The Ricardos moved. But it was especially hard on 9 year old Elena who says, "I hated my room. I hated the house. I hated everything."
Mostly, she hated leaving her friends. "I was so emotional. I mean saying goodbye to all my friends-my very very close friend-who was my neighbor and just saying goodbye to them made me so sad."
For some kids, moving is not much different than someone dying. Pediatrician, Tim Jordan says, "There's that sense that I've lost my family, my friends, my base, my school, teachers, everything I knew that made me feel safe and secure, is all gone now. I have to start over."
His advice includes, make new friends, get involved at the new school and in the new neighborhood. He says that's what Elena's parents should encourage her to do. "One of the things that will be important for her is to find somebody, some people, some groups that she can feel connected to."
Experts also recommend that parents allow children to participate in the moving process, including house hunting and planning the move.
