We moved abroad when our kids were 5 and 7. Keeping them close to their grandparents became a priority.

The author moved from the US to London with her kids.

Courtesy of the author We moved to London when our kids were 5 and 7.

We prioritized visits and traveled around Europe with their grandparents.

Living far apart didn't weaken their relationships — in some ways, it strengthened them.

We had just moved to New Jersey when we learned that we would have to move to London for my husband's job.

Our children, aged 5 and 7, were the much-adored only grandchildren of my in-laws, who were retired and living in Texas .

Our kids were also close with my mom and her partner, who lived in Hawaii.

We saw all of them regularly, either when they visited us in New York City, where the kids were born, or when we traveled to see them.

Fortunately, neither my in-laws nor my mother ever made us feel guilty about our move to the UK .

They knew that my husband's job required it.

Talking about it as a new adventure helped soften the blow for all of us, kids included.

"We'll come home for the holidays and in the summer, like we always do," we promised.

"And you can come visit us in England, too." My kids saw their grandparents Luckily, we were able to keep those promises.

We felt like we'd won the lottery arriving in Maui after weeks in a bleak, dark, freezing London winter (despite the 24-hour door-to-door journey).