Oh dear, how sad and this is a scenario that many must go through when they intend leaving close family behind.
The one thing you need to bear in mind is that you're doing this for your little son and he is your future. Families or particular family members can be guilty of emotional blackmail where they try every trick in the book to make you feel bad about going and, ultimately get you to change your mind. I'm sure you know what's best for your son, so stick to your guns.
I often wonder if it's the thinking about you going upsets family more than the actual going. It's the thought of total separation and 'never seeing you again'. At one time that would be true but in this day and age we have so many facilities to hand where we can keep in touch regularly at little or no cost. I'm talking about the Internet and chatting on Yahoo or MSN messenger complete with webcam and voice. If your mum isn't very computer savvy, perhaps your brother could help her there. Then there are ways of making cheap phonecalls if you choose the right provider. Would your mum be up to visiting you when you're in NZ? Perhaps your brother would be keen to visit (once he gets over his annoyance) and could bring her with him.
It's never going to be easy leaving family and friends behind, but it's something we all have to go through if we want to get on with our own lives and not live someone else's. It has to be said that a lot of people have said they have much more communication with family now they are apart than they ever did when they lived just a few miles away. Somehow the distance can bring people together because of the need to cling to each other. When you live quite close, you don't have the same urgency and just put off visits or phone calls.
I think it's best to talk to your mum quietly and fairly soon, so she can get used to the idea, rather than suddenly dump it on her when there's only a few weeks left before you leave. It's not like you're leaving her on her own, your brother is there and I'd have a calm chat with him to explain why you feel you need to leave Bermuda and that he shouldn't think of it as the end of the earth. After all, if he's inclined, it's somewhere new he can go for a holiday.
I feel terribly sad for you having to go through this, but you must stay focused if this is really what you want. You're going with Shell, too, so you won't be alone in a strange country, which is one thing your mum might worry about. Don't be brow-beaten into staying, just follow your dream and do what YOU think is right. Just consider for a moment that there may be a tiny element of jealousy creeping in which might be colouring your family's feelings. You're escaping and doing something new and exciting and they're not.
I don't know if you meant to post this in the Introductions, but would you mind if I moved it out into the main forum where it might get a bit more feedback. Not everyone bothers to visit the Introductions category so it might be good to move it out. If you'd rather it stayed here, that's fine too.
