Moved to the burbs and hate it

[Anonymous]

What does s/o mean

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - maybe I can help. We live in Dupont Circle with 2 kids in elementary school. We have stayed in the city WAY longer than most of our friends. We love it and stay for all sorts of reasons. BUT we're about to have to go to the suburbs, too, for middle school. (Private is not in the budget for us). So, I think you probably just moved too soon. But you likely would have moved eventually. That seems to be what happens. Lots of people with young kids in this neighborhood, even with elementary-aged kids but people start to move away for middle school. So, maybe you can look at it as moving too soon, rather than as the move itself being a mistake.

Agree with all the PPs that you need to make friends in the neighborhood and you probably will be able to do that very easily once kids start school. But you're going to be fine. We'll probably be up your way in a couple of years

My parents moved to a new school district for middle school. It was the work, being the new kid in middle school is awful awful awful. Any chance you can move earlier so your kids can make friends in elementary school before being tossed into middle school mix? OP, you made the right call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people find it so difficult to believe that some people (not everyone) prefer being in the city and do not derive much pleasure from going on a hiking trail through bethesda or being members of a suburban community pool? I'm a city person. I get that a lot of people hate the noise, the long lines at the grocery store, the busy traffic right outside your window. Why can't those people then appreciate that some people (not everyone) equally hate sitting in a quiet house that is isolated from people and activities? They are clearly very difficult lifestyles and it's not so hard to believe that some people won't ever warm up to one or the other.

Many many people love the city,they just value quality public school education over the amenities of city living. As for activities, most kids activities are outside of the city (how many gymnastics schools or kumon centers are in DC?), so there's that. It's about if you are child centered or parent centered life. Less so city mouse vs country mouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - maybe I can help. We live in Dupont Circle with 2 kids in elementary school. We have stayed in the city WAY longer than most of our friends. We love it and stay for all sorts of reasons. BUT we're about to have to go to the suburbs, too, for middle school. (Private is not in the budget for us). So, I think you probably just moved too soon. But you likely would have moved eventually. That seems to be what happens. Lots of people with young kids in this neighborhood, even with elementary-aged kids but people start to move away for middle school. So, maybe you can look at it as moving too soon, rather than as the move itself being a mistake.

Agree with all the PPs that you need to make friends in the neighborhood and you probably will be able to do that very easily once kids start school. But you're going to be fine. We'll probably be up your way in a couple of years

My parents moved to a new school district for middle school. It was the work, being the new kid in middle school is awful awful awful. Any chance you can move earlier so your kids can make friends in elementary school before being tossed into middle school mix? OP, you made the right call.

Most kids do well when moving to a new middle school, since kids are coming there from different elementary schools and open to making new friends. At least that was our experience when DS started a new MS in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will settle into things, and be SO HAPPY you moved into a good public school district in MD where your kids can attend school for FREE with neighborhood friends. It will be worth it! In the mean time you are SO CLOSE to the city you can spend as much time as you want there to have fun and work! As a mom with kids who has made similar choices I know it isn't easy but well worth in during this particular time in your life. You can always move back to the city at a later point, but give it a chance. Also I agree with the folks who have said the grass always looks greener. I've heard from parents with older kids who live in DC and their kids have attended privates for 12 years and they've been schleping them across town to privates that they wish they would have moved to the close-in DC burbs and sent their kids to the better public schools.

Do tell! Where are these great schools, close-in, walkable? And what's your frame of reference for "great?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will settle into things, and be SO HAPPY you moved into a good public school district in MD where your kids can attend school for FREE with neighborhood friends. It will be worth it! In the mean time you are SO CLOSE to the city you can spend as much time as you want there to have fun and work! As a mom with kids who has made similar choices I know it isn't easy but well worth in during this particular time in your life. You can always move back to the city at a later point, but give it a chance. Also I agree with the folks who have said the grass always looks greener. I've heard from parents with older kids who live in DC and their kids have attended privates for 12 years and they've been schleping them across town to privates that they wish they would have moved to the close-in DC burbs and sent their kids to the better public schools.

Do tell! Where are these great schools, close-in, walkable? And what's your frame of reference for "great?"

Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Arlington, McLean, Falls Church (or at least parts of each).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP--we will be moving to your neighborhood (at least I think it's the same one based on your description) in December. I grew up in CCMD but have lived in NYC for the last 15 years. I, too, am scared I'll hate it but the proximity to DC, the metro, commerce, etc in addition to the excellent schools were enough to convince me to take the plunge. I'm expecting my second next spring. Let's hang out!

Yes let's!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP--we will be moving to your neighborhood (at least I think it's the same one based on your description) in December. I grew up in CCMD but have lived in NYC for the last 15 years. I, too, am scared I'll hate it but the proximity to DC, the metro, commerce, etc in addition to the excellent schools were enough to convince me to take the plunge. I'm expecting my second next spring. Let's hang out!

Yes let's!!

I want to hang out with you guys too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I think I probably live close to the Brookdale and other pp who just posted. If you have ideas in how I can get to know the hood please share! I'm on the Westbrook list serve but that's all I got so far.

Story time at the little falls library when it reopens. Take the stroller and walk the capital crescent trail into downtown. It goes right to Bethesda avenue and Barnes and noble always has something going on in the kids section I'm pretty sure there are some Gymboree type places over there and I think there is one at the center at ridge field and river, you should be able to meet moms there. But the big one in Westbrook is Halloween when the neighbors on Allen or worthington close off their blocks and have a big Halloween party. Pay attention to the signs posted before Halloween and you and your young family should go, you will have fun and meet tthe other young families. And there are a lot of new families as there was quite a turnover in houses this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does s/o mean

Either spin off or speaking of

[Anonymous]

City living is just a fad (remember pet rocks) and once the next riots or such starts out - you dont want to live in the city. Also the over crowding and crime and polution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - maybe I can help. We live in Dupont Circle with 2 kids in elementary school. We have stayed in the city WAY longer than most of our friends. We love it and stay for all sorts of reasons. BUT we're about to have to go to the suburbs, too, for middle school. (Private is not in the budget for us). So, I think you probably just moved too soon. But you likely would have moved eventually. That seems to be what happens. Lots of people with young kids in this neighborhood, even with elementary-aged kids but people start to move away for middle school. So, maybe you can look at it as moving too soon, rather than as the move itself being a mistake.

Agree with all the PPs that you need to make friends in the neighborhood and you probably will be able to do that very easily once kids start school. But you're going to be fine. We'll probably be up your way in a couple of years

My parents moved to a new school district for middle school. It was the work, being the new kid in middle school is awful awful awful. Any chance you can move earlier so your kids can make friends in elementary school before being tossed into middle school mix? OP, you made the right call.

Most kids do well when moving to a new middle school, since kids are coming there from different elementary schools and open to making new friends. At least that was our experience when DS started a new MS in FCPS.

My experience was that everyone held to their cliches from elementary school and new kids were shut out. But maybe its easier for boys, they tend to just buddy up with sports teammates and such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I made a mistake. We were expecting number 2, needed a bigger place, searched for a home for 2 years, found one right over the DC border into md, and I hate it. I miss the city. It's too quiet. I hate driving (even though I can walk to the metro from here). Not sure what to do? I'm afraid to even tell my husband since we spent everything we have on this house.

You're just into MD? You can still walk to the metro? Please.

Give yourself a bit longer to get over the transition, especially if you are still within a year postpartum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the city did you live? Because just across western in CC Maryland is almost the same as living in most of Northwest. Or were you downtown or in DuPont or Georgetown? If that's the case - I hear ya. We left when our first was 2. I realized soon after we should've and could've stayed at least a few more years. Walking to parks and shopping etc is actually easier with a kid in a stroller versus the contact in and out of the car! We lived in an elevator building so maybe I am biased. Could not have done it as easily with lots of stairs! We had number 2 soon after and I still wish we were in the real city. I think by the time they are both in school and playing sports etc - I will appreciate the house and driveway but for now I miss walking everywhere.

Yeah I lived in DuPont Logan. Now I'm in Bethesda

And you are on maternity leave? Of course you miss your favorite places and feel isolated. Give it time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:City living is just a fad (remember pet rocks) and once the next riots or such starts out - you dont want to live in the city. Also the over crowding and crime and polution.

City living is analogous to pet rocks? Okay, lol.