Young children & parents in different states

[justdontlovehim]

I have another question for those of you with smaller chindren. My husband is planning to move to a new state (far east coast) for a job. Once seperated/divorced and living seperately, I would like to move back to the west coast. How do you work out the time spent w/ the children? I really don't want to move out east just because that's where he is going...frankly, I've been moving all over the US for him since I was 20 and really don't want to keep doing it. I would like to move back to where I know I want to end up and grow old and put down my roots.

With the kids being sooo little (both under 4) it's not like I can just put them on an airplane. But I feel they need more contact w/ their dad.

[jbeeps]

My brother's little boy, age 7 , lives in Colorado, and we live in New Jersey. For the first 5 years, He would fly to Colorado and pick up his son and fly back with him. She would do the reverse at the end of the visit. The visits were co-ordinated with her visiting family and friends back here in NJ. Also, my brother has his son for the entire summer. At age 5, the boy started flying by himself with aboslutely no problems at all! The airlines have a wonderful program for un-escorted children, and I know my neighbors who send their kids to Bulgaria for the summers un-escorted with layovers, palne changes, customs checks and all with never a problem. The kids feel safe and arrive happy. My nephew makes the transition between homes with ease, and loves both parents dearly. YOu can not continue to move every time your ex does. Settle where you want to live, and make sure the kids keep contact via phone, email, instant messanging, photos and visits.....good luck

[933KJL]

I agree with beeps. I am divorced and fortunate enough to have my ex live a few miles from me (s***, did I actually say that?) and we share custody 50-50 week on week off.

 

I have several friends who have the distance to deal with and while there is no way to equalize the time with school and all, the typical drill is alternating years for school vacations and major holidays and an extended period in the summer. This gives close to 8 weeks with the kids--certainly not a lot but it is a solid block of time.

 

The kids are resiliant for sure--moreso than us parents give them credit for. They look at it as a chance to travel and experience the world. Would your kids get the chance to see the east coast otherwise?

 

As for the flights, the airlines do an alright (not spectacular) job of taking care of unescorted minors. But I woull do the trip with them a few times to be sure.