Some days the idea of living in the country is enchanting to me. A big wooden cabin with vaulted ceilings and tons of natural light on Jason's family farm sounds amazing. Crickets chirping, h
orses, four wheelers, raising a family in a safe town and seeing them growing up in the church that Jason and I got married in. But....... then I remember all the things I hate about small towns, what I detested about them as a child and what I valued as a child myself growing up. I'm not from a small town and it seems my experience is a little different than people that have grown up in them but I hate(d) the following about living small towns: 1. Nothing to do 2. Cliques, it was (is) very hard to make friends 3. Gossip 4. Decreased possibilities in education, culture, jobs and experiences 5. Have to drive everywhere 6. No shopping except
wal-mart 7. Sex, drugs and boredom cause kids to get in trouble. Some of the same has/was said about my home town but until you move somewhere smaller it's hard to have something to compare it to. So with my hind site 20/20 here are the things I valued about my own childhood that I couldn't give my children here: 1. Culture, day camps, drama, music, theatre, all take over an hour to get to 2. Water, I grew up swimming and boating 3. Tutors/Instructors, it would take at least an hour to get anywhere 4. Shopping, if I needed anything ever, we'd just go get it but here it would take at least an hour to get anywhere other than
Wal-Mart 5. Possibilities; friendship, education, culture, jobs, I don't feel like I missed out on any experiences, and I'm just not sure that's the case here 6. Dating, The idea of my my children dating some of the people here scares me. I've also been consdiering the fact that I'd really like to centrally located between both sets of grandparents... and as of now we're basically 2 miles from Jason's family but an hour and a half away from mine. To be completely honest, I'd rather be closer to my parents, I think that's only natural to feel that way, I mean they did a great job with me. ;)
I know I still have time to consider everything... we don't have kids, I don't graduate for a 10 and half months... but it still plays on my mind.
If you all have any input or thoughts please share them. Below you'll see the back and front of a cabin Jason and I like. Enjoy!
PS If you have never read The City Mouse and the Country Mouse, I highly suggest it. It was one of my favorites as a child.
I loved that story, too. I grew up in a small town, and my parents dealt with many of the same issues. Here's the thing, though, your kids possibilities are only limited by you and Jason initially. Yes, it is a pain to have to drive so far to do so many things, but think of the quality of the time spent with each other getting from point a to point b. The Dr I went to was an hour away, my dentist was 2 hours. These were always well planned day trips that included great side adventures and some awesome discussions. With all that said, I can't imagine that either you or Jason would let your children miss out on anything, whether it was available near you or not. Wherever you guys are, your kids will be amazing simply because you are amazing :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the house, and I am glad your childhood offered you so much, but I have to agree with the first comment, you and Jason are going to be awesome parents, however I would love to be closet is nothing else to spoil the children! Love to you both
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