Moving with kids isn't easy. Heck, moving without kids is hard, too. I understand so well; my six-year-old child has known four homes in her life so far, and she's about to know more. Although it's not any easier to pack the boxes this time around, I've learned some important lessons that truly do make moving with kids easier for the whole family.

Some of these tips address the emotional side of moving with kids; some are logistical.

Tell kids when you know the details of your move.

How's your poker face? Yeah, mine isn't so good either, and especially not with big news. To the extent that it's important to name the proverbial elephant in the room, let kids know early that you're moving. Children don't like life altering surprises sprung on them any more than adults do. Allow them time to process.

Besides, it's much better if they hear the news from you directly than if they overhear it in conversation (or from someone else). Our kids deserve honesty.

That said, if possible, do wait until you can share some details with them versus an anxiety-fostering "We might be moving." Kids thrive on knowing what to expect in life, so an ambiguous "We're selling the house and that's all we know" would likely cause some unnecessary worry.

A better option might be, "We're selling the house and moving in with Grandma for the summer" or "We're going to move from this house to an apartment that's closer to the beach!" It helps all of us to have something specific and positive to imagine when we're fantasizing about our new life ahead.

Be as specific as possible with them about what to expect. Spell out the steps and the process for them, especially if they've never moved before.

They'll want to know why you're packing; who will come get the stuff; all the things we take for granted as adults.

When moving with kids, be real about all the feelings -- theirs and yours.

Whether or not you're happy about moving, you're likely to feel a whole lot of things. Not to mention, moving with kids is exhausting physically and emotionally (even more than regular kid-free moving). That's completely normal.

As I write this and ponder our own upcoming move, I'm somewhere between joyful and excited and trusting, to panicking, feeling overwhelmed, and mourning leaving our friends behind. It's all there.

And do you know what children are likely to feel? All those same things. Just like our feelings can turn on a dime with "big life changes" like moving, theirs can, too.

Allow space for their feelings; allow grace for all the emotions they (and you) need to express. 

It's important to be your authentic self with your children (they know you!) without having them feel emotionally responsible for your feelings. If you're sad, it's helpful to say things like, "I'm sad to be leaving my friend Tracy, and I'm working through my feelings about that. I want you to know, however, that I've got this. And I'm looking forward to staying in touch with her after we move." (The "I've got this" of a version thereof is important.) Your kids need to know that you're still their emotional rock.

Similarly, when you're moving with kids, avoid imposing your experience on them.

Yesterday as we were leaving church, I mistakenly projected my own feelings and asked my child, "Wow, doesn't it feel strange to be leaving this church?"

My child replied, "Not at all, Mommy. We leave church every week."

Ha! Indeed we do. Not everything that's surreal to me needs to be a big emotional experience to her.

When moving with kids, let your child have as many "regular" moments as you can. Just because your head never strays from the impending move for more than 10 seconds, that's not your child's job. Your child's job is to be a child.

Related mini-course: Holding Space for Big Feelings

Let your kids say goodbye to all the things.

Ask your children what's important to them about where you live now. What do they like? Their answers might surprise you. For instance, I expected my child would want to see her favorite playground one more time before we move. We did that and we both verbalized our goodbyes to it. I didn't necessarily expect, however, that she'd want to say goodbye

to the bronze otter that sits outside our local City Hall.

Goodbye, Otter. We love you.

And goodbye, goats who live down the block. Goodbye, library. And my oh my, goodbye bakery with the really good cookies. (Sniff.)

Talk about moving by using books, songs, and play.

So much about moving with kids involves adults talking to them. As with all important topics, though, children sometimes assimilate information better if we communicate in child-focused ways.

For instance, you can sing songs about moving on to whatever lies ahead. I made one up that had lyrics somewhat similar to this one.

You can read books about moving. This one has stood the test of time in our house. (Ahem, our houses.)

Draw pictures about moving. Ask your child to draw a picture to hang on his or her new bedroom wall. Help her envision joyful surroundings.

For little kids, role play. Stuffed animals are wonderful communicators when children speak to and through them. They're common in some types of play therapy and can be wonderful for children's stress relief.

When moving with kids, keep whatever sense of normalcy you can.

Keep your rituals as close to the usual and familiar as possible---especially those rituals that foster connection between you. This makes moving easier on children; they know the connection isn't going anywhere.

Make time for hugs, touch, and play. Be very conscious about these things. It's easy for kids to feel abandoned while we adults are busy being "productive."

One way my child and I connect on a regular basis is by reading together. Although I had to pack all of her books in various boxes, I borrowed copies of her favorites from the library. That way, we could still read and connect in our usual way. The stories gave her familiarity and comfort.

Keep mealtimes and bedtimes as consistent as possible, too. It's tricky enough for a child to manage all the changes without their physical body trying to figure out which way is up. Plus, if bedtime is still bedtime, you can get more packing done after hours.

Mark the boxes with your children's belongings differently.

Here's another logistical one for you when moving with kids. Obviously, it helps to label your boxes with their contents. What's particularly helpful for children, however, is to mark their boxes in really obvious ways so that they're the easiest to find.

We attach an inch or two of colorful masking tape to my child's most important boxes. We'll find those first once we're in our new place.

For bonus points, invite your child to help pack. For some kids, it helps them process. Packing makes others sad. Personally, I don't mandate my daughter's involvement. It's her choice and I let her know ahead of time what I'm going to pack next (since she might not see whatever it is for awhile).

Prioritize safety.

It sounds like it goes without saying, but make sure to keep scissors and other dangerous items out of places where a child might inadvertently knock them off a counter or step on them. That goes for when you arrive at your new home, too.

Have I ever told you about the time my child was 18 months old and I didn't realize the house we'd just moved into had a gas stove --- she saw interesting knobs to turn, and the next thing I knew, the nearby packing paper was on fire? There were no injuries, thank goodness, but it was an important lesson for me!

Most of all, connect. Offer grace and give yourself some, too.

Your child loves you where you live now. Your child will love you in your new location. The boxes will come and go and you'll all get through this. Moving with kids isn't the easiest life experience, but truth be told, it's an opportunity to grow together. Breathe and trust in that.

After all, home is where the heart is.