The summer months are very popular for company relocation’s and for families choosing to change school districts.
That being said, families will find higher moving costs, and quite possibly, a reduction in available moving vans—all adding to the stress of a smooth transition.
Albeit, moving is chaotic to say the least. For parents of children with physical challenges, or sensory and neurological disorders, relocating tends to be even more nerve-racking.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve relocated six times. While I did have some help with the boxes, I didn’t have help with my children. Nevertheless, there are some “do’s and don’ts” while packing-up and moving exceptional children.
Here are some guidelines that have worked for me:
Keep The House Showroom Ready
Keep out! Clean any rooms that do not get regular use; dining rooms, living rooms, guest rooms, sun rooms, etc., and prepare them for show, then instruct your kids to stay out of them—period! It will be one less room you need to prepare on short notice.
Put the kids to work. Set a daily yard work schedule; weeding, picking up branches, sweeping sidewalks, and wiping down patio furniture. This keeps the yard “presentable” and gives the kids something to do outside while you pack boxes inside.
Everyone gets a job. Not all, but many showings tend to be quick and unannounced. Discuss with the kids the possibility of an unplanned showing. Then, assign a list of tasks that will need to be done at a moment’s notice. Have each child choose a task and “marry it.” (**Tip-I don’t recommend the kids take turns with the jobs; it only adds to the confusion.) Every child gets one particular function to concentrate on every single time. For example, my son was usually in charge of quickly hiding the bath mats and dirty towels, then hanging up the bathroom “show” towels.
Packing For The Move
Pack immediately after the house is listed. You’re moving; buyers expect to see boxes. No need to delay the inevitable; pack a little bit at a time. During one move, we rented storage space to get the boxes out of the house while showing it. If you do this, be careful not to pack any toys or special items you might need before you get to your next location.
Only the best items stay in the rooms. This might be your biggest challenge. When packing up your child’s room, try not to pack anything he loves or will need for comfort. (**Tip-I don’t recommend packing any of your child’s things if he is present in his room.) Immediately remove any packed boxes. It is an “out-of-sight out-of-mind” type thing.
Have your child help pack unbreakable items. Again, the focus is keeping him or her busy and you won’t have to worry about breakage. Items like, books, plastic containers, sheets, towels, etc. are good choices because your child won’t miss them or want to unpack them a few days later. (**Tip-I don’t recommend your child pack-up his own unbreakable items. He might want something from the box later at which time the box might be hard to find—that would be stressful.)
New Home
Unpack and organize your child’s room first. Our children need organization and stability in their surroundings. If your child’s new space is confusing and lax structure, the parent’s will feel their child’s stress almost immediately.
Keep doors locked. Some children can be reasoned with when told to stay in the house—some cannot. You might have moved into a safer or better neighborhood, but it is still uncharted territory for our kidlets.
Whether you are moving to a nearby town or across the country, the stress is real for all family members. The key is a slow, methodical, and purposeful, transition. Good Luck!
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