advice from city moms who moved to burbs.....

Re: advice from city moms who moved to burbs.....

• MrsWindyCity member

  February 2013

  We haven't made this move yet, but we will be in the very near future and I'm honestly sort of dreading it too. We're *hoping* to find a place near the commuter train, so we can walk to the train and take it to work, at least, but there will definitely be a lot more driving in our future too. Anyway, I'm no help obviously, but I'll be looking forward to the responses too!

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• UberBiz member

  February 2013

  We didn't move city to burbs, but we did move burbs to rural! And boy was THAT an adjustment! We had to drive everywhere in the suburbs anyway, but everything was still really close, even though 2 miles could take like, 15 minutes. Now we have to drive an hour just to go to the mall or a movie theater! It's crazy, but you just get used to it.
  

  OMG too many tickers...
  
  

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• JoannaR1381 member

  February 2013

  We moved from living downtown to a suburb 40 mins outside of the city.  I have lived in the city for the past 30 years so it has been a huge adjustment for me and continues to be.  The driving part really bothers me but something that I just have to get over.  Although we now have a larger house and I can stay at home, if we won the lottery, we would move back in a heartbeat.

  I should say that I have made more friends living in the burbs for the last year than I ever did in the city. 

  
  
  
  

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• Erinmmo member

  February 2013

  yeah we are moving about 30 minutes from the city- its near the "downtown" part but cant walk just due to where the road is- well the house we are considering-

  I have complained about wanting to move and now I am so nervous- its like I am dealing with my hindsight already- I so appreciate the proximity of stuff.  Its like I want a bottle of wine- I walk to get it, I need milk or pick up a script- boom outside my door.  I need to mail a letter last minute- I am there in 1 minute.  And when my tot is in her one of her moods- I dont have to rush I can wait it out bc its like- we are just walking to wherever we need to go so I dont have to deal with the getting in the car issue. 

  I know its for the better- we are looking at an acre of property and it will be for the best bc we so want this outdoor space but- when your kid already hates the car- AND I dont even leave here until 9am to walk her to school its like I am in for some big time adjustments. 

  At least I know I am not alone in thinking like this!  So thanks!!  Its put me at some ease. 

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• groovygrl member

  February 2013

  I did not have kids when I moved from city to burbs but I lived in cities w/ no car for about 8 yrs then moved to a burb where I could walk to train & other stuff for 3 yrs and then moved to the true burbs... it was an adjustment & where we moved there were no downtown type places where you could walk to do things except a really expensive area we couldn't afford...it took time to get used to having to drive to do everything but you learn to appreciate some of the nice things about the burbs of course.  Once we had kids I did kind of wish that we could take walks to places other than the park in the neighborhood but at the same time, we had lots of space in our house, yard, a great park, and lived in a different (less congested, less traffic, lower COL) area that had advantages.

  Our first transition from city living to suburb that was a downtown w/ restaurants/shops/public transportation did make it an easier transition, I still didn't really need my car except for grocery shopping or going place that were further...
  

  I'm going to be honest though- I still think I'd like to move to more of a town/city environment when our kids are older or grown. 

  GL!
  

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• chardonnay24 member

  February 2013

  No advice, I still haven't adjusted. We live in the burbs right now because I work in the city and my husband works in a rural area, so the burbs are an equal commute for both of us. I hate having to load up everything and the kid in the car anytime we go anywhere. We don't even have a park within walking distance. The only good thing is that we live close to a lake and a nature trail, so there is a lot of opportunity for taking walks and bike rides.

  I guess my advice would be to try and live as close to the downtown area of the city/town that you can. We still have to drive to get to the historic downtown shopping and dining area, but parking is free and plentiful and once we're there, we can walk to the park, restaurants, shopping, the library, and the post office easily.

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• cpmich member

  February 2013

  It is a hard transition but can be really rewarding. Be honest with yourself about what you need. Find a place thatis wwalking distance to a playground or at least a school. If you can, find something walking distance to a playground and grocery. If you also can loop in the library you have won the lottery.
  
  My kiddo hates the car too but will put up with it for most trips. Upgrading to the bigger Britax helped surprisingly much.

  

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• JillAly member

  February 2013

  I lived in NYC for 25 years and last year we all moved to the burbs- and not the walking kind of burb.  We have to drive everywhere.  The biggest shock was how much gas I use.  Seriously, I barely drove and now I spend hundreds of dollars on gas each month.  If I realized it would be that much, I would have moved closer to the town/train/park. 

  Adjusting to the move was easy for me though- in NYC I lived in a cramped 1 bedroom apt. with 4 of us. I couldn't wait to get out.  Then we moved to a house with SPACE!  So whatever inconveniences I have with driving is forgotten the minute I see my house with all the space. 

   Finding new schools and local places to eat, have fun, etc. was just a big adventure.  I thrived on finding every great little restaurant, asked total strangers where their kids went to school - I was research obsessed.  I think the harder part was making new friends - but I find that kids in school helps me make friends as I've slowly gotten to know some moms.  Get involved in as much as you can volunteering, outside classes, etc.  I wasn't used to being so "alone" (tough to say with 2 young kids but I was used to hundreds of people being everywhere). People in the burbs stay in their houses.  We would just go to the library to have something to do - and then the kids find each other and play - and that's how I get to know other parents too.

  The adjustment from walking to driving everywhere thing wasn't a big change- but the carseat thing is.  I put them in/out 100 times a day (at least it feels that way).  When it's raining, I get wet.  When it's cold, I stand there freezing.  You can't really have an umbrella while you use your hands to strap kids in.   I didn't expect that it would take as long as it does to get 2 kids strapped in every time.  But you get used to it.  Now if the gas prices would just go down!

  3 IUI's and 2 IVF's later- Brady arrived. Born at 36 weeks after PUPPS and pre-e/HELLP.
  IUI- BFN IVF #1 -BFP! Allie is our 2nd IVF baby. Born at 36 1/2 weeks after pre-e again
  
  
  
  

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