Taking Time to Settle In
Peta Hill, Forster
I come from a really close family. When I came to Forster I was left wondering where I would get that support I had relied on so heavily.
In 2017, my husband and I took a risk. With zero connections established, we moved from Sydney to Forster on the Mid North Coast. It wasn’t easy- at times it was extremely challenging. Moving away from our support networks and familiarities was difficult.
My husband and I are outgoing and friendly people, but we still had to step out of our comfort zones to integrate ourselves into the community. In a small town, where relationships are quite tight knit, it was hard being the new people in town.
I work from home, so I had to put myself out there and socialise. I couldn’t rely on workplace interactions like most people who move to town. Being a mum to one-year-old Marley and pregnant with my second child, I found local mothers’ groups a great way to meet people. I found comfort in meeting others in the same situation as me.
I come from a really close family. When I came to Forster I was left wondering where I would get that support I had relied on so heavily. Now, I’ve built a great network and circle of friends.
I’ve realised that it’s okay to ask for help from people who aren’t your family.
We live 50 metres from Boomerang Beach. Having the ocean nearby is great for our mental health. We can have our morning coffee watching the sunrise, or let the kids burn up their energy on the beach. We’ll meet other local families there and spend time with one another. The area has a small community feel which is perfect for raising a young family. It feels like home.
The risk we took definitely paid off.
As a new mother, someone told me, ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup.’ I know that being the best mum, wife and friend means that I need to take care of myself. It means I need to be happy and feeling content. It means being introspective to work out what I need to feel nourished so I can be there for others. It’s a phrase that has always stuck with me.
