British family moving to DC for a short time - help - advice needed desperately!

[Anonymous]

If the move is connected with the British embassy, then there should be some sort of family association or community liaison officer who would be able to give you some advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PPs, how bad would it be for OP if they lived in the district in Capitol Hill and her DH had to commute to Springfield? That might be a nicer life for OP. much more walkable, parks and amenities and metro nearby, the 5 yo could be in the capitol hill cluster and do Peabody for K. Especially if they are only here for 2-3 years tops. They could easily take full advantage of all the city has to offer without being as far out as Burke. Not hating on Burke, but just thinking what would be a better experience for someone coming from outside the US. If I was assigned to living in London for a year or two, I'd much rather live in a family friendly city neighborhood and really get the most out of the experience than live in a far out suburb.

Depending on where in Springfield the DH works, he could possibly even take metro.

With young kids? I'd think it's better to get mum comfortably situated in a family-friendly place like Burke not far from DH's work than to subject him to a long commute (traffic on 95 flows in both directions and will only get worse with BRAC) and leave her potentially isolated in an unfamiliar DC neighborhood close to a criminal element....

Wow, you must not spend much time in Capitol Hill if you are saying that it isn't family friendly and dangerous. Yes, of course there is crime in any city, but seriously? Capitol Hill is stroller city. The parks are crawling with yuppie parents and kids who feel perfectly safe living there.

Uh huh. It's not hard to keep watch over a kid in a stroller. Most move out by the time the kids are in middle school. By then, the parents have gotten tired of pretending they really like schools like Brent.

OP's kids are 4 and 15 months. She'll be here 2-3 years. Your post has no relevance. Is this what you do for fun out there in Sterling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh huh. It's not hard to keep watch over a kid in a stroller. Most move out by the time the kids are in middle school. By then, the parents have gotten tired of pretending they really like schools like Brent.

OP's kids are 4 and 15 months. She'll be here 2-3 years. Your post has no relevance. Is this what you do for fun out there in Sterling?

It seems relevant to me, unless you keep your 6-7 year-old in a stroller. I agree that it's easier to live in a place like Capitol Hill with a baby or toddler than an older child. Go a few blocks in the wrong direction from Capitol Hill and things go downhill fast.

[Anonymous]

I would MUCH rather live in a place like Capitol Hill as a newcomer with small children than in Burke or Springfield. Especially if I was coming from overseas. There is really no denying that OP will find a more cosmopolitan group of people in CH than she will in a place like Springfield. AND, if her DH has their one car all day, I would feel absolutely trapped living that far out. At least on the Hill, OP could walk/metro anywhere.

[Anonymous]

The PP who talked about not wanting Capital Hill may be a tad alarmist about the "criminal element" but he does raise a good point about subjecting hubby to a lengthy commute.

OTOH, why not some of the nicer parts of South Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Glover park is good because your husband will be against the traffic in the morning likewise in the afternoon. Parks, schools and market are walking distance anywhere you rent here. Nanny here and my friend commute there everyday. It's a very nice play for you and your children also it's a multicultural neighborhood. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would MUCH rather live in a place like Capitol Hill as a newcomer with small children than in Burke or Springfield. Especially if I was coming from overseas. There is really no denying that OP will find a more cosmopolitan group of people in CH than she will in a place like Springfield. AND, if her DH has their one car all day, I would feel absolutely trapped living that far out. At least on the Hill, OP could walk/metro anywhere.

Springfield is very diverse. The residents are from all over the world.

On the other hand, some wealthy women who live in Capitol Hill probably have traveled to more different places.

Is that you meant by "cosmpolitan"? An art history major who'd drool to talk about her junior semester abroad with someone who'd lived abroad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would MUCH rather live in a place like Capitol Hill as a newcomer with small children than in Burke or Springfield. Especially if I was coming from overseas. There is really no denying that OP will find a more cosmopolitan group of people in CH than she will in a place like Springfield. AND, if her DH has their one car all day, I would feel absolutely trapped living that far out. At least on the Hill, OP could walk/metro anywhere.

Springfield is very diverse. The residents are from all over the world.

