Don’t turn moving house with children into a drama. If you have to live out a scenario, turn the story into a great adventure for you and your children.

Moving house is quite a challenge, even when you’re alone, or are just a couple. The challenge is even greater if there’s a child involved, no matter what age. But if the move is necessary, it’s also necessary to face it in the best possible way, so that, in the end, you’ll have the good feeling of being in a new house, with a good start of a new life for you and your children. No matter how challenging the practical part of moving, the dislocation and transportation of your belongings, may seem to you, the positive side is still the most important: the move itself only lasts a day or two, but the fact of living in a new place is marked and is well absorbed by a child who is more open to change.

Play fair and be positive

Dialogue is always the best way to help children understand. Therefore, don’t underestimate their feelings and opinions, always be forthright and involve them in the process. An important step is taking them to see their new home before moving in. There, show them all the advantages of the house and the place, talking about the opportunities they’ll have for playing and making new friends. Besides that, whenever you talk about moving in their hearing, avoid a negative tone. If there’s a strong attachment to the present residence or neighborhood, remind them that they can always visit, and that their ties to the place won’t be broken.

Seek help for the move

A valuable tip to make your life easier is to count on help. If you feel the move is too heavy a burden for you to shoulder alone, seek professional help and leave the packing of your belongings, the dismounting and mounting of your furniture, and their transportation in the hands of specialized professionals.

Before you move

Separate what you’re taking yourself from what will be taken by the movers. Pack a bag for yourself and another one for the children, with clothes, diapers, towels, etc. Let the children take part in choosing the toys they want on hand. For the adults, separate jewelry, cameras, computers, documents and other valuable belongings. Depending on how far away you’re moving, prepare a food kit.

Best time for moving

It isn’t always easy to choose when to move, but, ideally, it should be done during the children’s school vacation. If possible, avoid adding the move to other big changes in a child’s life, such as toilet training, stopping breast feeding, or changing from cradle to bed.

Moving day

If possible, leave the children with a family member or close friends. The ideal is to leave the children in a comfortable place, at least on the first day, so you are free to clean and arrange your new home.

Moving done and house set up

Listen to your child: with the house all set up, show it to the child room by room, listening to his (her) opinions, and asking for suggestions. It’s also nice to let the child decide on the decoration of his (her) bedroom, encouraging him (her) to take an active part in the new home, creating a feeling of belonging.

Starting life in a new neighborhood

Explore the neighborhood and its surroundings. Show the children a map and point out all the positive aspects. Later, go on tours of the neighborhood and of attractive places nearby, such as shopping malls, beaches, parks and squares.

Don’t disown the past

If possible, don’t cut the ties your children have to friends in the old neighborhood. Invite their friends to visit the new house, and take your children to spend an afternoon in the old neighborhood, to show them that the friendships continue, though farther apart.

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Separation. Life, routine, objects, plans, home and everything else that was shared. Avoiding clichés that, in this case, would be mere euphemisms for “positive affirmations” that have no meaning for one whose life has been turned upside down – and, because of this, would not only be out of place, but even cruel – the words that follow in this article are written to say that there’s still life, and it consists of beginning again, no matter how long it takes. Starting with the most practical part, which is your house. Yes, because in taking care of it in this new phase, you’ll find that it can take care of you, too.

Yes, because your house is, or should be, your refuge from everything. These words fit both those who moved house and those who had to, or chose to, stay in their old home after the separation. Although it’s the same house, it’s possible to resignify it by redecorating, in a construction from the inside to the outside. The same goes for those who move to a new house, but still need to rebuild themselves, both externally and internally.

Rediscovering the house

The first step? Discovering what you liked and what you merely accepted in your house. Furniture, pictures, paintings, and the distribution of all of this in their respective places. Change everything that bothers you, while, of course, respecting your financial and emotional “moment”. The feeling of a “new look” is, in fact, an important aspect of your new life.

Clearing up the atmosphere

To clear up the atmosphere and create a new routine that is not only organizational, give your house a good cleaning as soon as you’re up to it. The feeling of a clean house reflects the feeling of mental cleanliness and organization. To give the atmosphere a new sensation, give every room an aroma, and create a playlist, so that you have music around you whenever you’re at home. It’s important to choose music that is uplifting, avoiding anything that brings up bad memories.

Letting go

This takes us to the third step, which consists of learning to let go, pushing away the past. If the memory of an object is bad, give it to somebody else. Especially sheets, pillow cases and blankets, so give them away or sell them. There are specific sites for that, not only to help people in need, but also to get you money to buy new things for your house.

