Dear Annie: I regret moving away from my daughter and her family … sadly, she doesn’t want me to move back

DEAR ANNIE: I recently moved to Colorado to help out my daughter and her family. I’m a small-town woman, so living in the city with them was challenging, but I gave it a real try. I even sold my house and everything in it to make the move possible.
I am now back in my small town. After a while in Colorado, I struggled with the new lifestyle and ended up moving back. Now, I deeply regret leaving. I miss my daughter and her family so much, and the separation has been harder than expected.
How do I live with the regret of leaving? I asked my daughter if I could move back and live somewhere else, not with her again. She said no. What should I do? — Miserable in Vermont
DEAR MISERABLE: Of course you miss your daughter and her family; after living under the same roof together, anything different must feel extremely isolating. On top of that, I imagine her reaction to you asking to move back didn’t help matters, either.
If relocating to Colorado isn’t in the cards right now, you’ll have to make do maintaining your relationship through phone calls, FaceTimes and visits, whenever you and your daughter feel ready for that step. Otherwise, see this as your chance to reclaim your small town as your home. This turning point is the perfect opportunity to fill the void you’re feeling with new friends and experiences in a place near and dear to your heart.
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