said goodbye to my nieces today

So we're moving to London from St Louis in a couple weeks. Actually, my wife and son are moving in 5 days, and I'm moving in 14 days. We went to my moms tonight for a last dinner since my sisters family will be out of town this weekend when my wife and son leave. My son is only 11 months and my two nieces are 3 and 6 years old. I got pretty sad that these cousins won't see each other more as they grow up. I'm really happy we're moving to London and hope to have a great life there closer to my wife's family, but I still got sad.

I tried talking my sister into getting Vonage and I may go out and by them a webcam so I can set it up before I leave (I'm in IT and they are technophobic.)

Anyway, just wanted to share since I'm sure lots of you have dealt with similar things.

-Brian

My worst moments of homesickness come when I'm thinking about my niece (2) and nephew (4).  I can chat on the phone to adult family as much as I want, but I miss watching those two grow up.  And to hear my niece start to put together sentences and start to develop a real personality is both wonderful and sad, since I got to spend lots of time with her big brother at that age.  I just keep reminding myself that my beloved aunt lived across the country, and we only saw her once a year, but we looked forward to her visits months ahead of time.

Regarding your technophobic sister, you could always get a U.S. phone number through Vonage, and she could call that for nothing.  That has been a lifesaver for us, and it's a tiny fee, especially when it means hearing from friends and family more often!

Brian, I totally know what you are going through.  Our daughter is 3, and my sister's two daughter (though 10 and 14) are the closest in age of all her cousins.  They all dearly love each other, and it breaks my heart everytime we go back to the US to visit, and have to leave.  I just hate the fact that Bell doesn't get to grow up near them, or barely sees them.  Her youngest cousin here in England is 19, so definitely isn't the same.  We have the oldest of my sister's daughters (the 14 year old) spending the summer with us, and Bell has loved and adored having her here.  It's been fantastic!  I just dread the beginning of August when she goes home, as there will be many tears shed!   

The same happens with my my nieces are 4 and 5 and I love them dearly...saying goodbye to them is the hardest thing to do..because you know they are going to grow up quickly and you aren't going to be there to see it. In England I use First Telecom to call home it is only 1 1/2 pence a minute. My family here in the states uses an account called Datanet. I think if you go to Datanet.com you can set up the account and it only charges you I think 4 or 5 cents a minute. My mom can then call me whenever she wants and talk as long as she wants. And our next step is to all get web cams....this way although you are thousands of miles away from your family you can still see them when you talk. And as your son grows up then his cousins can talk to him and see him as well...It is a hard decision to leave your family and friends...especially your neices and nephews...Good Luck in London...

I'm from St. Louis too!  I'm in England now with my fiancee and the hardest part was saying bye to my nieces and nephews. I'm extremely close with my sister and them. I think with children it's more difficult because they don't understand or have a really good concept of time LOL. I send them cards, letter, pictures things like that in the mail. I don't have kids of my own but I've noticed they love getting mail! lol And I make the most out of every visit home I get with them. My niece is coming out this summer to visit so I look at it also as a wonderful opportunity too. (she is older though in high school) Even with the distance my 4 year old nephew talks about me all the time to my sister and when Aunt Shelly is in town it's like no one else exist! LOL When your son gets older you can have him draw pictures and things like that to send to his cousins and keep in touch that way (or maybe he draws now I don't know I don't have kids! lol) And you're only a plane ride away. Plus I bet your sis will love a chance to see England:)

What I have just discovered that could make this whole thing alot easier is Skype...using the webcam and mic...that way your neices and nephews can see and talk to you at the same time...and vice versa...my fiance and I use it now while we are apart...I think it will still hurt to be separated from my neices but this will make it a little easier they won't forget what I look like and I can see them growing up...

What I have just discovered that could make this whole thing alot easier is Skype...using the webcam and mic...that way your neices and nephews can see and talk to you at the same time...and vice versa...my fiance and I use it now while we are apart...I think it will still hurt to be separated from my neices but this will make it a little easier they won't forget what I look like and I can see them growing up...

Agreed. We set up Skype and a webcam at my mother's house, and my best friend's house before we left, so I can call my parents on the webcam, especially while other family are there visiting and I get to see them and speak to them at the same time, and I can also see and talk to my best friend on the webcam. It was especially nice on Thanksgiving and Christmas, since I stayed here in UK, so at least I was able to see my family on the holidays. I call my mom and best friend at least once or twice a month on the webcam for a half hour or an hour and it really helps me to stay connected with them. Most kids think the webcam is cool, my two year old stepson gets on with my mom and he thinks it's so fun. He even turns on the computer and tries to call her when I'm not looking!    We also have some sort of international call plan on our home phone that allows me to make unlimited calls to the US, for up to an hour per call (I can hang up before the hour is up and call right back!), and it only costs £12/month. So I am able to call anyone I want! I called each of my family members over the holidays to catch up with them since I couldn't get back to visit them.
And like the others said, the family will be so much more excited to see all of you when you do get to go back for a visit! 

Oh Jewlz, what company is that plan through!?! That would be great to have!!

We also have some sort of international call plan on our home phone that allows me to make unlimited calls to the US, for up to an hour per call (I can hang up before the hour is up and call right back!), and it only costs £12/month.

If you have Sky TV, you can get the same thing for £5/month.

also if you want to call by phone First Telecom is cheap as well...it is 1 1/2 pence a minute to call the States.....