If you’re a family thinking about moving to New Zealand, you might be feeling like having children complicates the relocation process. Yes, children add some challenges to the moving mix, and their presence also has the potential to enrich your international relocation experience.
We've asked guest writer, Amanda Sadlier, to share her reflections on relocating from the US to NZ which her three children.
Opportunities for socialisation
When you move somewhere new, it can be tricky to find that initial chance to strike up a friendship.
From infants to teenagers, children create all sorts of opportunities for socialisation in a new place: parent/baby groups of all sorts, preschool daily routine and events, gathering with friends from school, extracurricular activities, hanging out at the playground, or even just stopping to pet someone’s dog on a neighbourhood walk.
These are all places where you might strike up a conversation with someone who could be your new best friend.
Additionally, educational institutions have an inherent community structure that you can access when you have a child attending.
Exposure to local norms and te reo Maori
When you experience New Zealand through your children, you get to learn cultural nuances that you may not have otherwise sought out. No, I’m not just talking about when my child proudly declared that their new friend gave them a really cool new rubber (eraser), though that did happen.
I learned about quintessential Kiwi birthday party games after my child came home raving about Pass the Parcel. I figured out that Kiwis pay each other through direct bank transfer after our babysitter and the school requested it. I was introduced to Sausage Sizzle at various school events. I observed key pieces of Kiwi ethics when listening to announcements at a kids obstacle course event: “This is not timed; we want everyone to finish. Look out for each other. Have fun.”
Moreover, te reo Maori has come alive in our pakeha home in a way that would have taken a lot more work without having children. For example, our preschooler’s ECE (early childhood education) centre incorporates te reo into their daily curriculum, and I get exposure through parent communications. Those bite-sized pieces are really easy to digest and integrate into daily life. When we’ve had to do remote learning during lockdowns, I’ve benefited from my primary school-aged children’s te reo curriculum, too.
Partner in emotional processing
International moves - especially during a global pandemic - come with a lot of emotional baggage. Helping my children process their big feelings has also helped me process my own emotions. Because we want to model healthy emotional language, my partner and I have had important conversations with our children about the transition that we might not have had otherwise.
When you look through your relocation to New Zealand through your children's eyes, you may be surprised at the gems they help you uncover..
Wondering what you need to consider beyond your kids when moving to New Zealand? Our free Move to NZ checklist can help you think about the various pieces of relocating internationally.
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Mobile Relocation connects you with what you need to thrive in New Zealand. Contact us today to talk about how we can carry your relocation burden.
Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India. After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent. bridget@mobile-relocation.com
Amanda is a former US immigration attorney who moved to NZ with her Kiwi partner and three children during COVID. She enjoys making the journey easier for those following a similar path and providing the perspective of someone who’s recently been there. amanda@mobile-relocation.com
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