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Raising your kids in the USA

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TTCwithHope
LIF Infant

Member since 4/10

296 total posts

Name:
M

Raising your kids in the USA

If you had a choice, would you raise children in this country? After a lifetime living on Long Island then moving out of the area, I realized how much better quality of life can be and that school quality and resources can be just as good as LI if not better. This lead me to think, can the same be said of the US?

I do not want to get political as that is a no win conversation, but the recent school tragedy, amongst other legislation, makes me mourn for the option to raise my kids outside of the US. If I had a crystal ball, I would have obtained dual citizenship elsewhere prior to having children. I am so sad for the children of our country and the burden that rests on them and their future.

Posted 3/28/23 12:54 PM
 
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy

Member since 10/10

7789 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

I don't know enough about education in other countries to answer that question.

I can say I do not think the quality of education here in NY is superior to anywhere else. I'm sure there are excellent teachers and programs everywhere.

Posted 3/28/23 12:59 PM
 

HeyJude
LIF Adolescent

Member since 9/07

820 total posts

Name:
p

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

I would not want to raise my children anywhere other than the USA.

The only situation where I could see that happening is if we had to move because of my job or DH's, but I don't ever see that being an issue.

Posted 3/28/23 1:51 PM
 

nycbuslady
LIF Adult

Member since 9/15

1063 total posts

Name:

Raising your kids in the USA

I agree with the two previous posters. I can't imagine moving from the US -- NY, yes, but not leaving the country!

With all our problems, I still feel like America is the land of opportunity. Yes, you need to work hard, but I feel like there are more possibilities here than in other places. I realize that it is SOO MUCH harder to get ahead now than it was for previous generations, but I still wouldn't want to leave.

Posted 3/28/23 2:19 PM
 

NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..

Member since 11/09

54917 total posts

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..being a mommy and being a wife!

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

I don't think I could ever- we have friends and family here and we'd have nobody overseas.
Maybe if we had lived there since we got married or something and started our whole lives there but even then, all my family is here and I'd want them in my child's life

Posted 3/28/23 2:21 PM
 

mommy2be716
LIF Adult

Member since 1/16

2921 total posts

Name:

Raising your kids in the USA

My coworker is Canadian and has told me alot about Canada that sounds amazing. The universal healthcare sounds eh though

Posted 3/28/23 2:59 PM
 

CookiePuss
Cake from Outer Space!

Member since 5/05

14007 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Yes, I can imagine raising kids in a different part of the world.
Lifestyles in different countries can be a huge net positive for overall quality of life.
It's not an easy consideration or comparison. One has to worry about the ability to work. The cost of living as taxes may be an issue. Just living in a country does not give you automatic availability of services.
Typically, you are no longer close to extended family. Food is different. Entertainment may be different.

Posted 3/28/23 3:30 PM
 

lululu
LIF Adult

Member since 7/05

9508 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

If I could I would move my kids to another country for a year or two. I think that it would be a great experience. I would probably want to go to Costa Rica, but they have a great American School there that the kids could attend. I wouldn't want them to attend Costa Rican schools.

It's interesting though, we are so concerned with getting ahead and being part of the rat race, that we don't even realize that there's a whole world out there that doesn't live like this. Costa Rica, for example, is a blue zone and the average life expectancy is much higher there than it is here. And I would imagine the people are a lot happier. People don't care about material things the way we do.

I don't know, it's hard to leave what you know. I think that if my kids were young right now I would consider moving.

Posted 3/28/23 4:19 PM
 

beachgirl
LIF Adult

Member since 7/05

7967 total posts

Name:
sara

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

If I could go back in time I would choose to NOT raise my kids here in the US. I feel trapped now as my kids have grown up here and they have friends etc. so right now they would not want to move. But yes I would prefer to be raising my kids in Europe where I am from.

Posted 3/30/23 11:11 AM
 

Adri
Joy!

Member since 5/05

3116 total posts

Name:
A

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

I have no option. I'm from South America, so here it is 100% better than there. DH is from here, so I wouldn't see us raising DS in Europe.

Posted 3/30/23 8:19 PM
 

Raging2020
LIF Infant

Member since 8/21

302 total posts

Name:

Raising your kids in the USA

We were able to move our family out of NY, and I agree….what a difference in quality of life. The schools are very different from NY but the academic portion is actually superior. My children were behind in history and science, these 8 year olds down south were rattling off every state and capital and mine didn’t even know what a capital was or all 50 states! And they are outside after school with at least 20 other kids every day, it’s reminiscent of my childhood seeing the bikes in front of different houses and the playgrounds. I could go on and on, but getting out of the rat race and away from the craziness up north is an amazing feeling and I feel like my kids are living a normal childhood that I had.

