How many times did you move as a child?

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Had to count, I think it was 3 all within a 5 mile radius.

 

[Planogirl]

We moved at least once a year until I was a sophomore in high school. I was an Air Force brat so it was a normal thing.

 

[MataHari22]

Eight times and then after I was 19 years old, another 3 times. I hate moving!

 

[mummabear]

At least 5 times, one big move from Vancouver to NZ and then around the same city but different suburbs meaning different school etc until they found the area they wanted to live in

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Until college, zero times.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Never. My parents only moved out of my childhood home a few years ago. Even then, they stayed in the same town. They moved a total of about 2 miles.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Didn't- my father was offered a promotion with his company when my brother and I were in high school but we would have to move from NY to the state of Washington. That news did NOT go over well with us. My brother said he would go live with my cousins for the next year until he graduated high school and I said I would go live with friends for the 3 years till I graduated but neither us were going to move to Washington and to that my mom said she wouldn't go if we didn't go so we all stayed here and no promotion.

I understand in my heart this sentiment, but I just can't wrap my head around how much power children hold in the family decision-making process these days. This is not a criticism of your family, aprilgail. If the cousin's family was agreeable, that was a perfectly viable solution. Three years with a friend's family would be a no-go as far as I'm concerned. But it seems like the kids weren't seeing the big picture. A promotion would be good for the whole family, and unless the children suffered from some kind of social anxiety issues, I think if they had allowed themselves the opportunity, they would have enjoyed it, or at least tolerated it until college. Just my humble unsolicited opinion, but speaking from experience.

Queen Colleen

 

[winterman]

I was born in upstate New York, as were both my siblings. When I was 3, we moved to the Boston area, which is where both of my parents were from. We moved just once after that, to a newly built house in a nearby town. I was about to turn 6 when we moved there so I (and my brother) never had to change school systems.

 

[RedAngie]

My family moved between 6th and 7th grade, from a city neighborhood to the (then) boondocks of suburbia. It was quite a culture shock. In the city we could walk to a dozen different corner Mom & Pop stores, dry cleaner, playground, Woolworth's, etc. There was nothing like that within 3 or 4 miles of where we moved. The high school was the only thing within walking distance. It was too far to even bicycle to a friend's house. My mother had to learn to drive and we got a second car.

Ever since, I always made sure I lived somewhere with walking distance of at least a few conveniences.

I remember there was a 6 month stretch in which my aunt lived in 3 different houses, all within 4 digits of each other in addresses LOL

There were more than a few instances in my childhood neighborhood of a family living in one rowhouse, elderly grandma living next door with some unmarried relatives, and a cousin's family the next house. It would have been quite easy and maybe even common for an aunt to play musical houses.

Once. lol, we jokingly gave my father grief from moving us from Manhattan to the foreign land of Queens. I remember my boyfriend (at the time) wanted to break up with me because I was now a "bridge and tunnel" girl.

You might as well have moved to New Zealand, the way some Manhattan residents consider the outer boroughs.

There was a Seinfeld episode where a guy was reluctant to date Elaine because she got the new overlay area code for Manhattan, instead of 212. He thought she lived out in East Jabip.

 

[mrsheppo]

We moved once when I was about 6 months old to the home I lived in my entire childhood.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I understand in my heart this sentiment, but I just can't wrap my head around how much power children hold in the family decision-making process these days. This is not a criticism of your family, aprilgail. If the cousin's family was agreeable, that was a perfectly viable solution. Three years with a friend's family would be a no-go as far as I'm concerned. But it seems like the kids weren't seeing the big picture. A promotion would be good for the whole family, and unless the children suffered from some kind of social anxiety issues, I think if they had allowed themselves the opportunity, they would have enjoyed it, or at least tolerated it until college. Just my humble unsolicited opinion, but speaking from experience.

Queen Colleen

I agree with you Queen Colleen. My family moved many times growing up because my dad kept getting promoted. We kids didn't like moving and giving up our friends every few years, but we did it because it was expected of us and good for my dad's career/our family.

I moved at the following ages:
2 yo - from Covelo, Ca (NoCal) to Pearblossom, Ca (SoCal)
4 yo - from Pearblosson, Ca to Little Rock, Ca (next town over)
8 yo - from Little Rock, Ca to Hayfork, Ca (NoCal)
11 yo - from Hayfork, Ca to San Dimas, Ca (SoCal)
16 yo - from San Dimas, Ca to Chantilly, Va
19 yo - from Chantilly, Va to San Diego, Ca
Then back to Virginia when I was 22.

So 7 times! Since I've been married, I've moved twice, just across town. My oldest child has lived in our current house since he was 1.5 years old. I didn't get to grow roots, so I want my kids to have that chance.

