I still remember the day our moving journey began. I was a single mom in Colorado with two kids, Zoe (7) and Max (10). Life was predictable until I got a job offer in Florida, near family. It was a mix of excitement and fear—leaving the Rockies for beaches was a huge change. Over grilled cheese sandwiches, I broke the news. Their wide eyes said it all. I realized we were stepping into a life-changing adventure. The idea of moving 2,000 miles felt overwhelming, but as I looked at my kids, I knew we would figure it out together. Our story was about to unfold in a whole new place.
We spent that first day in shock. On one hand, I felt we were part of a huge wave — after all, moving is more common than I realized. In fact, according to livability.com, nearly 32 million Americans moved in 2020 alone.
Telling the Kids: What I Wish I’d Known
Telling the kids was harder than I expected. I dropped the news at dinner without preparation, thinking they would be excited. Instead, Zoe’s face crumpled, and Max grew silent. I realized I hadn’t given them time to process. In hindsight, I wish I had planned it as parenting experts suggest: holding a family meeting, offering plenty of time for questions, and being honest about my own feelings. Studies show that moving can be as stressful for kids as serious illness if not handled well. I made it worse by waiting too long to talk.
The next morning, I took a different approach. We did a “virtual tour” of Florida on Google Maps and explored their future school and nearby parks. Zoe loved seeing palm trees, and Max was fascinated by the idea of soccer practice year-round. They slowly began to warm up to the idea.
I also encouraged them to stay connected with their Colorado friends through regular video calls. Keeping old friendships intact can really help kids adapt. I told them it was okay to feel sad and scared, and we shared stories about what we would miss. That honesty created trust. Looking back, I wish I had introduced the idea in small steps. Kids need time to adjust to big news. If I could do it again, I’d have many little conversations instead of one big, overwhelming announcement.
Finding the Right Neighborhood: What Mattered to Us
After the initial shock wore off, excitement kicked in—house hunting! Since we were moving clear across the country, our first searches were all online. I spent evenings scrolling through listings and maps, comparing sunny beach homes and pastel-colored ranch houses in Florida to the pine cabins of Colorado. It felt surreal that these places could soon be home.
My priorities were clear. Schools came first—Zoe loves science, and Max is a math whiz—so we wanted strong academics. My mom also emphasized safety and community. We looked for parks (a playground for Zoe, a soccer field for Max) and dug into “kid-friendly neighborhoods” on online forums. One helpful tip I found suggested exploring local school websites and community calendars to get a feel for the area—and we did just that. Zoe squealed when she discovered her new school had beach volleyball.
We also considered security. I checked local crime maps and focused on well-lit neighborhoods with visible community activity. A place with kids outside, neighbors chatting, and busy parks gave us a sense of peace of mind.
Next came logistics. In Denver, I’d loved my short commute, and I wanted something similar in Florida. I swapped snow boots for sandals and learned to factor in Florida’s heat, humidity, and hurricane season. We looked for homes on high ground and paid close attention to flood zones. Since the move also marked the beginning of my new career as a financial advisor, I had to ensure that our new location supported both my family’s and my professional growth.
We also thought about the cost of living. Some neighborhoods were beautiful but came with a price tag that would have tightened our family budget. We aimed for a balance: good schools, safe streets, and reasonable expenses.
Another must was access to healthcare. With two young kids, proximity to a reliable hospital and pediatrician was essential.
In the end, we found our perfect fit—a beautiful single-family home in the Boca Raton area. It checked every box: zoned for top-rated schools, located on a quiet cul-de-sac with friendly neighbors, and just ten minutes from the beach. The house had everything we needed and more: four bedrooms, an open-concept kitchen, a screened-in lanai, and even a small backyard pool that Max and Zoe claimed as their personal oasis. With mature palms out front and bougainvillea climbing the fence, it felt like Florida without trying too hard. Most of all, it felt like ours—from the first walk-through, we could see our future unfolding there.
Packing Chaos: Our Real-Life Survival Tips
Our living room turned into a maze of boxes, and somehow, toys kept magically reappearing after we packed them. To keep the kids involved, I turned packing into a game. We made “keep,” “donate,” and “trash” piles, and I let Zoe and Max compete to see who could fill the donation bags the fastest. It made decluttering fun and gave them a sense of control.
One of our smartest moves was color-coding boxes by room: green tape for the kitchen, blue for Zoe’s things, yellow for Max’s. It made unpacking so much easier. But we made one classic mistake—we packed the toothbrushes in the last box instead of the “first-night essentials.” Lesson learned: always pack a separate bag with the absolute must-haves for moving day.
