My husband, daughter (she's 9) and myself have been living with my parents for aboout a year. It was never the ideal situation. It has been hard to say the least. My dad and I have big personalities and rub each other the wrong way and he is an alcoholic who won't admit his problem.

So, to make a long story short, everything has just blown up and now we need to leave. My mom keeps saying that they are not asking us to leave, but they sure the heck are not trying to stop us. That's fine. We need to move on. What I am concerned about is my daughter. She has finally made some friends in the neighborhood and now I'm going to have to move her to an apartment (there don't seem to be any girls her age). I know. Not the end of the world. What I'm concerned about is how sad and upset she has become. I think she kind of understands what's going on. Maybe not the details, but I know she picks up on the stress and unhappiness. I'm wondering if I should try to explain things to her a little more clearly? I was also thimking that maybe an art class or an activity might help, but I don't want to overwhelm her and throw her in with even more new people.

Any suggestions??

Tell her the pro's that now you will have your new place and things will be easier in ways.
Try and take her to visit her friends or maybe let her have a friend or two over for the weekend sometimes. Unless you are moving pretty far away she shouldn't have to lose her friends completely. Also try taking her places a 9 yr old would enjoy and maybe next summer get her enrolled in some activities. If there is something now that wouldn't feel like rush and jammed in the schedule maybe see how she feels about going.