My 7 year old DD is miserable...we're moving

[indyanna]

Hi! My 7 year old is miserable because we're moving across the US in a couple of weeks. We're military but this is the first time we've moved since we had her. She has alot of friends here (although most of them are moving this summer as well too) and is nervous about going somewhere new. I'm making cupcakes for her class this week and taking little disposable cameras so they can take pics of each other then I thought I'd make a photo album for her and also getting an address book for them to write their addresses in so they can keep in touch. Plus the weekend before we get packed I'm having a "make your own ice cream sundae" party for her friends on the street we live on. We'll do the camera and address book there too. PLUS we're even having a birthday party for her the weekend before we leave just with us and her Godmother (who lives here). I don't know what else I can do to make this any easier on her. If you talk about it to her she breaks into tears and walks away. She's always been a tad of a drama queen too. Like the first day of 1st grade...when she had to go a full day...she got herself so worried she threw up all night. But I still feel bad for her. We'll be closer to family when we move and we'll be near the beach and lots of fun stuff. She's a bookworm too...she's in 2nd grade but has a 5th-6th grade reading level. In fact she read all of the Harry Potter books in 3 weeks. Does anyone know of any books that she might like that deal with moving and making new friends? Or any other advice or tips on things to try? At this point I'll take all the help I can get. The movers will be here in 3 weeks! YIKES!

Vicki

[Margaritaville]

Hey Indy...I know what you mean about moves. We are Navy...my suggestion would be, have you tried to get her involoved with the move? You know...planning what to put in suit case, what to take on the road? Also, maybe getting brochures on the place you are going too...so she can see what's there. She just needs support, it's so hard to get them to understand...and sometimes they don't. We moved when I was 21 to San Francisco. My brother was going into his senior year in high school...and he fought it tooth and nail, challenged my Parents the whole way...now, he has been there since 1987, and loves it.

Hopefully she won't get herself worked up. But I think maybe some brochures, and do you guys go to houseing or do you rent? Maybe talking about her new room, etc. I will try to look up some things for you and send them your way...K? I know it's tough...Hang in there...

[hmsram]

My DD is so much as yours. Just last year she started in a new scholl because we moved and she was so upset and so sad that we moved away from all her friends.

It took her a while but she adapted. It was hard for us both because I hated seeing her so sad. But she turned out to be ok with it. Now shes going to another new school due to going to Jr. High and is nervous again for the next year....

You are doing great by all the things for your DD I think she will be just fine....
My daughter still crys at the end of every school year because she wont see that teacher everyday the next year... Shes been that way since kindergarten LOL I think she to is a drama queen LOL

Good luck with the move and keep up all the good things your doing for your daughter she will be fine

Lots of luck

[cata5]

As hard as it is, be glad she's not older! Kids have a way of bouncing back. It'll take some time, but things should be ok. My kids were going into K, 2nd, 5th, and 6th when we moved. It was very hard on the oldest, but the rest adjusted pretty well.( Find her a friend as soon as possible! That helped with my younger ones.)
The oldest one not only had to make new friends that year, but again when she went to a different school for junior high and yet again when the school district changed boundaries the following year. 3 new schools in 3 years... Every time my DH talks about moving I cringe!
I also moved before my junior year in high school and that was horrible! I never felt a part of my new school.
SO, better now then later...

[bonniejeanne]

My oldest son was almost seven when we moved across country. He was very upset and hated leaving his friends and wonderful teacher. We let him join in with the packing. He packed his own stuff and labeled his own boxes. He put big stars on the most important boxes, so he knew which ones his favorite things were in. We held a party and he got to say goodbye to his friends. Luckily, the neighborhood we moved to was absolutely wonderful. My next door neighbor came over with cookies and her son, who ended up being less than two weeks younger than my youngest son. They became best friends. A few days after my oldest son was in school, another mom came over to me and told me that her daughter was in the same class as my son, and that we lived on the same street. That little girl was my oldest son's best friend for about three years, until she started hanging around with just her girl friends. A couple years ago, we moved back home to Louisiana. I really miss some of those people. We took field trips together and had lots of fun. We even had block parties that were absolutely wonderful. I hope that you find equally nice neighbors.