All aboard! - or not?

/ Organization & Relocation/
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Planning a move?  Chances are, someone in your household is not so eager as you are to make the change.  Who is dragging their feet?  Your spouse who just finally started to feel like your house was a home after months (or maybe years) of finding just the right furniture, art work, and paint color?  Your 7-year-old who has only lived in one place his/her whole life so far?  Your dog who knows the best places to bury their bone? Or is it you – dreading the idea of packing, packing, and more packing…then figuring out how to move items from point A to point B, then unpacking, unpacking, and more unpacking…and trying to still work at the same time!

We talk about it often.  Moving is one of the top stressful life events.  That said, there are those individuals who love to move.  They are invigorated by the changes and new opportunities that a relocation can offer.  Maybe that I you.  If the move involves more than a one person household, likely someone is not on board 100%. 

Here are a few tips to dealing with moving when everyone is NOT “All aboard”.

  • Talk about it and make the decision to move together.  Listen to each other’s positives about moving and also their concerns.  They may be different, they may still not want to move, and that is ok.  Just acknowledging each others feelings is huge.

  • Involve them in the process of making the house a home.  Let them choose the paint color for their room, pick out a new rug, or write a special message on the floor before the new carpet is installed.

  • If possible, visit the house together as a family before the move happens.  Maybe have a picnic in the dining room or take sleeping bags and have a sleepover before all the “stuff” arrives.  This is a good reminder that memories are created by being surrounded by our loved ones and not material things. 

  • Explore the community together by eating at a local restaurant, checking out the local shops, join the neighborhood page to get suggestions of local events. 

  • Be patient.  Change is hard, even when it is for the best. 

Written by: Jennifer Gowler, Project Manager