Read an Excerpt
Saying Good-bye, Saying Hello ...
When Your Family Is Moving
By Michaelene Mundy, R. W. Alley Abbey Press
Copyright © 2005 Michaelene Mundy
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4976-9658-7
CHAPTER 1
Why Do People Move?
You may not understand why you are moving to a new house. Talk to your parents and other grownups to help know why this is happening.
Mom or Dad may have a new job, and by moving closer, they can spend more time with you. Maybe your house is too small for your family. Or maybe it is important now to live closer to grandparents.
Sometimes, moving doesn't take you closer, but farther away, from people you love. But they can visit you and you can visit them. You can even have a fun sleep-over at their house. This might be something you never did before when you lived close by.
So Many Feelings!
You will have lots of feelings about you and your family moving to a new place. You may feel angry, excited, scared, happy, shy, and lonely, all at the same time!
Your parents have lots of different feelings, too. But they know you will discover new things to see and do. There will be new people to meet and places to go. Your family can have many new adventures together as you get to know your new neighborhood.
Moving makes people happy and sad. And that's OK. Just remember, you can find happy times in moving, while finding ways to make the sad part less painful.
Saying Good-bye
Before you leave your old neighborhood, take a walk around with your parents. In your mind and out loud, say good-bye to special places, people, and familiar things. You can say good-bye to trees, plants, buildings, and even the neighbors' pets.
Some people have yard sales before they move. This helps get rid of old things they don't want to take with them. You might have some toys and books you don't really want any more and can put them out to sell, too.
It will be hard to say good-bye to some things, and easier to say good-bye to other things, of course.
How You Can Help
You can help pack the things in your room. Mom and Dad will have lots of boxes to put things in — they can give you some boxes and paper to use. Maybe all your stuffed animals can go in a box and you can mark on the outside of the box what is in it.
When you get to your new house, you'll see the boxes that go in your room and unpack them. Your furniture will be there and you can ask your parents to help arrange things.
You felt safe in your old room and you'll miss it. But you and your parents can set up your new room to feel safe and cozy. The arrangement may be different, but you can help make it feel right.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Saying Good-bye, Saying Hello ... by Michaelene Mundy, R. W. Alley. Copyright © 2005 Michaelene Mundy. Excerpted by permission of Abbey Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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