moving back to Aus

[*emlyn's_mama*]

hi there all,
i have been living in the Uk for the past 4 years and we are moving back to Aus in Jan... We are really excited to come back but i am really worried that i will have no friends with children..:thumbsdown: We have been back 3 times since Emlyn was born 1 year ago but it is different when it is for a holiday.. We have really got a great group of friends who i will be sad to leave, but we have no choice..
I was just wanting to know if anyone is or has been in the same situation?


Mama: Ione 22yr :smiliedance:
Daddy: Andrew 28yr :hugs:
Emlyn: 1yr:wave:

[bella'sbub]

don't worry emylin's mumma, The best thing about having kids in how easy it is to make friends with other parents. I know it can be hard but there are always lots of supportive organisations you can join to help you reconnect into a community. ( like parent's niehbourhood centres, mum's groups etc). Most of all it takes time.We moved to the other end of NSW when our DS was about six months and have only really just started to feel at home here and part of a wider community than our family. Now we are about to move back to the north coast where none of our buddies have babies so will have to go through it all again. Anyway when you get here you can post your location on the hub and some other mums in your area will wanna meet and hang out for coffee or what ever. Don't forgett us aussies are a pretty friendly ol bunch!

[RuthK]

Ione

I moved back to Melbourne 2 years ago after 5 years away. I'd had my 2 babies in Ireland, they were 2 years and 7 months old when we returned. I had more friends with babies back here, but breaking into their groups was not easy.

I found that joining the local swimming pool for lessons for the bubs (and for water aerobics for me), helped me to meet new people. The mother's groups here are also very welcoming. When you return get the health nurse in your area to line you up with your local group. They often try to find a group who are the same age group as you and your children. Also, a bonus that they don't have in Ireland or the UK is that the child care centres offer places on a day by day basis, so you the chance to put your little one into care for one day a week and get out to meet your friends (if they don't work during the day) without bub in tow. The local community centres also run occasional care, for up to 3 hours a day, at a very reasonable price, which can also give you some me time (quite necessary when you've got to re-establish medicare, centrelink, etc).

A few recommendations I have for you when you get here. Have yours, your partner's and Emlyn's birth certificates, passports and citizenship certificates on hand and the second day you're back in the country go down to Centrelink and register for Parenting Payment and the Family Tax Benefit supplements. I found those payments very helpful for us to get back up on our feet when we returned, and unless either of you are earning big bucks, you'll probably still be eligible for a few of the payments once an income starts coming in again. Then go to Medicare and register Emlyn so that she'll be eligible for free care immediately.

And before you leave, 2 things I'd definitely stock up on: Gap kids clothing (nothing like it) and some First Response pregnancy tests, if you plan on having any more). I have not found any Australian pregnancy test to match it.

Good luck, and feel free to send me a private message if you want any more tips.

R