However, we had the same conversation about leaving the country. But realistically we can’t do that to our children after uprooting them and leaving the state. And my reasons are political, if this continues I fear for the quality of life my kids will lead. A simple life on a Caribbean island sounds so much better than this.

Posted 4/4/23 6:15 AM
 

lpg21
LIF Infant

Member since 9/21

341 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by Raging2020

We were able to move our family out of NY, and I agree….what a difference in quality of life. The schools are very different from NY but the academic portion is actually superior. My children were behind in history and science, these 8 year olds down south were rattling off every state and capital and mine didn’t even know what a capital was or all 50 states! And they are outside after school with at least 20 other kids every day, it’s reminiscent of my childhood seeing the bikes in front of different houses and the playgrounds. I could go on and on, but getting out of the rat race and away from the craziness up north is an amazing feeling and I feel like my kids are living a normal childhood that I had.

However, we had the same conversation about leaving the country. But realistically we can’t do that to our children after uprooting them and leaving the state. And my reasons are political, if this continues I fear for the quality of life my kids will lead. A simple life on a Caribbean island sounds so much better than this.



Can I ask what state? I've heard the same thing about living here on LI. Everyone is always rushing, in a bad mood, always squeezed financially trying to get by... a rat race like you said.... and that it is completely different once you move away. I would love to move to SC but the one thing stopping me is I need special education services for my son which I hear isn't great where we'd like to move.

Posted 4/4/23 8:30 AM
 

LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!

Member since 5/05

19453 total posts

Name:
L

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

We moved to NJ. The quality of life here is vastly superior to what it is on LI. When we moved here, I was devastated. I thought nothing was better than LI. I was incredibly wrong.

Posted 4/4/23 9:50 PM
 

RainyDay
LIF Adult

Member since 6/15

3986 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by LSP2005

We moved to NJ. The quality of life here is vastly superior to what it is on LI. When we moved here, I was devastated. I thought nothing was better than LI. I was incredibly wrong.



Where in NJ? I love where we live in NJ but NYers seem to be flocking to where we are. I love it here and dread having to visit LI.

Message edited 4/5/2023 11:49:34 AM.

Posted 4/5/23 11:49 AM
 

lululu
LIF Adult

Member since 7/05

9508 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by RainyDay

Posted by LSP2005

We moved to NJ. The quality of life here is vastly superior to what it is on LI. When we moved here, I was devastated. I thought nothing was better than LI. I was incredibly wrong.



Where in NJ? I love where we live in NJ but NYers seem to be flocking to where we are. I love it here and dread having to visit LI.



Funny my sister in law actually lives in NJ and I dread having to go to her house. I lived in Jersey for 9 years and I actually prefer long island to NJ but I'm not a fan of either. I'd much prefer to live in the south.

Posted 4/5/23 12:41 PM
 

PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!

Member since 5/11

7612 total posts

Name:
Momma <3

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by LSP2005

We moved to NJ. The quality of life here is vastly superior to what it is on LI. When we moved here, I was devastated. I thought nothing was better than LI. I was incredibly wrong.



I live in a suburban area of Upstate NY and I agree. I would never move back to LI, but I do miss my family.

Posted 4/6/23 3:58 PM
 

RainyDay
LIF Adult

Member since 6/15

3986 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by lululu

Posted by RainyDay

Posted by LSP2005

We moved to NJ. The quality of life here is vastly superior to what it is on LI. When we moved here, I was devastated. I thought nothing was better than LI. I was incredibly wrong.



Where in NJ? I love where we live in NJ but NYers seem to be flocking to where we are. I love it here and dread having to visit LI.



Funny my sister in law actually lives in NJ and I dread having to go to her house. I lived in Jersey for 9 years and I actually prefer long island to NJ but I'm not a fan of either. I'd much prefer to live in the south.



I work remote and DH is thinking of job searching soon and I said now is the time to look outside of the tri-state. I love where we live but wouldnt mind cheaper prices and less congestion.

Posted 4/6/23 4:04 PM
 

lululu
LIF Adult

Member since 7/05

9508 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by RainyDay

Posted by lululu

Posted by RainyDay

Posted by LSP2005

We moved to NJ. The quality of life here is vastly superior to what it is on LI. When we moved here, I was devastated. I thought nothing was better than LI. I was incredibly wrong.



