Our very dear friends are moving away next month. Wives became great friends as did husbands and children. Our families enjoyed holidays together and we taught homeschool classes at each other's homes. We had lots in common and spent lots of time together, so the void they'll leave in our lives is a great one. They are the ones who taught us that families aren't always associated by blood. I know we can talk, text, email, Face Time, etc, but it won't be the same because spent so much time with one another and we all love one another so much. My children are devastated and I'm struggling to even speak about the move without getting all choked up. Any tips on how to deal with this situation? My children are feeling like they'll never find close friends again and truth be told, I'm feeling the same way. :cry:
Teach your children that this isn't a moment of defeat, but a moment to thank God they were blessed with such great friends. At some point in all lives, we will all have a dear friend move away or even more drastic, die. Feel sad all you guys want, it is okay, it is normal, but your children will feed off of you. If you do not see a bright friendship in the future, neither will they. Our dear friends moved a few weeks ago. It was VERY sad. We went on fieldtrips together, functions, dinners, same church, etc... Em was best friends with all the children. They were truly sisters. They spent summers together, camping, swimming, sleep overs, went to other friends houses together. YES, we cried. But, they talk on the phone, write letters, and Em is going over to stay a few weeks this summer. Their phone conversations are as if they were still in the city with us. But, my daughter is still making friends elsewhere because life goes on. The sadness dwindles. I do not have any great advice about it. sorry. :angel: Sometimes we simply need to mourn, but you can be sad without being defeated. Assure your childen that they will find other friends, then take on life.
Same thing happened to us many years ago. Our neighbors/friends moved to South America to be missionaries. It nearly killed us when they left but we were so very proud to know them. We kept in touch by mail for a long time. Once they moved back to the states we pretty much lost touch with them but the years they were here and we knew them were very special to all of us.
God puts people in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Thank God for them. You never know how long someone will be in your life, but you can enjoy them while they're there, and cherish their memory when they are not. I don't have any great advice for you, just (((((hugs))))).