Transferring love

The end of a relationship doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a sentiment. If it’s impossible to extinguish what you feel, why not transfer it? This way, love can be redirected towards a pet or a plant. Yes! The act of caring for someone (or something) will make you direct you heart to whom (or what) surrounds you.

Decoration

A simple and inexpensive tip to change your surroundings is to repaint some of the walls in your house. And also change the art on the walls. Use the same picture frames, but change what’s inside them. If you have enough money, buy a new bed, a good mirror, and new furniture, according to your need for change.

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The experience of living in a country different from yours is one of the most enriching you can ever have. Being exposed to a new culture makes you re-evaluate and acquire a new vision of your own culture. This exercise helps you acquire a critical sense of your own personality in terms of attitudes and actions.

However, leaving your country is no bed of roses. There are several layers of culture rooted in your behavior that you don’t even notice normally.
So we’ve collected some tips to help make the process of moving to another country more natural.

Don’t lose touch with your friends

Our social cycle is a great strength that we have in daily life, especially when it comes to our friends. They give us comfort and security to face the challenges that life holds. And, even far away, we can learn to count on our digital tools to keep this contact live and strong.

Find international centers in your town

In the world’s big cities, we see the offer of places that serve to bring together outsiders in the same town. These places can be language schools, university departments, and several other places that connect people from different nations. These spaces are excellent for meeting people in a situation of social adaptation, and this can help establish relationships, which is a great way to adapt to a new reality.

Assimilate parts of the culture that interest you

One of the most important points in adapting to a new country is your interest in the new culture. Being immersed in the customs of people of another nationality helps you to adapt. Consequently, this creates the feeling of being welcome, the most important for living somewhere.

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You dream of living alone, but the rent is too high. Or you want to live with friends and enjoy the companionship offered by good friendships. In either case, it’s best to think about what it means to share a life. This will help you to avoid undesirable and unpleasant surprises in your daily life.

Know the habits of your future housemate

The first step in this new phase is to know all about the person you’re going to live with, in order to avoid a lot of problems. Knowing the habits and customs of your housemate is, perhaps, the most important part of sharing a house. Is he clean? Careful of the furniture? Will there be problems in sharing the household expenses? If the answer to any of these questions is unacceptable, you’d better get out while there’s time. This will avoid stress and save a friendship.

Sharing household tasks

If you’ve found a good housemate, it’s time to think about daily tasks. A house doesn’t take care of itself. Cleaning and repairs are a constant demand that can’t be a load on just one person. Remember: there’s no longer mother to depend on.

One of the possibilities for sharing tasks is to consider personal skills. Is there a “chef” in the house? Let him do the cooking. In exchange, you do the cleaning and washing up. The aim is to optimize the process, not to choose a victim to do all the work.

Dialogue is important where guests are concerned

The rules for living together must be clear and accepted by everyone. Some of the major topics discussed could be about visitors, boy (girl)friends, parties. Nobody wants to be surprised by an unexpected party, so schedules must be agreed on.

Making a home together

Lastly, work hard at making a home. Not every house is necessarily a home. That must be everyone’s goal when living together. This only comes with time, but also by following and respecting the suggestions we’ve offered. Good luck.

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You have lived in the same house for years, and each part of it holds a memory. You decorated it and made it a home. No, it isn’t easy to let go and leave everything behind. It’s natural to be attached to the old and afraid of the new. What if the new house isn’t as good as the old one, you wonder. However, stop and think: you were the one who built the memories and the attachment. You were the one who bought the furniture and arranged it. And you will be the one to make the new house a home.

 Without you – and without the love and importance that you attach to the house – it’s nothing more than a dwelling, made of bricks, a floor, a roof, and windows. You are the one who will make it a home, wherever it may be. Envision the house as an extension of your personality. And if your life needs a change, know that moving house is a big step towards and inner and decisive transformation in your life.

Look at the move from two viewpoints: the first, leaving behind all your bad experiences (a noisy neighbor, or an unfriendly one, few facilities nearby, etc.); the second, like a New Year’s promise, visualizing the possibility of putting into practice everything you wish for in a new life. Moving house is like assessing your own life. Moving house is a chance to make a fair copy of your history.

Always think of moving as an opportunity. Be it for a healthier routine or for new leisure activities. Besides, of course, the fact that the geographical move is clearly a chance for making new friends, or even finding a new love. And, if even after this text, you’re still afraid, the tip is: “Go. And if you’re afraid, go anyway!”

