My 16 year old daughter doesn't want to move from her home and her school to allow her mother to take up a new job... help!
My wife and I have been separated for almost 10 years. We are now good friends and share our concerns and have always considered what is best for our daughters. Unfortunately, I live abroad and only see my daughters occasionally, leaving my ex to bring up the girls almost single-handedly... something which she has excelled at. Just recently she has accepted a job about two hours away from her home. This was out of financial necessity and a wonderful new opportunity for her, in fact, in every respect it was a 'no-brainer' for her to accept the position. Furthermore, the area she has moved to is where our girls were raised and close to their old school chums. There are fantastic educational establishments nearby with three particularly exceptional schools. The problem is our 16 year old daughter, who has just finished her GCSE exams, is heartbroken about the move, bringing her into real conflict with her mum. She sees the move as dragging her away from, and permanently losing, her friends and boyfriend, and the school she has grown to love. It is heartbreaking to hear her cry so much when I call, and to see the relationship breakdown with her mum. There seems to be no consoling her at all. Her boyfriend seems a nice enough guy but his friends are not so, how shall I put it... amenable, and are leading our daughter in the wrong direction we feel. We are trying to consider our daughter's future. She wants to go to university but her current school does not offer the opportunities or potential that her possible new schools do. Her younger 14 year old sister is not too happy about the move but has accepted it and sees it as a 'good thing' for the family, as do the rest of the family and friends (except, of course, our 16 year old's friends!). We are desperate to know what to do and would welcome any advice at all that anyone can offer... thank you for reading this!
