Settling In
That part about moving everyone forgets to mention!
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| Finally made it home! |
You have your new job, you purchased your new home, and after weeks of waiting to close, you are finally able to move in. And then what?
Getting settled into your new home and community is one of the tougher, though often overlooked, parts of moving. You have to undo all your long hours of packing and reestablish a routine with your children. Here are some things I have learned from getting settled time and again.
1. Kids stuff goes on the truck last and comes off 1st
Moving is rough on kids. It completely upsets their routine. And new places can be scary! The sooner you get your kids into their new rooms with their familiar toys and furnishings the sooner they will start to feel at home. If you feel your kids are old enough then have them unpack and organize their own room. This is also a great way to distract your little helpers if you are not quit ready for their help.2. Find a Church
You may think this one is a bit different but I have found that a church congregation is an invaluable recourse for getting to know your new community. Not sure what doctor to go to? Ask someone at church. Looking for a good preschool? Ask someone at church. In my new congregation I have met people who have preschools, teach dance lessons, are delivery nurses with great insight into which doctor to use, and so on. Church is where you get all your questions about your new town answered.Having trouble finding a congregation? Don't worry. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints loves to have visitors! Just go to www.lds.org. In the middle of the home page is a link called Meetinghouse Locator. Click on it. Enter your address into the search bar that appears on the left hand side of the page. Then a meeting house address will appear, along with the meetings time and the name of the bishop. I love that there is a map to show you how to get to the church building!
3. Story Time is Mom Time
After I get to know moms at church I always love to meet more people at community events. One of the best places to meet other moms is at the story times offered by the public library. I have met so many great moms who have children close to my kids ages this way.4. Prioritize Unpacking
When I unpack I go for the essentials first. My kitchen is unpacked and organized 1st thing. As for my all the pictures that usually go on the walls... Well, let's just say I am more concerned about finding a good location for the play dough than hanging my old bridal photos;)5. Register your children for school
If you are lucky enough to move in the summer then you have plenty of time to get your kids all signed up for school. If you are moving during the school year then this will need to be done much sooner. Don't forget to have copies of those immunizations for the new school. I forgot to get them for this move and have had to call up the old doctors office at least 5 times now to have something faxed somewhere. Plan ahead to save yourself some time.6. Decide which Doctor and Dentist are right for you
This always gets people really worked up but I find that if I don't like the doctor or dentist then I can just switch to a different one. That isn't to say that I just pick someone at random. I read all the doctor's bio's before our first visit. I ask all the new moms I meet which doctor or dentist they prefer. Even with all that I won't know if this particular person will work well with my family until I meet them. Be willing to try out a few people if you have the chance.7. Set up play dates for your kids soon!
Yup. I am on of those moms that will ask you to a play date as soon as I meet you. I am all about getting a play date set up so my kids can meet other children. Again, this helps them settle into the new environment as much as me. Don't feel stressed that you have to have someone over to your house right away. Parks are great places to meet up with, or just to meet, other moms with kids. I really to find that the sooner my kids make new friends the happier they. Anything for our babies, right?So those are some of the things that I do when I move to a new town. I have tested each one of these suggestions multiple times and find that they work great for me. What are some of the things that you do to settle in to your new home? I would love to hear what you have to say!
