Same here. An hour commute is pretty standard issue here. My morning drive is about 40 min. So I would likely stay where we are and have him drive. However if you do want to move closer, I would move mid-year. The chances of them making friends in the neighborhood might be slim depending where you move to. And most teens don't just hang out playing so it would be harder for your older one. I figure moving in mid-year would let them adjust. If you did it over Christmas or a break its like a fresh start to the year. I guess we live in a different area as well where kids on my street can attend any one of 5 different schools depending on their choices made by the parents, so even making friends with the neighbor doesn't mean you'll go to the same school.
You know the friend issue isn't a big one with us. They have some people to hang out with at lunch but their real friends are all from outside of school activities. I'd move the kids when you need to move them. Mid-year lets them have that mystique of the new kid and a fresh start. In reality, it's unlikely they are going to make friends over summer as kids that age don't really play outside in the nieghborhood.... at least they don't here. An hour commute would
You should definitely change them in the middle of the year. I'm thirteen, and I've changed schools a little more than a few times. It's a lot easier to make friends in the middle of the year than a the beginning when everyone else is having their mini reunions.
Mid-year moves are always better than summer moves. They're immediately plugged in to their new schools, they get attention as the new kid, and if you're in a neighborhood with no peers their age, they won't have to wait until school starts to make friends. I moved numerous times as a child (attended 12 schools from K to grad school) and the mid-year moves were always better.
The only difficulty I see is the age of your son, but others have already said this. Definitely listen to his thoughts. Make it clear that he has a choice between an hour-long
Anymore thoughts on this?
Oh I have struggled with those questions many times myself!
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Tough call given the age of your kids.
Anne
mom to austin (age 12)
Mid-year moves are always better than summer moves. They're immediately plugged in to their new schools, they get attention as the new kid, and if you're in a neighborhood with no peers their age, they won't have to wait until school starts to make friends. I moved numerous times as a child (attended 12 schools from K to grad school) and the mid-year moves were always better.
The only difficulty I see is the age of your son, but others have already said this. Definitely listen to his thoughts. Make it clear that he has a choice between an hour-long