You've all helped to affirm my decision to begin the process of making the move. For me it's really what I believe is best for my sons--and a little of what's best for mom and dad, since having a happy mom and dad is good for the little ones.

I'm a public high school teacher here in the states, so I really appreciate what having caring, concerned, loving parents means to a child and to society as a whole. As we get closer to the end of the year, I see more and more kids who have given up or who are just so angry because they know that summer vacation means abandonment, since the one place they can count on being fed, given attention, and being cared for will be closed for the next three months. Not to mention that I see more than enough kids who are angry all the time--or kids who are spoiled materially and feel that they are entitled to everything under the sun because their parents give them everything EXCEPT their love and discipline.

[/soapbox]

Sorry 'bout that, but it's been a rough week--and it's only Tuesday here!

Anyway, the point is, I love my boys too much to let them either grow up like that or live in a culture where letting them grow up like that is not only tolerated, but the norm.