Where are you going in Canada?
Our lad lives on Vancouver Island so we default to Victoria, then in-laws in Kelowna. It's all a scouting operation for The Great Escape....
How long has your son lived there? Do you see him much? My son went off to Australia a year ago. He loves it. We get the odd WhatsApp face to face. I don't like being so far from him tbh. I don't think he'll come back so it's up to us to visit him which will get harder and harder. I think after we do visit it will be really hard to leave him. I'll be in bits.
He's been there 8 years this year. The first year was just like he was still at Uni, just with no quick laundry trips home. We saw him 2018 and 2019, then Covid hit, and with the restrictions it wasn't worth the risk of going then having to spend the time there isolating if someone on the plane tested positive. That was hard, especially with people complaining that they hadn't seen their family for days or weeks - meaning only through the window, or they had a chat or cup of tea outside with them. Then I'd say I hadn't seen our lad for 18 months, which was usually followed with "yeah, but you can facetime with him" before returning to how tough they'd had it blah blah blah. If you haven't lived with your child that far away then it's difficult to comprehend the wrench and ache of separation. Missing big life events is difficult, missing family parties likewise - watching everyone be with their kids and grandkids just reminds you what your missing.
Anyway, he has a great fiance, with a great family that welcomed our lad from the off and in turn have welcomed us. That makes it easier knowing he has a second family over there. We get over there every year if possible, or they come to us. It's a 24 hour travel day, allowing for connections and hanging around airports. I expect it be closer to 36 to get to Oz, which certainly takes it out of you.
It's difficult and can get you down, especially as we only have him, but the thought of him missing the opportunity he has given himself just to make us happy by staying here... well, its a no brainer. Its only temporary and gives us something to aim for, he ain't gettin away from us that easy
