Change is good.

I remember when I was nine, change frightened the life out of me and I resented my father for it.
As we pulled away in the car from the home I loved and the familiar surroundings I had come to know, his soothing words for this little girl were (a bit foggy on the exact wording) 'change happens, get used to it'.  Blunt and unfeeling.  I was devestated.  He didn't know how much it hurt and how much it scared me to change my life like that.  I was only a little girl. 
As I sit and blog away I am drawn to my own daughter's experience and how hard it has been to ajust to our new life in Sydney.  It's been over 5 years now and she has settled down but when I think about my own experience to her experiences, I see how hard it really is for such a little person to cope with.
I feel somewhat ashamed because I think as a parent we have to offer a solution to the fears of our kids.  I ashamed because I wonder if I myself handle her regret with cold and unfeeling comments.  It's not easy seeing them go through so much.  Is  there really a solution to such problems.  Now I know I wasn't hard on her, but how did she see how I have responded to her regret?  Will she be the cycle of parenting to come?  Will she answer her own childrens fears with cold and unfeeling response or will she swoop them under her wings and comfort them?
It has been a hard road for all of us.  I like to think I was a more empathetic to my girls needs.  It has been an anxious time for us all.  There have been tears and prayers and sleepless nights over the 5 years.  I have tried to sooth all her concerns.  Then there have been times where I am ready to pull my hair out because it has frustrated me trying to figure out how to make it better for her.
The problem for me has been, I want to be here.  I am excited we moved here to Sydney.  It is so full of art and opportunity and diversity.  My blood and heart pump really fast.  It is adrenalin for me.  Not so my family.  Although my youngest has adapted quite well.  Sydney is all she has really known.  This is her home.  Now however she is talking about moving back to Adelaide.
Adelaide is a beautiful city.  It is my home.  Moving away was hard for me.  I had to give up my circle of community.  My family which all live in Adelaide.  I also had to give up all that I had known for 38 years.  What was different for me was, I was ready for Sydney.  I was ready for change.  I saw it as an adventure and a new chapter in my life.  I also felt excited for my husband and for my family.  It still is exciting for me.
All the herdles have been hard and high but I see the change as a good thing for the first time in my life.  It is still a herdle every other day.  I just got to make my family as comfortable as possible even in their state of regret.
My older daughter has settle down but still pines for Adelaide.  My husband pines for the simpler life he had and my youngest, she's happy but misses the opportunity to get to know and see her family in Adelaide.  I miss everyone but I feel settle here and I have seen how change has happened in Adelaide too.  Change is good.  It can make us grow.  It can turn on us too but what an adventure I am having.  I just have to show my girls & my man when we are a family going through change, as long as we are together with all the things that come our way, change really is something to grasp and hold onto.  For me, change is hard.  I never liked it as a kid but I embrace it and go with it now.