Where in NJ? I love where we live in NJ but NYers seem to be flocking to where we are. I love it here and dread having to visit LI.



Funny my sister in law actually lives in NJ and I dread having to go to her house. I lived in Jersey for 9 years and I actually prefer long island to NJ but I'm not a fan of either. I'd much prefer to live in the south.



I work remote and DH is thinking of job searching soon and I said now is the time to look outside of the tri-state. I love where we live but wouldnt mind cheaper prices and less congestion.



We both work remote and once my kids are out of HS we will relocate.

Posted 4/10/23 9:52 AM
 

LInMI
LIF Adult

Member since 7/10

1800 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

I wouldn't want to raise my kids outside of the USA. That being said, I do agree with previous posts. I think in some parts of the country (most) you can get the same quality of education (especially at the elementary level. My family lives in a rural area of the south (there's only 1 HS for the ENTIRE COUNTY).. My niece (same age as my LO) follows the same Eureka math curriculum and her sight words are almost a grade level ahead of what my child is working on... Her school is literally in the middle of a cotton field. NY really isn't that far ahead (if at all) education wise and the quality of life is all realtive.

Posted 4/11/23 9:39 PM
 

ali120206
2 Boys

Member since 7/06

17789 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by LInMI

I wouldn't want to raise my kids outside of the USA. That being said, I do agree with previous posts. I think in some parts of the country (most) you can get the same quality of education (especially at the elementary level. My family lives in a rural area of the south (there's only 1 HS for the ENTIRE COUNTY).. My niece (same age as my LO) follows the same Eureka math curriculum and her sight words are almost a grade level ahead of what my child is working on... Her school is literally in the middle of a cotton field. NY really isn't that far ahead (if at all) education wise and the quality of life is all realtive.



They definitely aren't.

I have a number of friends in Ohio and Atlanta who have 5th graders like me and their kids are learning so much more than mine!

Posted 4/12/23 8:39 AM
 

NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..

Member since 11/09

54917 total posts

Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by ali120206

Posted by LInMI

I wouldn't want to raise my kids outside of the USA. That being said, I do agree with previous posts. I think in some parts of the country (most) you can get the same quality of education (especially at the elementary level. My family lives in a rural area of the south (there's only 1 HS for the ENTIRE COUNTY).. My niece (same age as my LO) follows the same Eureka math curriculum and her sight words are almost a grade level ahead of what my child is working on... Her school is literally in the middle of a cotton field. NY really isn't that far ahead (if at all) education wise and the quality of life is all realtive.



They definitely aren't.

I have a number of friends in Ohio and Atlanta who have 5th graders like me and their kids are learning so much more than mine!



I think there is a lot of false narrative around New York being the greatest state in the country in all these areas. It's like some elitist superiority complex that isn't actually grounded in fact but many people like to believe it.

Posted 4/12/23 9:10 AM
 

HeyJude
LIF Adolescent

Member since 9/07

820 total posts

Name:
p

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by ali120206

Posted by LInMI

I wouldn't want to raise my kids outside of the USA. That being said, I do agree with previous posts. I think in some parts of the country (most) you can get the same quality of education (especially at the elementary level. My family lives in a rural area of the south (there's only 1 HS for the ENTIRE COUNTY).. My niece (same age as my LO) follows the same Eureka math curriculum and her sight words are almost a grade level ahead of what my child is working on... Her school is literally in the middle of a cotton field. NY really isn't that far ahead (if at all) education wise and the quality of life is all realtive.



They definitely aren't.

I have a number of friends in Ohio and Atlanta who have 5th graders like me and their kids are learning so much more than mine!



I think there is a lot of false narrative around New York being the greatest state in the country in all these areas. It's like some elitist superiority complex that isn't actually grounded in fact but many people like to believe it.



Maybe it is to justify paying $20k a year in property taxes? My in-laws continue to bash where my family moved, even after 6 years. Yet their grandchildren and son/brother are thriving educationally and socially. Even at $3k for property taxes, schools can be excellent and we are 20 miles from a major city. They can't be happy for us because it would prove that they are wrong about something Chat Icon but this is just my personal experience because my in-laws are horrible toxic people.

