After a while, relocation becomes part of the rhythm of military life: every few years or so, you box up your belongings, move to another state or country, make new friends and get comfortable in a new home -- then you're given another assignment and you start all over again. Moving becomes second-nature after a while, but no matter how many schools your kids have attended or how many base you've seen, relocation remains one of the most disruptive, challenging aspects of military family life. The following tips will hopefully answer some of your questions about relocation and provide a few guidelines on how you can make moving as stress-free as possible. - Stay connected: It may seem like a bother to keep in touch with the friends you'll be leaving behind soon, but it's an important part of smoothing the transition period. If you don't stay connected with friends from old moves, it implies that there's no point in making long-term friends at all -- and kids need to feel comfortable reaching out to their new classmates and neighbors. Social networking and email make keeping in touch easier than ever, but - Involve the whole family: Moving is certainly stressful for parents, but kids have a particularly difficult time adjusting to change. It's important that you talk to them about the situation -- why you're moving, what your new home will look like, how they can keep in touch with their old classmates -- so that they feel as comfortable as possible. Get them excited about the move by inviting them to help with the process, and most importantly, be an empathetic listener. - Find out about your new home: Learn as much as you can about your new city and neighborhood before you make the move. Look up recreation facilities and family-friendly events and sign the kids up for groups and activities as soon as possible. Saying goodbye to home is a painful process, but the more prepared you are for what to expect, the easier the transition will be. - Get involved: Integrate yourself into your new community immedietely. If you're on a military base, that might mean joining groups or attending socials and parties. Get to know your military family neighbors and start making new friends as soon as possible. This is especially important for kids; getting them out of the house and excited about their new community is essential to making them as comfortable with the change as possible. - Make it an adventure: A successful transition hinges primarily on attitude. If you can help your family view this as an opportunity instead of an obstacle, the move can actually be a lot of fun. This is essential for your own mental health as well; a move is a fresh start, so use this as a chance to examine your own life and where you may want to improve and grow. Empowering yourself through online
education, for example, is a great way of moving forward, even if you had to leave a job behind with the move. Look for opportunities Â