I have been married 13 years and about to move into my 6th home (average is 12). My life has changed through the years – we bought the downtown condo to live it up, the 1947 fixer-upper home to feel all grown up, back to the downtown loft because we learned we can’t fix anything, and now we stick to the 2-story single family homes because we have a daughter, Isabel and a son on the way.
Our house buying decisions have changed drastically since having Isabel. We now think about schools (yes she is 2 years away from going and at our rate we will likely move again!), closeness to recreation facilities (because who wants to drive 30 minutes to dance lessons), green space (we haven’t ridden our bike since Isabel but we will – fingers crossed) and of course, we look at the neighbours.
So, how much does this really matter – my opinion, balance it out with where the local pub is, because after that dance recital you may need a drink. Seriously though, there needs to be a balance between what you and your spouse need for your own livelihood and what your children need for their growth. Either way, everyone will have to adapt a little; here are some things you should keep in mind:
- The schools in the neighbourhood may not have the best rating. That being said, the ratings are only averages that are affected by a multitude of different factors. What actually matters more than a subjective number is how involved you are with your own child’s growth – this is something that will vary from family to family.
- Recreation facilities are important, but realistically your children may be into some unique out of school activity like archery that will force you to drive out a good distance because you wouldn’t want to stifle your child’s abilities.
- Green space is also important, but if you don’t maintain the backyard, it is not helping anyone. As for parks, there is value in being able to walk/bike to the nearest park – its good exercise and a learning experience on road etiquette (which a lot of people need, trust me).
- Neighbours – it’s nice to have young children in your neighbourhood but you will find them at the recreation centres and schools to make the relationships work. As long as you have neighbours that enjoy their community, you can rest assured that all will be fine.
- And finally, the coffee shop, local pub or movie theatre nearby makes a date life easier because you can usually get a babysitter for a 2.5 hour stint on a week night to enjoy a little bonding with your spouse.
The outside of the home is as important as the inside but both need balance between the needs of your children and your adult needs! 😉
