We have a timeline for what needs to be done between now and moving across country fom Oregon to Vermont, but I am concerned about my kids, 5 and 12, are going to handle it and also the actual moving with the cats and kids in the car.

What can I do to make things easier for them with not only the idea, but when the day comes to get in the car and leave?

I'm hoping to avoid having my cat ride to the new house clinging to my neck the whole way. Any advice appreciated.

Vet. Drugs (for your cat).

I don't know of anyone who has a cat that likes to move. When we first moved into our new house, I first moved all of her things and a blanket she liked to the new house. I put those things in a room, and when I brought her there I put her in that room and locked her in there for 24 hours to give her time to calm down and get used to things.

I once tried to move a cat, and when we got to the new place it ran up the chimney and got into the walls. The next time I moved that cat, I got the place together first then brought the cat over and locked it into a room until it calmed down.

My daughter is totally freaked out about our pending move. Please help ...

My daughter was 7 when we moved from California to Sweden. A psychologist recommended making a "moving book" for her. I bought a blank book and I wrote a book that explained the move in a step-by-step way. I also printed out clip art to paste on the appropriate pages. I am convinced that it really helped her to understand what was happening.

We moved when my kids were 8 and 2. The oldest got a book you could fill in about the house and friends to remember. The youngest got picture books on moving. Reading them really helped.