Birthdays
Birthday gift ideas for family and friends in Australia
Choose around their routines and interests, with a personal touch that makes a birthday feel closer.
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Missing My Son in Australia: A Mum's Story
Lewis's mum, Samantha, on the drive to the airport, what she misses most, his silly little bike, and her advice for parents whose child has moved to Australia.
The short answer
Missing My Son in Australia
I remember the evening I had to drop my son at the airport. I'd known for weeks that he was moving to the other side of the world, and I'd spent those weeks pretending it wouldn't happen.
My mum, Samantha, wrote this for any parent whose child has moved to Australia. I'm the son in it. Lewis
The drive to the airport
I felt immensely proud of him. I also felt a pain deep in my heart that I don't think you can understand unless you're a parent like me, with a child living 11,000 miles away. As a mum you want to hold them close forever, but you have to let them spread their wings and leave one day.
Driving to the airport and saying goodbye to him is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. A cry came out of my chest that I had never felt or heard before, and it will stay with me forever. I had to walk away, because I knew I would make it harder for us both if I didn't.
What I miss most
The parts I struggle with every day are missing his physical presence, and doing the simple things in life that I never really appreciated until he was so far away.
I used to love our little lunch dates, going shopping and being able to spoil him. Birthdays and Christmas were always exciting, and I loved seeing his little face light up when he opened his presents. Even as an adult, Christmas Day was a special day in our family. I will never stop missing those moments.
What has kept us close
My biggest piece of advice is to keep the communication going, the way you would if they lived in the same town, or the way you did before they left.
- Tell them the small things, the big things and the bits in between.
- Send lots of photos of home.
- Involve them in family life, and speak often.
- Tell them you love them every time you speak.
Keep the same closeness you had before. That was my main worry when he left: that we would lose our close connection. I have done all of this, and thankfully that hasn't happened.
His silly little bike
A funny story. I was lucky enough to visit Lewis in Sydney last year. One day, before I went round to his apartment, he told me he had something to show me that I wouldn't be happy about. I knew immediately. He'd bought a motorbike, which was always a non-negotiable when he lived in the UK.
Now, just to wind me up, Lewis often sends pictures of what I call "his silly little bike" to my Frameo. The playfulness makes me smile, despite my absolute horror at him going against my strict rule of "no bikes ever"!
If your child is about to move to Australia
Be kind to yourself. In the early days, keep busy, and allow yourself to feel the emotion of missing them. It is like a form of grief, because you cannot physically see them when you want to.
It takes a long time to adjust, and the only way I coped was to keep busy. I made lots of plans, saw friends and joined the gym.
And remember always that even though we are miles away from our children, the love connection will never ever be broken. We carried them in our bodies for nine months, and we will carry them in our hearts forever.
Samantha Furness, Lewis's mum
If the missing ever feels heavier than it should, please talk to your GP, or call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night.
Build your own
Start with an empty box. Fill it with them.
Choose every piece yourself, pick a print that feels like them, then add your letter with a photo or video behind the QR card. We hand-pack it in Sydney and send it free.
- You choose every piece, and the print on the lid
- Your letter, plus a free photo or video behind the QR card
- Hand-packed in Sydney, free delivery Australia-wide
A little love, sent from home
Same Skies is the gift box company Lewis runs in Sydney. You order from the UK, we pack the box by hand in Sydney, and it's delivered inside Australia, so it never goes through customs. Your words live behind a QR code on a premium card inside the box, as a note, a photo or a video. See how the card works, read Lewis's side of the story, or find out how to send a gift to Australia from the UK. You can also build your own box and choose every piece.
See how the card works