Telling your family

[4kiddz]

Hello all! My hubby and I are still about 2 years away from going fulltime. Now that we have made the decision we want to tell our family. We have 4 grown children living their own lives. Worried about their reaction when we reveal this major life change. Any advice, tips stories? (We will be selling our house - their childhood home)

[Mr_D]

from WA State!
My parents never had that problem! I was an only child, and they rented a TT when I was 10 and bought their first one the next year so it was always assumed they would go full time. They offered the old house to me at a good price and I really should have bought it, but it was over 7,000 sf and I didn't want the maintenance.
They did finally go full time but it only lasted a couple years and the came back and bought a mobil home, and, a few years later, sold the Foretravel MH.

[Clay L]

It never occurred to us that our kids would have a problem with us going full time. Our son wasn't thrilled to lose his kids sitter but he managed okay.
I suspect that if your kids get a chance to move somewhere else for a better job, more money, etc they would do so.

[450Donn]

Why are you so worried about what the kids will say? Your adults and are fully capable of making decisions based onmwhat makes YOU happy. Things like Facetime work wonders to keep up with family. GO enjoy. If the kids habe a problem, they will get over it.

[Barbaraok]

They are your children, you raised them, you should know what their reactions will be. Honestly, if you are just getting around to mentioning what you are thinking about doing, you are years behind.

Why have we become a nation where adult children need to be pampered?

[Old-Biscuit]

Family......
Tell them now.
Tell them after you buy RV
Tell them when it's time form them to come get whatever they want
Tell them when house goes up for sale
Tell them when you send info about new address


Every family is different.
YOU know yours----tell them/don't tell them


We let ours know of our plans when we starting shopping for truck/5th wheel
Confirmed we were doing it when we told them to come get 'stuff' cause in 2 weeks it was going up for auction at Estate Sale

"And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon."


Family!?

[JMynes]

Don't tell them. Let them come to visit and find a new family living in your former home. When they call, tell them where you are in your new RV.
Surprises are fun!

[drdarrin]

Are you saying that if you're kids object, you will give up this dream? If their reaction is anything other than positive, you may have done something wrong. That said, it wouldn't have stopped us.

You have spent your whole lives living and sacrificing for them. This is your time. Tell them you love them and you'll see them when you get back their way. Then go live your dream while you still can.

[4kiddz]

Thank you all. I honestly dont think they will be surprised by the news. We have always been adventerous and encouraged them to be as well. I think it will be the distance. Not pampered children at all. We are close and see each other regularly. No real extended family. We will still do this even if they object. I think the anxiety is mine. I am so excited to do this just dont want any negativity. ☺

[1bigmess]

Just do it. Might be a way to find out if they think you are in charge of your own lives and property or not.

You may be on to something here: all of the anxiety over this decision may very well be your own. And that makes it your own to face. I do know this much, I should have adopted this lifestyle a long time ago.

Ignore the negativity. It's not yours to take on. It's your life, no one really has the right to have a negative outlook on it, and anyone that thinks they do have that right, well, I would hope you would know what to tell them about that by now.

[vsheetz]

Just send them a change of address card to your new mail forwarding service. (-:

[Podivin]

If they say anything other than 'Mom and Dad, that's GREAT - we hope you have a fantastic time traveling' - tell them to suck it up, it's your life and you're going to live it the way you choose. (and if you've never told them to just suck it up before, now is an excellent time to start )
They have their own homes now, what you do with their childhood home is simply irrelevant at this point. They've got the memories, but it's YOUR house.

[G.G.]

I'm not sentimental when it comes to houses, photos, family furniture, etc., so don't understand when someone gets all worked up about losing their childhood home. It's just a house for goodness sake. Life moves on. If they don't want to lose it, sell it to them. :-)

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

I bet you will be surprised at how happy they are for you! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!