On the other hand, some wealthy women who live in Capitol Hill probably have traveled to more different places.

Is that you meant by "cosmpolitan"? An art history major who'd drool to talk about her junior semester abroad with someone who'd lived abroad?

PP I have an honest question for you. I doubt you'll answer but I'll give it a try. Why is it so hard to accept that different people have different experiences and opinions? And why do you feel qualified to opine about a neighborhood that you obviously know very little about? Be honest--what is it that is so lacking in your own life that your knee-jerk reaction is to be a bitch about anything that isn't exactly the way you think it should be?

The shrink in me thinks you're jealous and bitter, and that for some reason you feel like you can't live the life you wanted (e.g. a cosmopolitan city lifestyle). Seriously, this is no way to live. Try to look at the good in your life. You don't need to walk around feeling so resentful. Get professional help if you need it. Things can get better for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
PP I have an honest question for you. I doubt you'll answer but I'll give it a try. Why is it so hard to accept that different people have different experiences and opinions? And why do you feel qualified to opine about a neighborhood that you obviously know very little about? Be honest--what is it that is so lacking in your own life that your knee-jerk reaction is to be a bitch about anything that isn't exactly the way you think it should be?

The shrink in me thinks you're jealous and bitter, and that for some reason you feel like you can't live the life you wanted (e.g. a cosmopolitan city lifestyle). Seriously, this is no way to live. Try to look at the good in your life. You don't need to walk around feeling so resentful. Get professional help if you need it. Things can get better for you.

Here's a different suggestion: you give the condescending atttitude towards Springfield a rest. I know you have it within you.

Cosmopolitan lifestyles are available all over the region. You don't have to live in a place like Capitol Hill, with its high crime and constant churn of residents, to have one.

[Anonymous]

If my husband were working in Springfield and we only had one car I would consider Falls Church City or Fairlington in Arlington if I were going to be carless, and the Springfield/Burke area if the mom got the car during the day. You might want to consider buying an inexpensive car just to get around with the kids if you wanted to live in a less expensive area such as Springfield/Burke where there are larger houses for your money.

[Anonymous]

Here are some of the "cosmopolitan" people you might run into on Capitol Hill:

http://thehill.com/capital-living/173451-50-most-beautiful-people-2011-washington-congress-capitol

They seem healthy, but also boring beyond belief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
PP I have an honest question for you. I doubt you'll answer but I'll give it a try. Why is it so hard to accept that different people have different experiences and opinions? And why do you feel qualified to opine about a neighborhood that you obviously know very little about? Be honest--what is it that is so lacking in your own life that your knee-jerk reaction is to be a bitch about anything that isn't exactly the way you think it should be?

The shrink in me thinks you're jealous and bitter, and that for some reason you feel like you can't live the life you wanted (e.g. a cosmopolitan city lifestyle). Seriously, this is no way to live. Try to look at the good in your life. You don't need to walk around feeling so resentful. Get professional help if you need it. Things can get better for you.

Here's a different suggestion: you give the condescending atttitude towards Springfield a rest. I know you have it within you.

Cosmopolitan lifestyles are available all over the region. You don't have to live in a place like Capitol Hill, with its high crime and constant churn of residents, to have one.

Not PP, but this just boggles! Springfield is a distant, car-dependent suburb with zero charm. I don't know how the crime rate runs, but it's not a universally affluent area by any stretch and probably has a fairly transient population itself when you consider its proximity to a ginormous army base (which may be enough to exterminate any nascent cosmopolitan tendencies right there) and large number of blue collar families. The only thing that recommends it is its affordability. As far as I can think, nothing distinguishes it from any other suburb ringing the Beltway. That said, it may suit OP just fine, but I must say that I don't find it a pleasant or especially family-friendly place either. Can it support a "cosmopolitan lifestyle"? I guess that depends on how you define it, but it wouldn't come to mind as a candidate for me.

And I'm not a particular Hill fan myself, since I prefer the livelier parts of NW like Penn Quarter, Dupont, Logan, U St., etc, but you're comparing a place with "no there, there" (Springfield) to an actual someplace with much more stimulation for adults and children.