Throughout time, there have been cases of people leaving their home country to seek out a new future abroad – whether they are moving for work, to escape a troubled home country, or anything else. In many cases, it has simply been because the person moving wants a change of scene. We have limited time on this planet, and many people reasonably feel that they don’t want to spend their whole lives in one part of it.
The fact that it is common, of course, doesn’t mean that it is any easier when your own child tells you that they want to emigrate, or that they have had a job offer that means they’ll be moving abroad long-term. It’s bad enough for many parents when their kids move a few cities over to go to university. It is likely to be more stressful still if they move to a different country, with a different language and different way of doing things – because any parent worries about how their child will cope with a change, and a bigger distance tends to mean more change.
Recognise that living and working overseas is a fantastic opportunity
Experiencing life in another country, as distinct from going there on holiday, is certainly a way to broaden one’s outlook on life. It’s so easy to get used to seeing life one way, and it’s easier still when we don’t get the chance to see a different side. When you look around the world, it’s easy to see how similar all humans are. The differences are small, but accumulating experience of enough of them allows us to relate better to other people – and this will help your child in the long run.
See it as a chance for you to broaden your horizons
If your son or daughter is a recent finance graduate, and has found an excellent opportunity in the growing Dutch finance sector, it’s right to be proud of them and to arrange an online flower delivery to Amsterdam for their first day in a promising new job. It’s also an excuse to learn more about the Netherlands by taking an interest in your child’s interests. You can read up about international news as it affects the Dutch side of things, and of course it’s a chance for you to visit Holland. The same applies whatever country they go to – and in truth, it’s often cheaper to visit your kids in a European city than it is in London.
Offer to help in any way you can
While you’ll be sorry to wave your son or daughter off, you will at the same time be determined not to make it harder on them, so one thing you can do is offer your help. This will come in useful before they leave and after – it might be that you can call around migration lawyers finding out what paperwork will be needed for the move, or offer your own experience of leaving home and how you coped. Learn what you can about the place they’ll be living in, and help them be prepared for everyday life there. Let’s face it, the day may come when you head out there to join them, so it’s worth a lot of research.
