Leaving children's dad in the uk

[sharon h]

We are looking to emigrate to Melbourne within the next year ( have started the process already) and are really excited about it but have a problem, we would be taking the kids away from their dad. We have had a holiday in Oz this year and had a good look around and loved it. The kids loved it too. They are 13 and 11. They see their dad once a week at weekends and a couple of hours during the week and were wondering how they will be with actually living in Oz and not seeing him on a regular basis. Is there anyone out there in a similar situation? I feel that we are the only people in this situation as I dont know anyone else who has done anything like this. It would be great to hear from you.

We moved to the Gold coast in 2008 leaving behind my older childrens dad and his new family, unfortunately the pull back to family in the UK was too much for 2 of my children and in May 2010 they moved back to the UK, as a result we are now flying back one way in August this year - very reluctantly, we love Australia and have completely settled, but it is important for us to be a complete family again with my children in the same country as me, so it is a very hard decision and makes it difficult for kids with dads in the UK to settle 100%. We also had a court battle to get the kids here, good luck with your situation, I hope everything works out for you, who knows in a few years time we might ping pong back.

[parleycross]

Thanks for your reply. My mum left me and emigrated to Oz 20 years ago. It has torn the family apart. I would never leave my kids. I love them too much. They wouldn't want to come with me to Oz, but they also would not want to live with their dad. It's such a dilemma!

Leah,you would also be tearing the family apart if you take them to Australia away from their Dad when they don't want to go.
Think twice before you go down that road.