Will my kids be better off????

TinRibs · 29-04-2009, 11:57 AM

Hi Everybody,

I am a newbie to the posting game but have been an active reader for some time.

We live in Hertfordshire and enjoy a nice home and an average day to day life.

My question is really, would my kids aged 9 and 7 be better off growing up, schooling and finally getting a desent job with descent earnings and descent life living in Herts, UK or Victoria, AU.

I realise at the moment jobs are difficult to find on both sides of the world but is there a future in the UK, I think not....

The main reason for the post is every day we hear more and more doom and gloom in the UK and the fact that our kids will be paying for Gordon Brown for the rest of their lives.

Thanks.

kdal · 29-04-2009, 12:22 PM

Hi & Welcome to PIO.

We arrived in Australia in December 2008, so not that long. The start for us has not been easy as Australia had just begun to fall into a recession, and work has not been easy.

Having said all that I do think that once Australia comes out of recession that there is still plenty of opportunity here. Australia is a country that in my opinion is still growing, there is still lots of land and lots of space for growth, whereas perhaps England has burst out of it's seams and is worn and tired - anyway just my opinion.

So I think Yes it could be a better future for you children, but who knows you would need to take a chance and see.

Good luck and enjoy pio

Petals · 29-04-2009, 10:43 PM

I do not know whether they will be better off however I do know they will get out in the sunshine more and be able to do a lot of things all year round that cannot be done in the UK.

We educate our children and then its up to them what they do with their lives, some will succeed others will drift along it just depends on them.

I would move as a family for the whole family and make sure that I was moving for the right reasons.

If people migrate to take on a new life with new experiences and really want it they succeed, if they want their old life with added clauses often they fail to settle.

Paying for Gordon Brown I think is a bit harsh, if all the governments in the world had seen what was going to happen economically we would not be in this mess. We are all going to be paying for the mess created by greedy people for decades to come wherever we live in the world.

moving2melbourne · 30-04-2009, 01:11 AM

Hi and welcome to PIO.
We moved here for a better life for our children. We have been here 5 years nearly and have no regrets at all. Our children have so many options open to them and so many doors to choose, something that they wouldn't have had back home. In fact I hardly see my eldest as he is busy with after school activities, Air force cadets, life saving, karate and surfing not forgetting learning Japanese.
One thing I do like about Australia is that the children don't drop out of school at 15 and most go on to get a degree. In fact a prior work colleague of mine had 2 degrees and she was only 23.

Quoll · 30-04-2009, 01:11 AM

Better off? No. Differently off? Yes.

They will have more sunshine and probably play outside more (Aussie kids dont play outside all that much in reality) and along with that will probably come an increased chance of melanoma in older years unless you and they are very careful.

If they finish school and go on to university and get an honours degree then that will travel anywhere in the world but you will pay more for it than you would in UK.

Employment opportunities are probably going to be on a par in reality, there will probably much more choice in UK because Europe is going to be a far bigger pond than Australia will be.

They will be able to have more holidays at the beach and fewer at places which are historically significant or culturally different.

They are still going to be subject to bullying at school, probably be more likely to commit suicide or harm themselves as adolescents and more likely to engage in competitive sport.

They are likely to grow up without the support of extended family but will make friendships with Aussie kids which may stand the test of time or may not, like any friendship.

If you live in a nice area and they go to good schools and they have a supportive and happy family network around them then stay where you are.

Gunner · 30-04-2009, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinRibs

Hi Everybody,

I am a newbie to the posting game but have been an active reader for some time.

We live in Hertfordshire and enjoy a nice home and an average day to day life.

My question is really, would my kids aged 9 and 7 be better off growing up, schooling and finally getting a desent job with descent earnings and descent life living in Herts, UK or Victoria, AU.

I realise at the moment jobs are difficult to find on both sides of the world but is there a future in the UK, I think not....

The main reason for the post is every day we hear more and more doom and gloom in the UK and the fact that our kids will be paying for Gordon Brown for the rest of their lives.

Thanks.

Hertfordshire is a great place my sister lives in Great Amwell. If you are happy where you are then stay there, as for better opportunities in Aus or the UK I suggest you visit a gypsy with a crystal ball. The UK has a much larger trading base and proximity to Europe while Australia has huge mineral wealth and large demand for it in Asia but what will happen in years to come is a guess.

Australia is a great place to live but not for everyone as Quolls rather negative post demonstrates. If you are unhappy where you are and believe that an Australian lifestyle will suit you then come for a holiday but dont gamble you and your familys security on a whim. Its a big choice to move to the other side of the world and without a doubt there will be things you dont like about Australia as sure as there are things you will like.

Good luck with the gypsy and make sure her kids dont nick your car stereo.

Pete

Siblin! · 30-04-2009, 02:16 AM

Give it a bash , what's good for the Goose is not always good for the Gander .

marriedtoanaussie · 30-04-2009, 03:22 AM

I too am from Hertfordshire and enjoyed my life. I too was despondent with the politics of the Uk and felt as though my children did not have a chance. I too wrestled with the "I must get my children a betterlife" scenario.....But after having many holidays to Oz we took the plunge to emigrate and we are now returning. The sun is a worry and I dont think my children (9,5 &2) play out anymore than in the UK. In fact my son is forever over the nextdoors fence playing XBox with the two boys there. We refused to get an XBox in Hertfordhsire for fear of them being indoors too much. But overall, my children are losing out on my extended family in the UK and that is what is really sending us back home. Quoll is right, not a a better life but different life. I will never compare the two countries like I used to....a hot sunny day in UK, I wont wrestle with the rest of the nation to get to the beach, I will blow up the paddling pool and have a pims with friends/family in the garden knowing that in a few months time my children could be throwing snowballs in the back garden!
Happiness is having healthy children, a home you love, people around you that you love and a job you like that hopefully pays the mortgage. Go for a holiday first and be warned-my 9 yr old has now lost her place in her village school......

John Locke · 30-04-2009, 03:44 AM

The British media absolutely thrives on doom and gloom and always has done. It’s a powerful tool and hard not to be exposed to when living on what is essentially a very small island. In the end we’re so swamped with the negatives we start losing sight of the positives and that no matter where you live it `s down to the individual to make the most of life for themselves and their children. Personally, after seven years here and much soul searching in regards to taking our children back home, I don’t think there’s anything children can do here that they can’t do in the U.K with regards to both activities and education, and that, in all honesty, the U.K offers far more stimulation and diversity (okay,it`s cold and it rains a lot more but did that ever stop anyone growing up in England from being a kid?). Bottom line is, you can only give it a go and decide for yourself but

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinRibs

We live in Hertfordshire and enjoy a nice home and an average day to day life.

Sound good mate, sounds good!

TinRibs · 30-04-2009, 09:38 AM

Thanks to all of you that have given your thoughts, we plan on a holiday either later this year or early next. We plan on visiting Melbourne and the Peninsula as well as the tourist East Coast route. We plan on a 3 week visit and intend to speak to as many people living and working there as we can.
Thanks again.