What is Our Normandy Life?
My name is Natasha and I wanted to write a positive blog about re-locating to France with older children. Our children are 13, 11 and 7 (2017). I really felt we had missed our chance to move to France especially when our eldest son passed the magic ‘don’t do it!’ age of 10. If you carry out any kind of research about relocating with children beyond this age, in my view, it is very negative.
I want to tell you that you can do it, it’s not all doom and gloom and you don’t have to wait until all the children fly the nest. By which point, I personally, couldn’t be bothered to move! In any event, by the time the eldest child had finished their education, the youngest would then be at that ‘critical’ time. It was never going to be a perfect time for all of our children.
Funnily enough, it was our youngest, aged 7 who was the most reluctant to move. From the moment we mentioned it in September 2016 right up until the house sold in May 2017 he continued to say “put your hands up if you don’t want to move to France!” Day 2 of our arrival “I love it here!” Kids eh?
Why France?
We have always loved France. It’s a fabulous country. We have had many happy holidays here. In brief, we purchased a small house in 2004 when our eldest was merely 8 months old. On a bit of a whim if truth be told. We left it for years – we moved houses, got married, had two more children – not necessarily in that order! As John Lennon once said “life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.” Not only that I was happy in the UK, Croydon to be precise. I had my friends, family and the kids were in great schools. We liked the amenities, the diversity and the community. But my husband had wanted to move for several years and sometimes it was the elephant in the room. He always looked like he was longing to live a dream and after my dad became sick I thought marriage is about compromise and to try it. What’s the worse that could happen?
Why Move?
Brexit – I felt there might be a cut off point after 2019. I was growing tired of the sirens/police helicopters – 25 years of urban living wasn’t as appealing as it used to be. Sadly, the prolific knife crime that was occurring throughout the borough on a daily basis not to mention 3 murders in 12 years – one literally on our doorstep. But I didn’t want to move anywhere else in the UK. So many reasons and George Michael’s death. Say what? Yes. He had money, fame and he was dead. I don’t want to have regrets. Without sounding too trite – no one gets to the end of their life wishing they had worked more. Sometimes you’ve just got to jump without knowing all the answers.
What do you do?
I am a free-lance writer having had experience of writing a successful blog from 2011 this was a ranty, parenting but mostly ranty political blog that was shortlisted for Britmums blogging awards. I also featured in various publications and worked with various brand names based on my readership and rankings in various parenting blogger charts. I wanted to start a new blog to share and help others who are considering a move, especially with older children to France.
If you are a business in Normandy and would like to feature on the website – then please feel free to contact me. In addition, I can also advise and manage social media accounts both locally and beyond.
I can be found on all the usual social media platforms:
Email: ournormandylife@gmail.com
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Our Normandy Life 