Here are a few packing tips that saved our sanity:
- Pack a “first-night essentials” bag: Include PJs, snacks, toiletries, chargers, and comfort items like a favorite toy.
- Color-code boxes by room: It makes unloading and unpacking faster and less stressful.
- Label boxes on multiple sides: This saves time when boxes are stacked in a moving truck.
- Use soft items as padding: Towels, blankets, and stuffed animals can protect fragile items and save space.
- Purge as you go: Use the “keep,” “donate,” and “trash” method to cut down on clutter before you even move.
There were meltdowns, forgotten items, and plenty of dark humor along the way. I remember playing Uno on the van’s hood during a long rest stop just to keep everyone sane. Looking back, the key was involving the kids, turning packing into a shared mission, and embracing the mess. It wasn’t perfect, but we survived it together.
Settling In: Building Our New Normal
The first weeks in Florida were a whirlwind of new routines and surprising moments. We traded snow shovels for sunscreen and morning ski runs for sunrise beach walks. Our “new normal” took shape slowly, one small step at a time. On Day One, the kids clung to me at breakfast — new house, new city, new school coming up — but by Day Seven, they were already setting up playdates. It amazed me how quickly they adapted.
One trick that really helped was personalizing their new space. We let Zoe and Max each paint a wall in their rooms (pink for her, blue for him, naturally). Zoe insisted on using a constellation projector the very first night, which she now calls her “magical ceiling.” Little things like that—creating a room that felt like theirs—made a big difference. We also hung family photos right away and put pictures of old friends on their nightstands. Psychologists recommend this—familiar touches can help kids feel safe in a new home.
We also jumped into local routines. Within the first month, I coaxed Max to the community pool, and he came home with a new friend and plans for a kite-flying afternoon. Zoe, nervous about her new cafeteria, soon invited a classmate over to meet our puppy. Holding onto some old routines helped too—Sunday dinners with Grandma stayed sacred, just now on her screened-in porch instead of our Colorado kitchen.
It wasn’t all smooth. The first tornado warning had Max hiding under the bed, and I reassured him we’d stay safe. We missed our Colorado neighbors terribly, so we started weekly video chats with old friends. Staying connected made all the difference—Zoe’s FaceTime calls with her best friend back home helped her confidence bloom at school.
By summer, I realized we’d rebuilt our rhythm: quick school commutes, afternoons at the beach, and a new Sunday tradition—freshly squeezed orange juice. We met neighbors at block parties, joined the local library’s summer program, and even started a small tomato garden. Bit by bit, Florida stopped feeling like “the new place” and more like home.
Watching Zoe fall asleep under her space-themed ceiling, I knew we were going to be just fine.
What I’d Do Differently: Honest Reflections
If I could time-travel and give my past self some advice, it would be this: start earlier and talk more. I rushed some parts—like booking movers just two weeks out or skipping the goodbye project we planned for the kids’ bedroom walls. I wish I had spent more time over the summer showing the kids pictures of Florida, so the move could have felt exciting instead of sudden. Looking back, I would’ve added more “checkout moments” in our Denver home—maybe one last pancake breakfast in the backyard or a final sled run. We said our goodbyes, but I sometimes wish we’d thrown a real farewell party with all their friends.
On the practical side, I would pack a better first-night box. The toothbrush mishap taught me to always set aside essentials first:
- Pajamas, toothbrushes, and favorite blankets
- Snacks and small activity kits for the kids
- Chargers and comfort items like stuffed animals
I’d also tell myself not to stress about the little things. The half-packed closets and bubble-wrapped mugs I obsessed over didn’t matter nearly as much as making sure Zoe and Max felt loved and supported.
Emotionally, I’d remind myself to ask for help. I turned down too many offers—from old Denver friends and new Florida neighbors—to babysit, lend a hand, or bring food. Accepting would have built our community sooner and shown the kids that it’s okay to lean on others.
Finally, I’d say: take more pictures. We captured some memories, but I wish I’d snapped more of the awkward, beautiful moments—Zoe napping on a sandy beach chair, Max meeting his new teacher, our first Florida ice cream in T-shirts. Those are the moments we truly treasure now.
Conclusion: Moving Forward Together
Moving to Florida with my kids was the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Our journey taught us resilience, creativity, and how to rely on each other through big changes. We miss snowy days and hot chocolate by the fire, but we’ve traded them for sunset bike rides and beachside ice cream. We took a huge leap as a family and landed somewhere we love. Our story—full of nervous announcements, cardboard box castles, and first-day triumphs—is ours now. Moving was scary and exhausting, but we faced it together, one step (and one cardboard box) at a time.
