Today marks two weeks in our new home and even though it’s our dream home (or will be), we’ve experienced lots of feelings of homesickness. I’ve felt some guilt and emotions around those feelings, but quickly realized we built a life and a routine somewhere else and getting settled in and becoming familiar with our new home will just take time.
I believe there are a few things to do to stop feeling like a stranger in a new place even faster. I jotted down this list of things to do in our new home (@victoriabradleystudio illustrated it for me) to overcome some of those feelings and it has worked so well!
Make a meal  After weeks of takeout, it felt so good and familiar to have a home-cooked meal
Set up your bedroom  After a long day in a disheveled chaotic house, it was comforting to climb into our bed.Â
Turn on a lamp  Even if a room isn’t perfect (or anywhere near it), a glowy light will warm it right up and somehow make an echo-y room feel intimate.
Take a walk around your neighborhood to get to know your new surroundings and find beauty in them.
Make a new memory. Soon your bank will be full of them, but you have to start somewhere. Plan an activity. Start a new tradition. We took pictures on the girls on our new fence for Father’s day and it felt like an instant tradition!
Put flowers on the table  to make you smile throughout the day.
Hang some art Art carries so much personality with it, so even if the walls aren’t the color you  plan on, hanging art is making your mark!
Organize your toiletries Do. not. live. out. of. your. toiletry. bag.Â
Invite a friend over. Having our friends in our new house helped us feel settled immensely! If this isn’t possible, try inviting a new neighbor over!Â
Make plans for your new house. During our lowest points, we brainstormed ideas for our new house. How we’re going to make it our own and that excitement cheered us right up.Â
The only thing left on my list is hang some art–off to it! Anything you would add?
I’d like to add do the same activities you did in your old house. Ie movie night, game night, bake cookies, etc. Whatever activity you did as a family.
These are all great suggestions, but I’ve wanted to ask. Do you think a big part of your homesickness you’ve been feeling is that most of your belongings were sold with your previous house? It’s one thing to go into a new home with everything you own–things look awkward, but they still function, and they still cary some semblance of your previous “normal.” But it’s something else entirely to hodge podge together what little you have left, because you sold the rest with your previous home. I have to imagine that Polly’s room is the most “homey” feeling, since you took nearly all (or all?) of it with you?
We’ve been in our new house almost 2 weeks as well. Our oldest (12) got off the bus in tears the last day of school (broke my heart), we moved the next day. The new house is great we have a lot more space,inside and out, but it is hard. A lot of the things you’ve mentioned have helped us. Going from an urban to suburban setting, the kids have really enjoyed ridding their bikes all around the neighborhood. Our oldest told a friend she was so happy we’re able to cook again “I hate fast food”. Parenting win! I thought that would have been the kids favorite part, maybe her brothers would disagree. :) I can’t wait to see how you transform your new space. Sending good vibes from KY!
Thanks for being honest about this process – really helpful.
With my first major move, I decided to buy a new, bigger, bed, leaving the old one behind. I thought this made sense. But, I found I didn’t sleep well. My sheets were all new, I couldn’t find the sweet spot to fall asleep. It took forever for my new bed to feel like my bed. Routines helped. Regular bedtime and wake up. My morning cup of tea. Wearing all my favorite comfy clothes helped. My threadbare pajamas! Try to change as few things as possible. For Willow, I would recommend you get her into her new routine as quickly as possible. The familiar is comforting.
My most recent move was to a town I’d never been to. It’s a big town, one hundred square miles. Everyday I would drive around, randomly turning down different roads, exploring new neighborhoods, stopping at different cafes, until I felt like I knew the place. Well, enough to feel comfortable. I still am finding spots I never noticed. So fun.