[elleann]

Hey ...

I'm having one of those freaky, stressed-out moments and just need to vent a bit!

Half of me is melting down badly at the thought of actually abandoning everyone I know and love here in SA and going to live in a foreign country where it will take a good while for things to start feeling like 'home' again - and having to support a teenage daughter through the same process! You know those moments of self-doubt .. am I making a huge mistake? Is this the right thing? I'm going to miss my family and my friends soooo much ... etc etc. On top of that is coping with having my 19-yr-old son leave home for the first time ever to go live in the UK for a year ... he's not the outgoing, confident, go-getter type and although he is keen, he is also nervous about how he will cope on his own - and so am I (naturally!)

The other half of the stress comes from having only five weeks left before we fly out - and in that time I have to cope with working until a week before we leave, getting through Christmas and New Year, family goodbyes, job farewells, selling off an entire household, packing up those things we are taking (half a dozen boxes), finding accommodation on the other side - AND still waiting for my work visa / daughter's student visa to be approved. Yikes!

So I'm just a bit freaked out and shaky today - thanks for letting me vent .... :wah:eek::exit

[willsken]

I remember the feelings well! Not quite the same pressures but pressures none the less! Make time to take break and remind yourself of all the good things the future could hold for you.

Best of luck in the coming weeks. We've been here almost 2 years now and all the stress was well worth the end result. :nice1

[Sam B]

I found giant wall-sized to-do lists worked for me a bit, but nothing other than just ploughing on with jobs and taking it a few steps at a time really helped.

[JandM]

((((()))))

All that sounds entirely normal. Poor you.

About the separations, the thing we've told ourselves ever since our son lived in NZ (with us in the UK) is that it's only one day away. He and the family could be still in Britain where we could jump in the car and go to see them in case of sudden need, and yet we wouldn't be there any faster.

Also, this is the best time in history for communications. Our tiny grandchildren came straight up to us, to our arms, at AKL, thanks to webcams - our d-i-l said, 'Well, they've seen you and your voices have always been in our house.' You'll be able to see and talk to your friends and your son daily if you want. (You'll probably cry afterwards sometimes, but in a good way.)

All good wishes, and remember all the GOOD reasons you're doing this, and what you have to look forward to when the hard work is over.

[gil]

Sounds like you're coping fine, as you sound very clear about what's yet to happen! I think most of us went through similar moments and it's good to vent rather than bottle it up. It will be so worth it, as Willsken says. This time next year it will all be a distant memory :yes

Gil

[elleann]

Thanks, all of ya!

I do well with lists and giant wall-sized lists would definitely work for me! And thanks, JandM - I found your post really encouraging and supportive! I think I've been functioning on autopilot with regard to emigration up to now and suddenly the emotional side of it is kicking in .... I'm sure we'll do just fine eventually!

[vimaino]

Same here ....

I feel sad for leaving everyone and everything I know behind.

Worse than feeling bad is to be reminded (by my mom) at all times how much I'll miss my family, how I'll have no support, how I won't have family around on special times like Christmas ....

I'm keeping myself away and not talking much about the subject whenever she's around ... I know my decision doesn't make her happy, but it's my life and if I think I know better, then I probably do!

So keep feelings where they're suppose to be and thumbs up!

[victoria24]

i cant say that im at that stage yet but i do find that when i feel under pressure, I like to eat cheese with balsamic pickled onions on digestive biscuits:nice1

[PonyGirl]

Aw! I feel for you! We haven't got too far into the process yet, but it took me while to come to terms with leaving my family before I could make a real decision to pursue this. I'm sure once we get deeper into the process, I will have those moments again, it is perfectly normal. Stay strong, you will get through it!