Posted 4/12/23 10:24 AM
 

Raging2020
LIF Infant

Member since 8/21

302 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by ali120206

Posted by LInMI

I wouldn't want to raise my kids outside of the USA. That being said, I do agree with previous posts. I think in some parts of the country (most) you can get the same quality of education (especially at the elementary level. My family lives in a rural area of the south (there's only 1 HS for the ENTIRE COUNTY).. My niece (same age as my LO) follows the same Eureka math curriculum and her sight words are almost a grade level ahead of what my child is working on... Her school is literally in the middle of a cotton field. NY really isn't that far ahead (if at all) education wise and the quality of life is all realtive.



They definitely aren't.

I have a number of friends in Ohio and Atlanta who have 5th graders like me and their kids are learning so much more than mine!



I think there is a lot of false narrative around New York being the greatest state in the country in all these areas. It's like some elitist superiority complex that isn't actually grounded in fact but many people like to believe it.



I think the problem is that sooo many people are stuck here so they have to convince themselves this is the best place to be.

Whether it’s a job that offers great benefits and a pension that you would be foolish to leave, or family relationships (and family that offers free child care) that makes it difficult to leave. There’s so many reasons people are “stuck”.

We were one of the few that could pack up and leave, between a job that you can work anywhere and a dysfunctional family it was easy for us.

But someone needs to break the cycle and just get up and leave. I had a friend who left a teaching job bc she didn’t want her kids to be stuck in NY in the same situation they were in.

Posted 4/16/23 8:52 AM
 

NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..

Member since 11/09

54917 total posts

Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by Raging2020

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by ali120206

Posted by LInMI

I wouldn't want to raise my kids outside of the USA. That being said, I do agree with previous posts. I think in some parts of the country (most) you can get the same quality of education (especially at the elementary level. My family lives in a rural area of the south (there's only 1 HS for the ENTIRE COUNTY).. My niece (same age as my LO) follows the same Eureka math curriculum and her sight words are almost a grade level ahead of what my child is working on... Her school is literally in the middle of a cotton field. NY really isn't that far ahead (if at all) education wise and the quality of life is all realtive.



They definitely aren't.

I have a number of friends in Ohio and Atlanta who have 5th graders like me and their kids are learning so much more than mine!



I think there is a lot of false narrative around New York being the greatest state in the country in all these areas. It's like some elitist superiority complex that isn't actually grounded in fact but many people like to believe it.



I think the problem is that sooo many people are stuck here so they have to convince themselves this is the best place to be.

Whether it’s a job that offers great benefits and a pension that you would be foolish to leave, or family relationships (and family that offers free child care) that makes it difficult to leave. There’s so many reasons people are “stuck”.

We were one of the few that could pack up and leave, between a job that you can work anywhere and a dysfunctional family it was easy for us.

But someone needs to break the cycle and just get up and leave. I had a friend who left a teaching job bc she didn’t want her kids to be stuck in NY in the same situation they were in.



I'm actually one of those people who is kinda stuck here for now. But I'm not delusional to think it's so great. I'm a realist! Chat Icon

Posted 4/16/23 9:35 AM
 

windyweather21
LIF Adult

Member since 3/21

6938 total posts

Name:

Re: Raising your kids in the USA

Posted by Raging2020

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by ali120206

Posted by LInMI

I wouldn't want to raise my kids outside of the USA. That being said, I do agree with previous posts. I think in some parts of the country (most) you can get the same quality of education (especially at the elementary level. My family lives in a rural area of the south (there's only 1 HS for the ENTIRE COUNTY).. My niece (same age as my LO) follows the same Eureka math curriculum and her sight words are almost a grade level ahead of what my child is working on... Her school is literally in the middle of a cotton field. NY really isn't that far ahead (if at all) education wise and the quality of life is all realtive.



They definitely aren't.

I have a number of friends in Ohio and Atlanta who have 5th graders like me and their kids are learning so much more than mine!



I think there is a lot of false narrative around New York being the greatest state in the country in all these areas. It's like some elitist superiority complex that isn't actually grounded in fact but many people like to believe it.



I think the problem is that sooo many people are stuck here so they have to convince themselves this is the best place to be.

Whether it’s a job that offers great benefits and a pension that you would be foolish to leave, or family relationships (and family that offers free child care) that makes it difficult to leave. There’s so many reasons people are “stuck”.

We were one of the few that could pack up and leave, between a job that you can work anywhere and a dysfunctional family it was easy for us.

But someone needs to break the cycle and just get up and leave. I had a friend who left a teaching job bc she didn’t want her kids to be stuck in NY in the same situation they were in.



Our issue is that we needs jobs and one with good medical so we make enough to live.

Posted 4/16/23 4:32 PM
 
 

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