Preparing the Kids

Candace and I have thought we'd likely go overseas for some time now.  We've been telling the children that the day would come when they'd have to say good-bye to their friends, their home, and everything they know.  The first reaction was what we expected - Are you kidding me??  Over the years, they've grown accustom to the idea and used to the thought that we'd move at some point.  I'm glad we laid that foundation early on.

Over the last few months, work indicated that the possibility was much more likely that we'd go soon.  So about a month ago, Candace and I starting talking to the kids about us leaving in more real terms.  During one Family Home Evening, we did 2 activities with the kids.  The first one was where the family stood in the circle, everyone grabbed someone else's hand, and then you try to untangle it into a straight line without letting go.  The first one went easily and the kids had a blast.  The second time we were much more tangled and a few of the older kids begged to give up.

The next activity we had 2 family members lock their arms together and carry another family member down the hall and back.  We showed how just 2 people could actually carry up to 3 more if we needed to.  They loved that.

After the activities  we sat them down and explained how going overseas was very much like the 2 games we just played.  At first, it's fun and exciting.  As time goes on, you will have some hard times and may feel like giving up. Just one bad player in the team can make it harder on everyone.  We talked about how there will be times when we'll need to carry each other...each of us in turn.  There will be days when Mom has a hard time and we need to lift her.  Days when a child or two really misses home and will need to be carried.  But that as a family, together, we'll always make it through and be stronger for it.