MomDDTravel

Thank you! OO - I do have a question for you - I will be asking others but if you can email me Dawn Noel M @ g mail dot com - if you had a good derm in that area???

Thanks for the welcome Swisshiker!!

I am trusting that all will be well.

musicfan

Congrats and best of luck to your family!

I don't envy you moving with high-school age daughters...oh my.

We haven't done a long-distance move in 19 years so I'm afraid I don't have any tips other than to perhaps look for a house with a pool (unless you currently have one) as that might ease the transition, both daughter-wise and climate-wise!

Skiergirl

My parents tried moving us from CT to Florida when I was in middle school. It never transpired and I was devastated, but the one thing that helped was they involved my brother and me in the house search. We got to say what we liked/disliked about each house and were on all the tours. That made me feel like I had some input into the situation. Good luck and congrats!

MomDDTravel

Skiergirl - at first we were not going to bring them - but decided yesterday to bring them with us on the first trip. One - after receiving the news - we did not want to leave them here - and two we wanted to do exactly what you said - have them have some input. Middle school moves stink

Little_Man

Congrats to your husband!!! He must be feeling very good about himself right now after some difficult times!

I envy you in some ways, a move is such an opportunity to re invent your life, and for new adventure! I am sorry about your daughters, though. And though I live in Orange County, I'm not a native and would welcome a move, have never loved it here...

Good luck with your move, Dawn!

swisshiker

Good plan to bring them with you and let them be part of the excitement of moving. We did exactly that when we moved to Austin (from Orange County) 15 years ago. I remember each of them having a say in which bedroom/bathroom they wanted, which house they liked because of this or that, even the particular neighborhood. At their young age at the time (12 & 14), their perspective on things was amazing. Plus they could brag to their friends about their new home!

swisshiker

hmmmm...just posted something, I thought, but it disappeared. maybe it will show up sometime??

Anyway, I just wanted to say that it's a good call to bring the kids. We did the same thing when we moved to Austin from Orange County 15 years ago. Our kids were 12 & 14 at the time, and it was amazing to see their perspective on things: which bedroom/bathroom they wanted, even the particular neighborhood, what they did/didn't like about certain houses. Plus they could then brag to their friends about their new home. Added much to the excitement and greatly eased their anxiety.

swisshiker

oh well, I knew that would happen. oh well.

Good luck, Dawn!

tuscanlifeedit

Good luck Dawn.

I am so amazed by your courage: to go through so many medical things at once, and to move to new doctors, wow.

Do your son and DIL want to move to Texas, also?

FrankS

Congrats Dawn! What a whirlwind

Finding a home & moving girls to a new town is quite a task. I cant help with the 2nd(thats Mrs Franks job- I would just let them scream 'I hate Plano' and lock themselves in their room for the evening) but the first I know a little about moving many times. The OC housing market is pretty simple to understand, location location location. The quality variable seems less important in OC( 75 degrees everyday, you dont need brick and Pella windows), but is a huge variable where you are going. Its not just looking at curb appeal, age , sq ft and comps, you will really need to dig deep to make sure you are buying a quality home. I would keep the idea of renting for the first yr as an option.

Fodorite018

Dawn--Kids are never happy about a move, but don't stress too much about middle schoolers(or even high schoolers). When DH retired from the military, DD was in middle school. She cried once, the day we told her. Of course she was sad for a bit as she loved her life in our old town. But, she settled in here very quickly and found some great friends the first week. A few of those are still her best friends here, 6 years later. And, she is still very close to her friends in WA. I moved in the middle of high school. Same thing. So don't think that middle school moves have to suck

sarge56

Dawn, I am so excited you are going to be my distant neighbor! Can't wait for our first GTG.

You know I am here if you need me! Have you considered renting a house for six months or a year before settling on one to buy? It is very difficult to look and buy on such short notice. I would consider renting until you had more time to look.

I'm afraid there is some kind of stalled front over North Texas and it was 106 degrees today! But it will eventually get better. Just wear loose, light clothing; drink plenty of water; stay indoors as much as possible; always park in the shade, no matter how far you have to walk to where you are going. hahah

I suggest to "acclimate" the girls, you take them to one of the incredible malls in North Dallas area. The Galleria is one. And Stonebriar in Frisco is another. This will always help teenage girls adjust to a new area. (I know-I raised two of them)

Also, take them by the high schools. Marching bands will be out rehearsing in the mornings. (Too hot by afternoon.) We take our football, our marching bands and our cheerleading quite seriously. (I believe the National Cheerleading Championships are held in Dallas every year. If not every year, very often.)

And PLEASE do call me so we can do lunch or dinner or wine.

Congrats to SO and here's to a new adventure for all of you! Welcome to Texas!

MomDDTravel

well here we are in 106 degree weather. I have to say thank you so much to all the well wishes. It has been HOT.

