This post isn’t about dating, although it is about being single and one of the implications of this.

Just before Christmas I was faced with the reality that the catchment secondary school that my children would be attending is horrendous. I realised that there is only one way to ensure that they do not attend that school. I need to move house.
My son is in year 4, so although I’m not applying for school places for another 18 months, I felt very strongly that we should move. This was so hard for me as I love my house. It’s the house I bought my babies home to. It’s my family home. It’s a great size. Over the years money has been invested in it to make it safe, warm and aesthetically appealing.
It’s a 3 bedroom house and there are 3 of us. However, the small room probably won’t be big enough to accommodate a teenage girl comfortably when my daughter is older. I’d known since having a boy and a girl that I would either need to extend or move at some point. In the past I’ve even considered letting my daughter have my room, as being single I won’t need the space! 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

I spoke to a few people about this and by Christmas was feeling very determined and confident that this is what I should do, and I should do it soon. My son doesn’t deal with change very easily and so I knew I couldn’t move house right before he would be moving up to secondary school, that would be too much for him.

I had a location in mind that has a consistently good school nearby. So last week I bit the bullet and put my house up for sale. The previous week I had seen the perfect house for us in the perfect location but unfortunately my offer wasn’t accepted because I had not yet got my house up for sale. The vendors wanted someone ready to go. So I knew I could no longer delay as there had been a couple of houses in the area that I had missed out on because I wasn’t in a position to go.

My house went up for sale on Wednesday at 5pm. I had several viewings booked in for the following weekend. It was madness. I had people make offers to my face when they viewed the house. I was shocked at how fast it was all happening. Meanwhile I had seen a house I liked. Size-wise it’s not perfect, it’s a smaller house than my current house but has the loft converted into a bedroom. I knew if I wanted the house I would need to move fast to get it. The area I want is very popular and so property goes fast.

I accepted an offer on my house, not the highest offer but an offer from the kind of people I would like to have my house. They are getting married next year, want to start a family. I was 10 weeks pregnant when I moved in here so I was hoping it would become a family home for another couple. I went ahead and put an offer in on the house I had seen. By Tuesday I had sold my house. By Thursday I had bought another. So that’s basically a week from putting it up for sale to see how it goes, to it all being done!

I was overwhelmed. I spoke to many people. Some people telling me it’s a great idea. Some people making me feel like it isn’t, like it’s a rash and unnecessary thing to do. Suddenly I’m over come with doubts. Am I doing the right thing? Am I taking on too much mortgage wise? What if the school suddenly becomes just as bad as the one I’m moving away from? What if the kids don’t like it there? What if the neighbours don’t like us? What if we just don’t fit in? How will I live without a utility room? How will I get the kids to their current primary school for the next couple of years?

The last 2 times I’ve picked a house to buy I made the decision with a husband. I had someone to be jointly to blame if it wasn’t the right decision. I had someone to share the financial responsibility with. I had someone to talk it through with that was just as invested in it as I was.

Now it’s just me. I’m to blame if it’s not the right decision. I’m responsible for the mortgage and bills. I’m talking to myself about it and I only answer myself with the same doubts I already have.

I saw the quote  used and it’s very true, although not very helpful in this case. I miss having someone to share these big decisions with.

This time, I either take all the blame or all the glory in the decision. Time will tell which one it will be!