How to help son - advice welcome

ailuro2

Oh dear, DD went through this a couple of years ago when one of her closest friends moved to Oz.

I consoled her that the girl was right into her tech, already had a mobile phone etc, that they'd be texting and skyping, writing e-mails all the time, and that although it wouldn't be the same as having her here it is also very cool to know someone who lives on the other side of the world.( and she'll have someone to visit if she ever makes it over to Oz)

The girl left, DD was quite happy with the other friends she had, the girl leaving made room for an extra girl in the class, who DD is now BFF with, so every cloud has a silver lining.

As for the girl who went to Oz, they flew off clutching handfuls of emails but no-one ever got a copy of their email, maybe it was a ploy on the departing parents' behalf not to have people from home makign their kids homesick?

Your son will make new friends in high school, everyone does, but remind him the world is a very small place these days - when it used to take weeks to get down south from here it now only takes an hour, or you can IM or webcam instantly. The same goes for folks in other countries - keep in touch and he'll have someone to visit on his gap year.;)

brummiebabe

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Singapore isn't a million miles away. Why do you say they will probably never see each other again? I would say the opposite, particularly if they wanted to keep in touch. I'm guessing one of his parents is from Singapore. There is a good chance though that this friend will come to England at some point in the future, surely. He could easily end up working in London, or flying through at some point. Never say never.

I know - you're right, the longer I've had to think about the situation, I've become less worried about it, although I think it will be tough for them both at first.

Both his parents are from my local area actually - this will be the first time either of them has ever done anything like this. They have many family ties locally so will have reasons to come home :j

property.advert

I had a good friend move about 200 miles away when young. It might as well have been 20,000 miles. No email, no Skype video, only snail mail but no adult thought to give out addresses. We didn't think about it and weren't prepared for the consequences. I never heard from him again but the resounding memory of our friendship is not the times spent together but rather the time when he left and was then gone.

I think the adults, mainly the parents of the child moving away, should take on the responsibility to manage the child's friendships and not just expect the child to put up with it and make new friends.

brummiebabe

I agree that it's upto us as parents to help them to maintain their friendships. The other boys parents are sensible, thoughtful & caring - I don't think keeping the boys in touch will be an issue. I know they'll be as keen as us to maintain their friendship.

Can't think of anything worse than a friend just moving away, and you never see/hear from them again! Would be awful!