Understand that life is made up of cycles, and every cycle has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Like the verses in composer Lulu Santos’s song, Como uma onda no mar, (Like a wave in the sea), this is inevitable, natural, and needn’t be seen in a negative way, on the contrary: Everything changes all the time in the world/ It’s no use running away/ Nor lying to yourself now/ There’s so much out there/ Here inside, always/ Like a wave in the sea.

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In a globalized world, territorial boundaries are becoming smaller, while the amounts of changes are increasing. Our generation moves and lives much longer than our parents’ generation – whatever their age. And a moment of crisis, like what Brazil is going through, leads many people to think about change. Whether it would be a professional question, or simply to escape the insecurity of the big cities. Every change needs a time to be matured and, mainly, an interior preparation to face these new challenges.

First of all, look for your new place of residence. Explore virtual tips on specialized sites or even groups formed in social networks about the new city and the new neighborhood. Look for information with friends or even with the employer – in case you are leaving because of a new job. From there, it’s all about opening up to the unknown and launching into new adventures and encounters.

Know your neighborhood well. Take a day to walk, even walk, through the streets and observe everything that is in your surroundings. The bakery that is a classic of the neighborhood, the newsstand closest to your home, as well as the bars and restaurants that gather neighbors are important landmarks. Leave the shame aside and interact. The simple fact of asking the concierge where the most delicious ice cream parlor of the neighborhood is created creates a feeling of comfort and normality.

Another important point is to maintain a routine. If you always go to the same market you will end up recognizing boxes, securities and even neighbors. This helps you stay familiar with the environment. If by chance you do not know anyone who lives in the same city, how about activating the network of co-workers?

Do not be afraid to say that you are alone. This will help you expand your network of relationships. And if you still cannot find a friend, how about looking for activities outside the workplace? Whether it is a course or a physical activity that interests you, choose something that allows you to get in touch with people with interests similar to yours.

And if Sunday comes and melancholy comes along with it, why not scare away the negative vibe by knowing the sights of the city? It may sound like a beaten program, but it’s not. The more intimacy with the new city you have, the more embraced and welcomed you will feel. The most important thing in a new city is to stop feeling foreign or, in other words, to add belonging to the place.

For example, if you are in São Paulo, do not forget to walk along Avenida Paulista, if you are in Rio de Janeiro, ride a bicycle at Aterro do Flamengo and, if your destination is Brasilia, choose one of the wonderful parks to call of his, like the City Park.

Of course the comparisons with the hometown will always come up. Especially if the culture is different. For these aspects to be minimized, look for a look of generosity toward the new environment. Watch for new opportunities and grow with them. Finding your favorite place will help you feel part of a whole much less lonely.

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If you have a pet, it is important to also worry about their adaptation to the new home. Dogs and cats are usually sensitive to routine breakdown, and when this happens, the most common reactions are frequent heartbeats and tearing, unexpected bites and scratches, and even urination outside the trained site.

For change to occur without major trauma and interference, some tips are valuable. You’ll just need planning, patience, and of course much affection for your best friend. The first thing to do is to prevent the animal from going through the stress of the first day of the home exchange. Generally, this enters and leaves furniture and people, end up affecting the mood of the beast. Ideally, if possible, leave it at the house of a friend or relative.

Another important point: plan the change so that you can take the maximum amount of time to observe your pet. For example, on Friday: so you have the weekend to follow the whole adaptation. Always keep your pet’s routine. If you take him for walks, keep the ride at the same time and in the same amount of times. Also avoid changing your food and toys during this period of adaptation.

In the case of cats, it is necessary to emphasize that; above all, the protection screens must already be installed in the new residence so that the animal is then led home. After this, as cats have controlling personality; gradually introduce the rooms of the house. He needs to stay long enough in one place until he gets used to it. As soon as the pussy creates identification, introduce the other rooms of the residence. Cats are explorers and the tendency is that, in a few weeks, the pussy is completely integrated with the new routine.

As for dogs, it is worth noting an essential tip when there is significant change in the size of the new residence. If before the animal lived in a small space and now lives in a house with yard, do not think that letting it loose will be cause for joy. Often, the dog understands this behavior as abandonment. So that this does not occur, play with it in the new space so that it can understand the experience as something positive. If the new home is smaller, take more time to take it for a walk on the streets of the neighborhood.

Lastly, to avoid the so feared peeps out of place, the best thing to do is to spread the odors around the house. As? Play using your pet’s favorite toys so that little by little he gets accustomed to the new environment and feels safer and more comfortable. In some cases, it is worthwhile to apply canine or feline pheromones to the urine. The rule ends up being the same as when they were babies: if you peed in the wrong place, the owner needs to correct and point the right way.

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