We have powered through many areas and houses in the last 2 days and more to come tomorrow. We might extend our stay by a few days... it is REALLY overwhelming and there is just no way we can decide right now.

I have a feeling after looking over the last days that unless something grabs us - we will be leasing for that first year.

We have been to Prosper, McKinney, Frisco, Lucas, Parker... and Plano - I think we have decided that Plano would be the best fit for us for this season of our life. As much as dh was getting excited about the 2 - 5 acres out in the out lying areas... well, I just do not want to be way out there while he is traveling up to 50 percent of the time with his job.

I appreciate the feedback on the moving and schooling - we went by a cheer place today and she was warmly welcomed and may try out tomorrow.

Our older dd is not happy and I have a feeling she is thinking she does not want to move with us. She has the option of staying in OC unfortunately with her bio Mom and I do understand that might happen. I really am sad and distraught over that. We are very close - and I started dating my dh when she was 14 months old. I raised her much of the time and now this is ripping my heart out.

To those that asked if my son and DIL are coming - they want to - but I am not sure what will happen with that. Obviously I would love that. After seeing Plano I think they would like it here.

My head is spinning still to say the least.

Heavens

WOW, congrats Dawn. I have been in TX for the last two weeks and didn't look in on Fodors, too much visiting going on.

I got the tour in McKinney where my bff lives with her family. They live in the historic district. We went downtown to have a bellini and loved the town, so quaint and the people are so nice. I really liked the house prices. Pretty amazing. Beware of the property taxes, they can get quite high since they don't have income tax, I was told.

My trip to Dallas was great, but quite hot. I also moved my son into his first apt. which was hard to do in the heat, but we managed. He lives by SMU.

I think, after this trip, we are going to try to move over there within the next two years. I love the place, my family is there, the people are so nice and the pace is a little slower. Love the food, the shopping and the ease of everything.

Your children will warm up to it. Change is hard at those ages. Good luck getting it all figured out.

Btw, take the girls to North Park and eat lunch at the Mermaid Cafe in Neiman Marcus. It has been one of my regular spots for quite a while, like 40 years. Their soup and sandwhiches are the best. Great desserts too.

Heavens

MOM, forgot to tell you, in the Aug D Magazine is a detailed article on Dallas private schools, if you are cosidering that direction. Looks like a helpful article.

traveler_friend

Glad you're settling in well, MomDDTravel, and that the Collin county experience is exceeding your expectations.

The DFW area was said to have the greatest increae in population last year among the 350 USA metros, so that is a testament to its desirability. Vast numbers of its new citizens are from Southern California. And the metro population between 6 and 7 million means that there is a market for virtually any taste or interest.

If you're settled in the Plano area, you might want to visit some "lifestyle centers", places with an urban walkable pedestrian bent, life, activity, within walking distance. I'd suggest the Watters Creek center, Firewheel over toward Garland, the Shops at Allen, or most of all, Legacy Town Center.

Don't worry about the weather. The temps we're seeing this summer are atypically high, just as is the entire eastern seaboard. More typical summer weather patterns are between 75 and 95, with low humidity levels in the afternoons.

BTW, I guess that other poster failed to convince you to move to Europe instead of North Texas.

soogies

traveler friend - No need to visit Europe!

Texas has its own: ** Paris, Italy, Germany and Holland, to name a few!


** small towns in Texas

MomDDTravel

Well, I am here. Sitting in my hotel room. someone had started another thread and I did not want to keep writing about myself (I know eye roll! I promise, even *I* am sick of me - trust me).

But did want to say, I landed in DFW last Wed morning. I am not really liking it thus far but it is WAY too soon to make a call. Let's just say it has been much harder than I anticipated. Part of the issue is a problem tenant in CA that is complicating things - not getting my moving truck on the 1rst. Being in close tight quarters with a 13 year old, my husband, dog and cat for the last week.

My daughter is doing as well as possible. I am VERY proud of her and how hard she is trying and adjusting in such a short time. She is not a pollyanna but dealing it all VERY well.

It has not been too hot - the rental house is very nice. Everyone at my daughter's school has been very nice. Our landlords are very nice at the rental, people in Dallas are very nice... we enjoyed the first church we went to last Sunday.

It is so odd not to know anyone. Very humbling on many levels, in many different ways.

I have cried a barrel of tears but am thankful for so much and will keep my eyes on that instead of missing my beautiful granddaughter so much.

surfmom

MomDD, you are doing great!

Take a minute and do something for yourself. Not something big and flashy, but something small that you enjoy. Make your favorite cookies, sit and write a letter to your granddaughter, write a note to your dd telling her how proud of her you are, sit and watch the birds and drink a cup of your favorite tea. Don't get overwhelmed by it... one day at a time.

: )

traveler_friend

MomDDTravel,

Just to help ease your pain...

The SoCal burger chain In-N-Out is expanding into the Dallas area.

Hope that helps.