Should we move back closer to family before our daughter starts school? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

You haven’t formed strong friendships since relocating, but that takes time and returning home will have its own costs – not all of them financial

My husband and I are in a dilemma about where to live. We are in our early 30s and have an 18-month-old daughter. We are from the East Midlands but moved to the north-west three years ago to buy our first house. Our parents are in the East Midlands, as well as a few friends. My brother, who I am close to, also plans to move back from London in the next few years.

We moved to have a change, and for my husband to have some distance from our parents. He is not that close to his; I am close to my mum, but find the relationship challenging because she can behave erratically. My husband has put in quite a lot of effort to form connections in our new home city, but none seem to have stuck. I get some community from my colleagues and have tried to connect with other mums, but I sometimes long for the deep-rooted ties that come from longer term friends and family.

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