the upcoming move are OK, and that everyone feels sad about moving.

Tell your child that you, too, feel sad and stressed.  When things get really crazy, take your child to the park for an hour and spend some time together.  Remind your child that you love him or her and always will, wherever you might live.

Figure out ways to keep in touch with friends.  Help your child create postcards or “just moved” notes with your new address on them to give to friends and classmates.  Take pictures of your child with friends; give copies to the friends, too.

When moving day comes, try to arrange for your child to stay with a friend.  You’ll have one less worry, and your child won’t have to watch strangers pack up those special toys.

At the new house, unpack your child’s bedding first, and make up the bed.  Sometimes children worry that their stuff won’t make it to their new home, and seeing familiar items in the new bedroom is a great comfort.

Take a little time to explore parks, attractions and libraries in your new city with your child.  The boxes are important, sure, but your child needs your time and attention, too.

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