What to Expect when Moving Away from Family

Posted: 6 years ago

What to Expect when Moving Away from Family

To Those Who Live Far Away From Family,

I don’t know what brought you to where you are. Maybe it’s a job, a dream, or a circumstance only few would understand. No matter how you got here, I bet at some point you’ve questioned if you made the right choice.

You see this picture? My three-year-old son tackled his 81-year-old great grandfather after he traveled a long way to get to our front door. He hadn’t seen his great-grandparents in nine months.

Sixty-minutes of giddy glee ensued.

Our time with family may be limited, but it is pure magic.

Living away from family can be hard. From the practical side of being without help to the emotional side of missing out on events both big and small.

But like much in life, it may not all be good, but it’s not all bad either.

When we get the chance to see our families, the time is not wasted. Out goes the mundane, and enters a time so special it cannot be replaced.

I am where you are. I see you needing a bailout only family can provide. I see you in a funk when you’re missing out on something big. I see you try to make the unknown home.

I also see you question whether you or your kids are missing out.

But here’s the thing: The cliché phrase tells us we should live every day like it’s our last, but we are simply not built that way. So much time is spent dealing with life’s necessities. However, when we live far away from family, we seize every moment together with vigor and we do it with ease because we realize it’s the best gift this side of heaven.

I’m always sad to see family leave, but I remember this: our time together may not be plentiful, but it is magical.

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