The Dad's Basic Guide For Moving With Kids
Just like moms, dads have it rough as well. They have to be “the man of the house” in many ways – be it as house dads, as working professionals, and even sometimes the one-stop-shop for all things construction, electric, and even plumbing. And in a house move, this is perhaps one of the many times we rely on dads most of all. If you’re a dad, this can get overwhelming real fast – but this doesn’t make the house move impossible. In fact, there are a ton of ways to get this to work. Here are some of those ways:
Be familiar with the location. Should you have the time, try to get yourself and the kids a trip to your new house. Don’t just tour your new house, though. Try to get familiar with what’s around the neighborhood. What stores and malls are there? What restaurants are nearby? Where’s the nearest hospital and police station? Identifying these places will ensure you and the family get acquainted with what to expect with your new family life. Touring your house earlier will also help you and your long distance movers be familiar with where to place furniture or accessory during the move.
Create an inventory. Another important aspect you should get done early on is to sort out your inventory. According to the experts at the Seka Moving Company, having an inventory helps you and the kids be familiar with exactly what you own, and what you may want to be moving to your new home. This lets you and your kids know what furniture you have, what accessories you own, and what they might want to leave behind or sell. This can be a fun activity as well, as this leaves a lot of room for bonding over which objects to sell, throw away, or keep.
Streamline the packaging process. With your inventory in check, try to identify the kind of materials and storage items you need to store your belongings. Try to buy these in bulk, and try to buy twice as much as these materials, so you always have spares to work with. At home, try to have your kids agree upon a way of properly packing your belongings, so you can leave everyone to their own devices but still know they’re on the right track with packing.
Get everyone in the family involved. One of the best ways you can transform your house move into a fun bonding opportunity with the kids is to get everyone involved in the process. Your spouse or partner can help be in charge of inventory and packing, while your kids can be delegated to tasks such as listing things they own, or even packing their own things. Moving can be so much more fun – not to mention easier and time-saving – when everyone knows they’re involved in the process.
Make a schedule for everyone to follow. Another important aspect of moving in with kids is to make a schedule for everyone. Try to gather everyone in the family and sort out your schedule – especially if you have students, teens, and other adults at home. When is everyone at home? What are their days off? Can they use some of their paid time offs and leaves? This allows you to sort out who is in charge of where, and at what time. Doing things like these makes the family feel like they’re involved in the move, which can make the process more intimate.
Hire professionals for extra assistance. Who says a house move has to be strictly for the family? If you’re finding yourself in a bit of extra help, you might want to hire moving companies. These teams are equipped with the tools, materials, and the skills you need to make sure your belongings are transferred to your new home safe and sound. This can greatly benefit your family, as the investment can be worth the while when you know everything you own will be transported to your new house safely. It can often be more expedient to use a local moving specialist (for example a company like Atlanta Home Movers has particular knowledge of the local road conditions and the best routes in a busy city like Atlanta). This can save you both time and the costs of excess hourly moving charges.
Being Dad in the Move can be Fun!
Who says dads always have to be strict and stern with the moving process? Sure, house moving can be stressful, but that doesn’t mean you can have a bit of fun with the kids and the rest of the family. With the tips above, you can surely transform your house move into an amazing family bonding moment, and all the while making sure it’s not as hassling as it seems. Remember, a bit of planning and good execution – as well as teamwork with the family – can make the dream work.