Moving can be a big life change, but these simple traditions can make for a special transition.
It seems like there are “For Sale” signs on every corner, which means many families are beginning life in a new location. Sometimes that can be really difficult, especially with children.
Here are a few traditions for making that transition a little easier, and the move a bit more meaningful.
New Linens for a New Life –
It can be tough to feel at home the first night in a new house. This tradition will help your family embrace their new surroundings with a touch of something new that can be of comfort. Before moving, purchase a new set of deluxe sheets for each bed in your home. Wash the sheets before moving and save them in a special box. This will symbolize a fresh start, prepared with love in an old home. On the first night, help each other make their beds and take pictures of everyone in their beds. It may be weeks before you totally unpack, but you’ll feel right at home and comfortable the first night.
Neighborhood Time Capsule –
The Time Capsule is a way to preserve a glimpse of the neighborhood today, to be enjoyed some time in the future by a family moving to a new home. It’s like finding an old notebook, box of childhood toys or photo album. When a family in your neighborhood moves, have the entire neighborhood help create a time capsule to take along with them to their new home. Cherished photos, stories and mementos can ease the move for the family and let them take along some of the ‘old’ neighborhood as a touchstone in their new life.
Are you feeling disconnected with your neighborhood, and you’d love do something creative? Why don’t you start the traveling neighborhood basket?
I’ve been so fortunate to only have moved a few times in my whole life.
Just out of curiosity, are any of you experienced in the moving department?
Does the transition ever get easier?
I’m not a super-mover, but I have moved 4 times in 6 years. The first thing I do before anything else is always completely make my bed! That way, no matter what else gets done or doesn’t get done, I know I have a comfy place to sleep!
@Jess @ Get Busy Living, 4 times in 6 years sounds like a super mover to me. 🙂
My husband and I moved 6 times our first 5 years of marriage . . . and then we moved back to the family farm 16 years ago to a home my uncle built, next door to the house I spent my entire childhood in, and my Dad grew up in (and still lives in). Back in those old moving days (when everyone we knew were peripatetic grad students), I learned to have a loaf of bread risen and ready to pop in the oven at their new house on moving day, so it smelled homey right away.
@Kristina, oh, that is so neat that you came home after having moved so many times. And yes, the smell of freshly baked bread works for all woes, I do believe. 🙂
We have moved several times, but just two weeks ago we moved to Sweden and whew – what a process! We have been living in a hotel for 2 months, and still have 1 more month to go. Having things that are comforting and familiar from your home is really nice in the transistion stage. Especially for our dog – having familiar toys with her has made it a little easier I think. We have been in 6 hotels in 2 months. 🙂
@Chelsey, Chelsey – you have been there two months already? WOW!I know you are reader to settle in. NOw that is a transition. I can’t wait to hear about your adventure. How long are you there for? Do you know yet?
Sorry, that was confusing. We have been in Stockholm for 2 weeks, but we rented out our house in Winston Salem at the end of May, so we have been in hotels since then. Most of that time was in Greensboro, but we took several road trips since we had to be in a hotel anyway. 🙂 We are here for at least 3 years. We move into our house on Sept 1…I am counting down the days! We are writing about our experience at http://www.joshandchelsey.blogspot.com.
We went through a period of moving every 6mths for 3 years. It was hard on all of us, it got to a point where we only unpacked what we needed, and realized how much we didn’t need.
By the time we settled back home (near our parents) we had so little stuff to move. Of course now that we have been here for 2 1/2 years we have accumulated all that stuff back LOL
My husband and I have been married 23 years and we just made our 12th move together. He served 12 years in the Navy so that helped add to our move numbers. Last year my husband lost his job. After several months with no employment, he was offered a job 2 1/2 hours away from our home. He took the job and we sold our farm, our animals, and the place we have called home for the last 7 years. Our oldest son stayed behind because he was already in his second year of college, but our move required him to move into an apartment close to the campus. Although we miss our old place and friends, we have worked hard to make our new house feel like home. We quickly started putting the new house together. Every day we do our best to get rid of a few more boxes to make it feel more like home. During our moves, we do our best to mantain family supper time. Even if we can’t eat in our own home, we at least try to eat together at Pizza Hut or something like that. The first thing I always put together is the kitchen. I do my best to get the pantry stocked as quickly as possible to make my kids feel more at home. I cook a meal as soon as possible. The first meal I cooked in our new home was frozen philly cheesesteak sandwiches. This isn’t the way I usually cook, but it was the best I could do with the few items I had. It was so important to my kids to eat at their table as a family. We all cried because our oldest son was not with us, but it was the beginning to our new reality. We all had to get used to family meals without him, and it was good to get started. When he comes to visit us every other weekend, we put much effort into our meals so that he feels special too! We also take time away from unpacking boxes to explore the new area. My husband took our boys and joined a hunting club. He knew this would give them something to look forward to in the new area. We explore state parks close by to give the kids a sense of adventure about their new area. We also do our best to quickly meet our neighbors. This time around all of our neighbors dropped by to introduce themselves to us. Each one brought us garden produce to welcome us to the neighborhood. They also gave us a notecard with their home phone numbers and cell numbers in case we needed anything. What a blessing that was to my family! We also take time to get out in our new community. We are looking for a church which helps us get to know people. We also go to the local farmer’s market. Everybody there is willing to chat.
My motto of life is take your lemons and make some lemonade. That is the way we handle moving!
grace and peace,
julie
@julie, What an exciting adventure!!! My husband has been in the Army for 8 years and we have 3 small children – I will keep these tips in mind for future moves!
Wow, thank you so much for the detailed comment…I loved reading this and hearing all your experiences, and ideas. Thanks. 🙂
Being a military spouse means lots of moves. The government packs us, but we still have set up home. First prioirty is to find bed parts and put them together and make beds. Sometimes it is just a mattress on the floor, but it has the sheets, pillows, and blankets. Next priority is the kitchen since I have people who think we should eat at least 3 times a day. 🙂 I always do my best to empty boxes even if right in the middle of a floor since then I can see what I have and find what I need. I’ve had friends who would only empty a box at a time and until all was put away, wouldn’t open another. I’ve never had packers pack in a way that I could know what was in a box. Even though they are labeled, they often mix odd things to fill a box. And when moving internationally, it is amazing the spelling of things and trying to decide what did they put in this box??? I love to meet neighbors ASAP. When others move near me, I try to provide a meal the day they are unloading including paper goods to eat on. But it isn’t home till we find our church. Sometimes that is quick and easy, and sometimes a long struggle. I’ve been very blessed by those who are not afraid to befriend military families. Some don’t want us as friends knowing we’ll leave again soon. For those who give us an opportunity, we can equally enrich our lives. 16 houses in 23 years. Now if hubby can find a job here we hope to stay and retire. No more moving, but I hope to continue welcoming newcomers.
@Kathy, What an exciting adventure!!! My husband has been in the Army for 8 years and we have 3 small children – I will keep these tips in mind for future moves!
Kathy – wow 16 in 23 years…we have some great houses in NC..I’d love for you to be my neighbor (although, the job situation, maybe not quite as good…lol. Took my hubby one year to find one.) 🙂
Creating new traditions is a great way to get used the new place. It is very useful to for instance, water the grass every evening or have a morning coffee on the porch. Also, pillows and family pictures make the house feel more like home, in my opinion. But generally, starting to feel completely comfortable is usually just a matter of time.