We moved from our own Big Blue House a year and a half ago - and yes, it was traumatic at the time, especially for my little one, who'd only ever known that one house (we moved when she was almost six.)

But now, she has nothing but good memories from that house, and brings them up herself, no less, without an ounce of remorse. And it's now my job to make good memories with her in the new place...

Oh, poor Bear! He will be fine though, I am sure of it. Have question for all those super Moms out there, has anyone ever heard of the World's Fair for Kids? It is in Orlando this spring and I wanted to take mine, but needed some more info. Thanks!

Bear will okay, it'll be hard (it was hard on my kids at 11 & 8) but in the end the excitement seems to outweigh the sadness. We took our kids with us house hunting, and we let them have a lot of input into the decorating of their rooms which helped a lot. Hope you're feeling better.

I understand that moving from the only he's known is a pretty big thing. I had to get my daughter to think about all the new and exciting things we could discover together in our new place. But I'm sure Bear will do great once you get his room set up. He just needs his familiar things around him.

Oh, don't feel guilty about him loosing his only tree. Tell him his new house may have many trees -- more splendid and facinating.

Dream with him! Lead him to better places. Get a book and explore trees with him -- fanticize about climbing in them, identifying them -- touching them! Don't be sad -- be happy for a new beginning.

Oh Elizabeth, I am just echoing everything everyone above said. My nephew moved at 3 and a half and had a hard time at first and it tore my SIL to shreds. She actually had someone else watch him while the movers came because she worried it would be too much for him. 2 weeks later and he was already talking about all his new friends and new house and how much he loves it there. Bear will be happy, although I can understand the overwhelmedness. hugs.

there will be another tree in another yard that will be bigger and better for fort building and snowball fights.

When you're at peace and happy he will feel this which makes the move more important than ever.

I moved when I was young - and look at me, I'm semi-normal even. hehehe.

Bear will be o.k., Elizabeth. As the others have said, it is natural for him to be mournful about the move, but he will survive it. We moved our family from Illinois to Massachusetts two years ago, and while the change was hard, the kids love it here now.

It's good for him to experience loss and change while he's young and you and CD are there to support and help him through it. This move is the right one for your family, and it will benefit Bear in the long -- and short -- term.

Good luck! And never underestimate the power of a decent kitchen! Enjoy :-)

we just moved and the kids (6,3) both handled it differently, funnily it lined up just like me an hubby. I like change and was excited the whole time, so was the 3yr old (my mini-me). Hubby was happy, but hates change and very anxious - 6yr old, whose just like hubby,started saying goodbye to the bathtub, it was like and f*d up version of goodnight moon but with goodbye. Goodbye shed, goodbye closet....

2 months in the new house- they would NEVER go back. we purposely picked a neighborhood with a ton of kids and they love every last one of them.

My advice, pick the next house (interior) for you and the neighborhood for the kids.

Good luck, and PS - it's totally ok to cry, you've had a long road, and just seeing a light at the end of the tunnel can be overwhelming and really f*ing scary.

One of our moves occurred when my son was three. He was excited by everything we explained to him: the new house, packing, the big truck... When the day came, he helped with vigour and enthusiasm. And then, he looked at the emptying house and faltered. It was suddenly overwhelming for a little boy to see his home being dismantled. We have a picture: an empty livingroom, save for one small, overturned box, from which a chubby hand protrudes through the handgrip hole...

When we arrived at our new home, he was filled with delight and enthusiasm once again. He's sixteen now, and that picture still makes me smile.

Don't. Feel. Guilty.
Bear is going to benefit in so many ways when you have mental peace. Two cabinets in a kitchen is a set-up for mayhem. When you find the new spot, I bet he loves it. Just like the current house.

While Bear may be sad about leaving your old house, he will also be excited about the new house, once you've found it. And the change in how you and CD feel once you've made the move will have a profound and positive impact on such a sensitive boy.

Don't feel guilty. You're actually doing a great thing for your family, and Bear needs to learn how to navigate change.

My son has lived in four different houses in his four years, and he still remembers all of them. We talk about them, and we even drive by (well, we did before we moved out of state) so he could see them and understand that another family lives there now and loves it just as much as he did.

Moving is traumatic, but you just have to help him find things in the new place that he really loves. It took my son about three weeks to fully accept the new house, and now he's very happy here.

Change is good.

Hello: First time visitor and like your site. Change is difficult. My 79 year old CPA said he wants to write a book on something we all need. I asked him what that was? He said "Supportiveness". Do hang in and stop by to say "Hello"!

Elizabeth, I think it's wonderful that you're raising such a emotionally aware little boy. That being said? He will get over it. It's awesome that he's in touch with his emotions. Ten years from now he'll barely remember.

And you need to move, my dear. Your whole family needs it but you, especially, need it. And there is nothing wrong with having needs.

Repeat that big to me in a few weeks, okay?