 

[CPanther95]

I never moved, but I made up my mind if I did, I was going to tell all the kids in the new neighborhood everyone just calls me "the kid" or some type of cool nick name

Good idea, T-Bone.

 

[aprilgail]

I understand in my heart this sentiment, but I just can't wrap my head around how much power children hold in the family decision-making process these days. This is not a criticism of your family, aprilgail. If the cousin's family was agreeable, that was a perfectly viable solution. Three years with a friend's family would be a no-go as far as I'm concerned. But it seems like the kids weren't seeing the big picture. A promotion would be good for the whole family, and unless the children suffered from some kind of social anxiety issues, I think if they had allowed themselves the opportunity, they would have enjoyed it, or at least tolerated it until college. Just my humble unsolicited opinion, but speaking from experience.

Queen Colleen

Back then people lived with other people I know all the time, we had a boyfriend of mine living with us when I was 16 (he slept in the finished basement never anything inappropriate going on!) then he moved back home eventually and we had 2 of his younger brothers living with us for awhile. My friend had a kid she knew living at her house all through high school. Wasn't that big of a deal back then- now everything has to be "legal" and on paper. We just were not into moving, my mom really didn't want to go either. If it was grade school its one thing but having a kid in high school and moving them to another state clear across the US is another ball game! For some people that is ok but not something me or my brother wanted. I want to move to Florida now that I am retired but I wouldn't do that to my daughter, once she graduates high school then I will go- won't kill me to wait 3 years.

 

[knkmom]

From birth to 4 we moved 4 times. My dad was military after he retired we stayed in the area where he was last stationed until I was 19 and then moved to California. I've moved twice in the last 30 years that hubby and I have been married.

I actually don't remember much from when I was little but I can tell you my Mom wasn't thrilled with the moves. She was a career military wife and loved my dad but packing up 5 girls and everything that comes with that so often was difficult. She said as soon as she would get everyone and everything settled dad would get orders for another move!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I moved five times, but all within the same small town, so I never had to change schools. (Once was when I was a baby, and another was only two blocks!)

I thoroughly enjoyed setting up my new bedrooms and exploring my new neighborhoods.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Moved once when i was 8. Then moved out when I was 18 but moved back home at 20. Meet dh and got married at the age of 21.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Back then people lived with other people I know all the time, we had a boyfriend of mine living with us when I was 16 (he slept in the finished basement never anything inappropriate going on!) then he moved back home eventually and we had 2 of his younger brothers living with us for awhile. My friend had a kid she knew living at her house all through high school. Wasn't that big of a deal back then- now everything has to be "legal" and on paper. We just were not into moving, my mom really didn't want to go either. If it was grade school its one thing but having a kid in high school and moving them to another state clear across the US is another ball game! For some people that is ok but not something me or my brother wanted. I want to move to Florida now that I am retired but I wouldn't do that to my daughter, once she graduates high school then I will go- won't kill me to wait 3 years.

Yep, I understand what you mean. One of my friends lived with my family for our senior year of high school. Her parents separated; dad went to TX with one twin, mom stayed in MD with other twin. When parents reconciled, the school year was well under way and mom and MD twin felt it was better to finish out the school year to graduate where she had attended for three years

I guess I misunderstood your post; I didn't realize your mom didn't want to move either. It's nice that your dad had the option to decline the assignment; I hope there were no negative repercussions for his career. Unfortunately, those of us working for Uncle Sam don't have that option. We had to move from London and a school my daughter loved after her sophomore year and return to the U.S She was heartbroken but she settled in OK after awhile. Her best friends at her U.S. school were a Dutch boy, a Puerto Rican boy and an Argentinian girl. She still gravitates to people with international experience and travels to London twice a year because she says she gets "homesick."

I didn't mean to be critical in my original response to your post or snarky in this one (although I can see how it could read that way if one was looking to be offended). Also, I didn't realize that this wasn't a recent event. You're absolutely right that things were different "back then." American families weren't as mobile and moving, especially from coast to coast, was a big deal. It's thoughtful of you to postpone your retirement plans on your daughter's behalf.

Queen Colleen

 

[North of Mouse]

Fortunate to grow up on a farm, only leaving there to get married.

Unfortunately, my children haven't had that experience, dh happened to be employed by the company known as 'i've been moved' LOL
Still some great experiences for all of us! No regrets!

 

[blana]

We lived in the same house the whole time until I moved out for school. Before I was born my parents and brothers moved a few times, but moved into their forever home a couple of years before I was born. About 8 years ago my parents moved out to my grandmother's home about 2 miles away & my brother moved into our old home.