Saying goodbye to family

[G0ds1ay3r 30]

I have had to do this twice and about to do it a third time when we move back to America.

How did you (or how are you) break it to your family that you are leaving possibly forever; for a new life in America?

[Al and Patricia 23]

Why forever? You can always go for visits and they can come to visit you.

[cdneh 3,112]

Well, I've done this quite a few times. I think it is easier now than it used to be.

The first time, it was 40 years ago, and I was 18 and leaving Canada for the UK. There was no internet then. No Facebook, no email, no skype, nothing. Snail mail letters that used to take 3 weeks to arrive. Packages at Christmas you had to mail in August to get to your family on time for the holiday. I seemed worse for all concerned then, because other than the occasional letter, and expensive long distance phone call, you were really gone. It wasn't like leaving the Olde Country on a sailing ship knowing you would never see them again, but it seemed quite close to that when I was doing it, back then.

I left the UK for the States, went back to Canada for a visit, back to the UK, returned to Canada, and then to New Zealand where I was quite happily ensconced for nearly 18 years. That is the only place I really felt homesick for.

Today you have so many more means of keeping in touch that are immediate. People travel a heck of a lot more that they did back then. Traveling back home to visit, or having family visit you are more possible than before as well. You can fire up the computer and talk real time face to face, and I think that helps separated people a great deal.

[Dan & Jenni 457]

I have had to do this twice and about to do it a third time when we move back to America.

How did you (or how are you) break it to your family that you are leaving possibly forever; for a new life in America?

same way you dump your girlfriend/boyfriend... by text message

[G0ds1ay3r 30]

Why forever? You can always go for visits and they can come to visit you.

By forever I ment possibly never living in close proximity to one another again.

I live in a some what close family where we all live in 10 mins driving distance from each other so we see each other quite regularly.

[MissK 5]

I'm also very close to my parents and sister.We live close to each other and spend a lot of time together. I thought it was really hard to tell them.They are all very sad but they also understand why I want to do it.

I'm happy about the big move, but it's going to be very hard to leave my family and friends. Of course they will visit and we will visit, but it's expensive to travel and I don't know how often it will be. Everybody keeps asking for how long we are staying, I don't know for how long, if everything goes well it could possibly be forever...

Well we haven't even sent in the application yet, so I still have a lot of time to spend with family and friends, so I'm just going to make the most of it:)

[wee carrington 33]

We just flat out told them. No one wants to hold us back from being happy, wherever that may be.

[photomile 101]

same way you dump your girlfriend/boyfriend... by text message

No-one ever does anything by Fax anymore

[Dan & Jenni 457]

No-one ever does anything by Fax anymore

you gotta move with the times my friend lol

[photomile 101]

you gotta move with the times my friend lol

and stay classy?

I'm going to teach my kids to dump their boyfriends / girlfriends by fax. It'll create a sense of suspense, horror, and then, defeat... much like sending a fax for other purposes and wondering if you put the paper in the right way around

[jojolicious 38]

With all the technology out there, it shouldn't feel like you're saying goodbye. With all these international plans and messenger services you can talk to them every day if you want for free or at a low cost.

Sure there's still homesickness but when that becomes overwhelming just hop on a flight back home or encourage a family member or two to take a vacation.

I hate the word 'goodbye'. It sounds so final.

[Dan & Jenni 457]

and stay classy?

I'm going to teach my kids to dump their boyfriends / girlfriends by fax. It'll create a sense of suspense, horror, and then, defeat... much like sending a fax for other purposes and wondering if you put the paper in the right way around

kinda given up on trying to stay classy lol.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

I can't actually remember.

I think it helped, though, that I already lived in a different city and only saw my parents 2 or 3 times a year as it was. Now, I may only see them once a year, but I usually stay for 10 days - 2 weeks as opposed to the fleeting weekend visits I used to make, so they actually see me for more days in the year.

[photomile 101]

Well, I know precisely how I'm going to do it...

Edited January 15, 2012 by photomile

[Dan & Jenni 457]

Well, I know precisely how I'm going to do it...