The stress and anxiety about PCSing can start months and months in advance, even before you have orders in your hand. These tips will help reduce the anxiety and get your entire family prepared for the upcoming move.
1. Have a family meeting – Sit down and discuss the move with your family. At first, you or your kids may have a negative outlook about the move, but by sitting down and discussing the move, everyone can begin processing the information. The earlier you start preparing for a move, the more time you have to deal with the information and get ready mentally.
2. Include your kids in decisions – I know this sounds crazy, but include your kids in some of the decision making process. Give your kids some reasonable choices when it comes to the move. For example, if deciding about schools, narrow it down to your top 2 or 3 and discuss with them the differences and let them help make the decision. Or discuss the pros and cons of each house, and let them help decide which to choose. When you allow a child to have a say in the decision making process, it gives them a sense of ownership and a sense of control. This will help them have a brighter, more reasonable outlook on the upcoming move.
3. Research your new town – Find fun things about your new town that you can share with your family. Depending on your kids ages, let them research and write down the top 3 things they want to do when they get there. This will help them look forward to a new adventure. If you look on the bright side and find the pros to your new town, then you will have a better mindset about moving. Use MilitaryTownAdvisor to find things to do, research neighborhoods and military housing at your next duty station.
4. Get social – Get on social media and find people who live in that town and ask questions. Start friendships now online. From my experience, Facebook has a ton of military families involved in groups where people can chat and ask questions. The military is a small community and you will be surprised that a friend of a friend may live in your new town. Reach out and introduce yourself via Facebook or email. Feel free to join our Facebook Group.
It’s important to keep a positive attitude about your upcoming move. Hopefully these strategies will reduce your stress and anxiety and help you prepare mentally for your upcoming move.
Next, read Part 2 of our PCS Series - Do I live on base or off?
