This is the most difficult conversation to have, how do you prove you’re grown up enough to make this decision and that you are serious about it? I was ready to have all questions thrown at me such as, did I really know if this is real love and not puppy love? Was I caught up in the magic of the long distance relationship? Was this happening too fast? Did I really know him well enough?

If you already asked friends / family for advice, then it is slightly easier and they won’t be completely shocked and taken off guard when you drop the bombshell. But lets be honest your friends will be supportive but they wont want to lose you, so will think of great excuses for you not to move yet. And if you talk to your parents they will either be supportive or object to the idea, but if you are like me no matter what they say your inner child will want to do the complete opposite.

Talking to your friends about your plans is easy – just arrange a night out and get them drunk and tell them, simple!

Now telling your best friends are a little harder, you don’t want them to think they are being left behind and you will forgot about them. Telling my best friend of 11 years that I was leaving was heartbreaking. Although she totally saw it coming and had been supportive from day one, it didn’t make it any easier telling her.  

“Now Woody, he’s been my pal for as long as I can remember. He’s brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind, and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special, is he’ll never give up on you… ever. He’ll be there for you, no matter what. ” ANDY – Toy Story 3

My best friend is my Woody and she has the most precious little girl that I will now have to watch grow up from a distance.

Telling my sister my plans seemed easy, she is 6 years younger than me and I had already moved out so she was used to the idea of me not living with her.  But it hit me after I moved how close we are and I missed her.

But how do you start the conversation to your parents? Do you make them their favourite dinner and wait till their mouths are full to drop the news? Take them to a fancy restaurant so they can’t use raised voices if they don’t approve? Hire a plane and put the news on a banner? Buy them presents they will love, so you can refer back to them if they don’t like the news? There are many creative ways to drop the bomb, but what ever way you decide to tell the news just remember they will love you know matter what.

I took me two full days before I finally plucked up the courage to talk to my mum, and it was only because I ran out of time as she was taking me back to my apartment. I was expecting the I don’t think so conversation, and the I am your mother and I know what is best for you chat. I also was expecting to be locked in a dragon-guarded tower, and I would have to grow my hair super long so my knight can climb up the side of the tower to rescue me. What mum really wants to hear that her daughter is moving to a strange country? I can still remember the conversation … every word that I had planned over and over in my head took a decade to come out my drying mouth.  I felt relieved that I got it off my chest, but I knew at that moment there was no turning back. I held my breath waiting for her response, I could feel my heartbeat becoming more rapid and the seconds felt like a century.

And then she started talking and all I was thinking was – I wonder how far away the tower is. I was shocked when she told me she was not surprised that I wanted to move to The Netherlands and she had been expecting this news sooner or later. I could finally breathe again and felt so stupid for ever doubting her reaction. I was so glad I had her full support and she was happy for me.

I may be one of the lucky ones, but every family member I told were happy for me and saw it coming. Most of my friends were supportive, but I think they were secretly more happy they had a new holiday home. It was a massive relief and I am totally thankful for everyone’s support, because up until this point this was my scariest challenge. Next up was getting serious and setting a date!!!

N x