How often is too often

to be changing schools??

at what point is staying at the same school more important than daily interaction with a particular parent?

we have always moved with work but are now looking at the FIFO option instead but the children has such a "want" to see DH I don't know which is the better option anymore - it would be easy if the new position was a couple of years or so but when they are only 6 to 12mths it gets hard.

academically the children are bright enough but I worry socially and emotionally but then there's also the emotions of the other side.

I realise many do FIFO but I also realise this is for reasons such as not liking moving, no option FIFO is the only thing offered etc.

The child says they'd rather see DH everyday then stay at the same school

Thanks for your input- any comments would be appreciated.

This is a really tough call and I can only answer it from my experience being part of a highly mobile community. Many families are happy to do the moves to stay together when the children are younger, as the family unit is more integral at that age. As they progress into high school, their peer groups & community become a bigger influence on their lives, and schooling becomes more important, and they have to think about pathways to higher education, trades, etc. At this age many families often choose to stay where they have a stable base, and the mobile partner travels for work.

On the other hand, it might also depend on how supported you are in any location. For example, if you have an extended family network in one place, which gives practical support and a larger family context to the kids, then perhaps it's worth staying there and using those supports while doing the FIFO thing.

:

---

The child says they'd rather see DH everyday then stay at the same school

---

I would listen to the kids :)

I came from a family who travelled a lot because of my dad's worked. I went to 13 schools in total, so yes, it was extreme. To be honest, I hated it, and so did my sister and brother. They suffered terribly with the moves with regards to schools. My brother always found it hard to make friends as he wasn't one to want to socialise, and my sister always struggled academically.
My dh & I refuse to move away unless it is absolutely necessary. I just couldn't my kids through what I went through.
However that's only my story. I really feel you need to do what's right for your family. If the kids really want to be living with their dad, then perhaps that's probably the best solution. But do keep an eye out for when you see changes in them, that maybe it is getting too much with all the moving.

thanks ladies - keep your experiences coming.

i know a lot of other kids that say to their parents don't move please - mine don't say that so I wonder whether that means they don't feel it as much or whether they just aren't expressing it much.

I had always thought we'd stop at upper primary or highschool but expected some of our stays to be longer than they currently are so the changeover would be once every two years or so as it stands by the time my eldest starts grade 2 he could be on his fourth school . other than by asking him I don't know when to stop

Jodi - were you vocal about your desires not to move??