Moving to Boston this summer - thoughts and tips please

[griffini]

Hi, we're moving to Boston this summer and am 'slightly' daunted by the decisions we need to make between now and then - where to live? How to research schools and pre-schools (DD will be 4 and would be starting reception in Sept if we stayed here, DS will be 2, so would be going to school nursery in Sept 2011 if we were in UK)? Can you apply when you don't live in the country? Is there somewhere that summarises suburbs/satellite towns as places to live/bring up families (there is a guide like this to London but I can't remember its name so not sure if it one of a series or one off)?
Others who have made a similar move - how did your children find it - when did you tell them? How did they react to leaving friends/school etc? How have you maintained links with grandparents? I have millions of other questions pinging round my head, but that is probably a good start!

[doubleexpresso]

No practical advice at all I'm afraid. I just wanted to say how much I envy you because I think Boston is a fab city. I fell in love with it when we visited. Good luck with the move and enjoy it!

[Bunkups33]

Hi Griffini. Our kids were the same age when we moved to Iowa (considerably less exciting than Boston) in Nov 08.

DD (now 5)was great and completely understood that we were moving to another continent on the map etc. Also the removal company had a good book for kids about moving overseas and it showed how the stuff was packed up and went on the big ship etc etc. She took to it amazingly well and after a few difficult days at her new school was happy as larry.

DS (now 3) was harder. He was lost and confused and stuck to me like glue for the 1st 6 months. I was going to put him in a preschool or playgroup but held off until this September as he was totally settled and ready for it by then.

Re keeping in touch we've been lucky in that family have visited. My family are pretty crap with phoning but we email and occasionally skype. They like to see we are all alive and looking ok I think but I find skype hard for actual conversation.

We also get 2 trips back to UK a year as part of the secondment package so that helps.

Generally I think kids are amazingly adaptable. With DD she gets anxious if she doesn't know what's happening so we tell her as much as we can. DS is different though and doesn't really worry about things before they happen iyswim.

Good luck

[Bunkups33]

Re-reading your post I seem to have failed to actually answer your questions!

Have you looked at www.britishexpats.com as I found that useful. Also check out www.city-data.com

[thenewbornnanny]

I lived in Boston for nearly 4 years looking after now 4.5 year old twins, and came back to Europe last summer. Can highly recommend Charlestown as an amazing (but expensive) place to live with young kids. The city is on your doorstep, there are LOADS of things to do with under-5s, and a very good nursery school too. Private preschools for 4+ are VERY hard to get places in, as there is a lot of competition and not great state provision. If you want to live in the burbs, Concord/Carlisle (30 mins drive approx from downtown, also has a commuter train) is a gorgeous area also with an amazing preschool and general school system. The area surrounding Boston is generally pretty expensive, and there are some wonderful neighbourhoods. People there are very family oriented and there's lots of community involvement and activities year round. Oh gosh I am soooooo jealous I would go back there to live if I could!

Let me know if there's anything specific you want to know

[MrsKitty]

No advice, I'm afraid, but you're so lucky - I loved Boston when we went there!

[TuppyGlossop]

I think other people are better at answering the specifics of Boston than I am, so I will just say enjoy it! By this I mean do not sweat the fact that the educational system is different and that your children are learning at a different pace than they would have been in England. They all reach the same place eventually. I have been here for what seems like forever and have seen many, many expats come and sadly go. The ones that seem the happiest and the most settled are the ones that just embrace life and the differences for what they are. When we first moved people told me that the DC were too young to notice the move - they were not so make sure you explain everything to them and the more positive you are the easier it will be. I hope you are really, really happy. I have never been but I hear Boston is fantastic.

[hester]

My SIL lives in Arlington, which is lovely and just a short tube ride from the centre of Boston. There are good schools, parks, and lots of British ex-pats. Oh, and the house prices are so low compared to London!

I don't know much, I'm afraid, but I know that everytime I go out there I envy her life

[griffini]

Thank you so much for your kind words and wishes - it's a helpful reminder that I need to keep focusing on the exciting side of things rather than get bogged down in worrying about (rather than doing anything about) the logistics...just as long as I can sort out the whole pre-school thing! Bunkups - thanks for the website suggestions - I'll check out now, will also check out Arlington, Concord and Carlisle - Charlestown sounds lovely but probably a little out of our league!
We will be there for 3 years, so when we come back DC are going to have to slot back into the UK education system...

[Lizum]

Hi Griffini

How did the move go? We're considering the same move. Any tips?

DS is nearly 2, so the simliar to your youngest.