Having a family member move abroad can feel like quite a big life change, particularly when you live with them or see them all the time. Whether it’s a sibling, parent or even a close friend, you want to ensure you keep a good relationship and support them in any way they can. As well as it feeling weird for you, it will also be a big life change for the person who’s moving so you want to be there for them both during the transition and when they’ve moved. In this article we explore some top ways to help a family member move abroad.
Assist them with any packing them need to do
Packing is one of the hardest parts about moving and what needs to be done depends on how long they are going away for. Are they planning on going for a few months or a year or so and then moving back home? If so, chances are they’ll want to keep most of their belongings in storage and have them for when they return. If that’s the case, you can help them sort through it, ensuring nothing perishable is kept, or items that they won’t need on their return. If they’re planning on moving abroad permanently, you’ll need to help them pack these up in a minimal fashion – after all, it can be very expensive to ship items to another country! These are all things you can help them to do that will make a big difference to them.
Keep in touch by sending thoughtful gifts to show you’re thinking of them
Moving abroad can feel like a lonely time, particularly if it means going far away where you don’t know anyone. Keep this in mind and do what you can to make that transition that bit easier. One thing you can do is to send thoughtful gifts throughout the time they’re away. This could be on their birthday, Christmas, and other social occasions, but also times such as a random weekday when they might just need a pick me up. Look up the best way of sending gifts, if you want to Send money to Morocco for example, you want to find the best way to do so that can ensure you don’t pay hefty fees and that they receive it in a good amount of time. You could also send digital gifts such as e-vouchers or e-books. These can all make a real difference in their life and the morale of how they’re feeling.
Speak to them regularly
Another great way to help a family member move abroad is to speak to them regularly. This could be on the phone, so scheduling in regular calls with them once a week or every other week. You might decide to video call, such as on facetime, or to send each other emails and messages. Moving abroad can be isolating, particularly if you don’t know the place or language as you can feel very out of the loop. By keeping in regular contact you will help them feel at home and as if they’ve not been forgotten about despite the fact they’ve moved away.
Look to go out and visit them
One of the best things you can do – albeit the most expensive – is to go out and visit them. This can make for an exciting trip for you to take part in and also a great chance for you to see your loved one. If you are planning to go and see them, it’s a good idea to get this planned as far in advance as you can. This means it costs less money and you don’t need to worry about last minute date hiccups as you’ve already got it booked in. You’ll have the best choice of accommodation and flight prices too.
These are just a few things you can do to help a family member or loved one when it comes to going abroad. Going away can be a big deal and as such, you want to make their transition as smooth as possible. It can be lonely and daunting and you want to ensure they don’t get cold feet and feel as if they’re doing it solo. Whether they’re moving away with someone else or on their own, it’s down to you as a family member to help them feel comfortable and reassured. What are some top tips you have for helping a family member move abroad? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
