We have an 11 and 12-year old, and have applied for PR as Skilled Workers.
As our wait drags on, our daughter is approaching High School (the year after next) and our son is starting Middle School (next school year).
Are any of you planning to move with teenagers? If so, how much do you discuss the possibility of a future move? If you discuss it frequently, does it upset your children to think of leaving their friends? We try to keep talk of a possible move at a minimum during this (long) uncertain period, but I need them to remember it's a possibility.
Would any of you re-think your plans if your child had entered High School before your PR was granted?
Luvancouver
My eldest son is in middle school right now and I have a daughter who will be in middle school next year. My other 3 children are 3rd, 1st and pre-k. 
yes 5 of them.
So far, we have no problem about moving. Maybe because my children are so used to moving. In 2001, we moved from our home country to USA (SC), then 2004 we moved from SC to NJ (New Jersey)â¦.and now this Canada move.
At first, they were worried if they need to learn a new language again and other stuff. I assured them that English is the language in Canada but I told them that we will learn French together too. I always show them (through internet) potential neighborhoods, children ice skating, skiing, some pictures of schools, we have a mini Canada flag at homeâ¦you know just to prepare their spirit in the moving phase. These things got them excited about moving. Also since they are 5, they became best friends of one another and so they are together wherever we move. In that sense, moving is a lot easier to accept. During our early months, we discussed our Canada plans as a family, children included. Today, we still discuss about the move as a family so maybe that made them feel that they are really part of the move and that they have no choice.:)
I know it must be hard on your part. Itâs heartbreaking to see our children sad and upset about a certain decision. When you made the decision to move, I am sure you took a lot of things into consideration. Just stick to your reasons why you are moving. Encourage your children to discuss their fears with you. Assure them that you will help one another in the adjustment period since you yourself will also adjust and that you will need them too. It is not easy I know. But I guess communication is the key for them to slowly accept and be excited about this move. Donât rush them. Just assure them of your love always. I am sure eventually, they will thank you for this decision. J
Good luck to you.
Thanks so much for your thoughts, MrsJoe!
Our children were born in the home where we currently live, and we have many close friends and relatives nearby.
It is difficult on some level for all of us to consider moving, but as I know you realize, we consider it largely for the long-term interests of our children. It's always difficult to know what tomorrow may hold, but as parents we try to see the future as well as we can and make it as bright as possible for our children. I think our kids are old enough now to participate in our thought process, but of course as the adults the ultimate decisions will rest with us.
Like yours, our two children are a major support to eachother, and as a family we are very close. I just see our elder daughter getting more attached to her (very nice) friends as she approaches High School, and don't want to cause her major upheaval or distress.
I suppose any process which takes several years (as our PR application seems to be doing) will see many changes. Guess we'll see how things go as our time gets nearer.
Best of luck to you and your family as your move approaches! Where are you in your process, and how long do you expect the entire PR process to take for your family?
Luvancouver
High school is the stage where you really develop long-term friendshipsâ¦.that is probably why it is not really easy for your daughter to just accept it without feeling a little bit upset. It is even harder for your children since they were born there and so their friends have been their friends for a long long time now...and saying good bye will really hurt...not to mention the fear of not making any new friends in a new place.
I am sure in time your children will realize your good intentions on this move. The process is really heartbreaking but consider yourself blessed because you have your family to say the least.
We are almost at the very end of the process, we already got an email information that our case is ready for visa issuance but we donât have the actual visa yet. If everything goes well, we plan to land this summer. We are approaching our 2nd year anniversary into the process on Feb 2006.
I donât know your religious or spiritual affiliation, but as a Christian, prayer is the ultimate solution to every trial.
Good luck to you and your family. 
Well, my wife and I have gone a different route. I have an 11 year old and a 13 year old. We haven't told them yet. I know this may seem wrong, but nothing is for certain, and we don't want to worry them or make them too anxious too soon, especially if we get rejected, which is possible. My wife and I do talk a lot about the possibility of having to move, or the possibility of moving when it comes up in conversation. Maybe this was wrong. We'll obviously have to tell them when it comes time for our medicals, or shortly thereafter. We could probably pull off the medicals without them knowing too, but then that might be holding back too much. I mean, if we told them now, then all we'd be able to say is, "We are trying to immigrate to Canada and plan to move to Toronto within the next two years. But, we may not be able to go because of your mom's heart or because of your [my son] bipolar disorder. But if that doesn't stop us, then we plan on moving. But, the CIC is slow and it might take longer than two years, and no we don't know where we will live exactly." vs."Your mom and I applied to immigrate to Canada a year ago. We didn't know if it would work out, but it has. We will move to Toronto within eight months, mommy already has a few job interviews and I won't have any problem finding a job since I speak French and English. We have narrowed down where we want to live to three neighborhoods, and we want you to help look at a few places on line."One version leaves too many unanswered questions, and the other is more difinitive. I don't know, maybe we are wrong to not tell them. What do you all think?
Antoine Wrote:.......... vs."Your mom and I applied to immigrate to Canada a year ago. We didn't know if it would work out, but it has. We will move to Toronto within eight months, mommy already has a few job interviews and I won't have any problem finding a job since I speak French and English. .........I don't know, maybe we are wrong to not tell them. What do you all think?
The 2nd quote sounds a lot better and easier :)
Children even siblings are so different from one another. You and your wife know your children more than anyone. I am sure you chose to not tell them yet because you think that at this moment that is the right path for all of you. Just make sure that you will give them enough time to absorb the thought of moving. Enough time to say good bye.
Parents know best.
Antoine -
I agree with MrsJoe that you know your children best and make decisions in their best interest, including when and how to tell them of your thoughts about moving.
I certainly don't think it's clear-cut that our way (telling them before we started the lengthy and uncertain application process) is the best or even a good way. I've wondered whether introducing the possibility to them so far in advance may just be confusing and cause them uneccessary time to worry. I don't think they think of it too often by now... I'm guessing that by now it's somewhere in the back of their heads with worries about starting High or Middle school. I just can't keep relevant info from our kids... for better or worse, it's not possible for me.
One thing that helps in our case is that we've owned part of a condo in Whistler for over 10 years, so our children have spent lots of time in Whistler and Vancouver throughout their lives. This certainly isn't the same as having lived there, but at least the places aren't any real mystery.
Antoine - where are you in your process? We applied last February, and got our AOR in March.
Luvancouver
p.s. Isn't it frustrating to have so little information about which medical conditions are deal-killers?
We applied last July, 2005 and got our AOR in Aug. 2005
Buffalo, SW
Yes, it is frustrating. But, thanks to forums like this, I am not alone and feel a sense of solidarity.