Young people see moves differently than their parent's do, and they benefit much less from the change in their comfortable routines, or so it seems at the time. Most often, a change in homes or communities heralds an
important step forward for the adult members of the family. This move to Portland Oregon may mean Daddy or Mommy has a great new job or a promotion in reward for years of hard work. Perhaps the move is in town because financial success has allowed the purchase of a bigger and nicer house in a more costly neighborhood, or because you can finally afford private bedrooms for each child and perhaps a pool in the back yard.

In the 1990's and 2000's, mobile and hard striving people typically live in a house for about four years and then move on as their careers or fortunes allow. That short time span is only a small percentage of the life-to-date for a 30 or 40 year old, but the same four years is half the life-time of an 8 year old child, and it includes almost all the years he or she can remember. To a parent, this house may be only the place they have lived recently. They think of it as a way station on the road of life. To kids, however, it may be the only home they have ever really known. This is their house, the place they feel safe and comfortable and thoroughly at home.

A home is much more than a roof and walls to a child. It is the center of his or her world. Changing threatens to take that sphere away and leave something totally strange in its place. The familiar friends, schools,
shops and theaters, the streets, trees and parks - all will no longer exist for them - even though you man be moving withing Portland. Everything soon will be strange, and they will live in someone else's world.

The impact of this on a typical kid starts about the time he or she first hears that Mommy or Daddy has accepted a promotion, and often continues for about a year, until the new house becomes home, and memories of the previous place fade. It's not usually necessary to announce this big change to them
immediately, although they must hear about it from you before someone else breaks the news.

Most teenagers see themselves as adult members of the family, and will probably feel they have been left out if they don't hear everything from the first day. But it is probably not a good idea to tell toddlers and preschoolers until they have to know. There is no point in making them worry far in advance. Be sure to announce the event in a totally positive way. You might say how proud you are that Mommy or Daddy's company has chosen them out of many other employees to manage a new office in Portland Oregon. Talk about what a beautiful city Portland is, how good the schools are and how nice the people are.

If you decide to work with the Portland Homefinders TEAM, we have several tools we provide our Clients that will help your children deal with a major move in a less traumatic way. If you would like to find out if you qualify as one of our Clients so you have access immediately to these trauma reducing tools, Contact us by email or give us a call at 503-495-3288.

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