You sound just like me, Tali. We put Dhs brother down as the contact number - but he will be about as useful as my sister who lives in far nth qld. They never need to try anyone else but us anyway as we run a business from home - so we're always here when the kids are at school. LOL.

It was the business that really helped with the coping. When we first moved so far away, DH was working in the city still and I was a complete mess at the whole concept. I had never lived so far away from my family, and my family is tight. It was an extremely difficult move for me, and even the first day moving in when things went wrong, DH & I were on our own - we had no one to call for help and it sucked bigtime. I think even he felt the pinch of the decision when it became apparent that it was iron deficient me and carpel tunnel riddled him only to get that piano off the back of the truck. It wasnt easy at all, but we moved it up the driveway slowly and together. Took us a couple of days to get it where it was mean to go - but we did it together and I think we have never doubted OUR ability since then - so now we work together on all things. I am a student aswell yes, because DH wants to give me the opportunity to realise any career aspirations I may have had, but we run our business, we raise our kids, we keep our home - together. We are all the village we need. People say you can't spend every day together - but DH and I have our own time worked out and are doing just fine.

I still miss my big village, but thats more me missing my family with a little anxiety about the fact that I may have to go this next birth alone with no support person. But a village doesn't have to be big - not if it works.