If you could raise your kids anywhere in the world..

[bluebellbuttons]

.. where would it be and why?

We're in centralish London and I am very happy here, bar the teeny weeny issue of the fact that my fruit bowl could do a better job of governing the country than either of the folks who might conceivably be in power soon.

DH would say Vienna, having lived there for 5 years before we met.

Honeybee85 - bit like here then! Only you'd spend less over there because pura vida!

No you're right, it is super expensive compared to the rest of Central America. Long term plan is to rent out my house here and work remotely doing online/Skype sessions (am a therapist) over there - one day! 🤞🏼

@Velveteenfruitbowl fair enough. I have lived up and down the east coast of Australia and have to say the opposite. I also find the conversations here just as echo chambery, and can be even more superficial, as Sydney but then I also take the bull by the horns and keep the conversation away away from the repetitive and superficial bits. The values are neither better or worse just different. (There is a focus with the class system here though that I cannot quite get my head around) I did say to my daughter that maybe you were saying the not so bright etc thought to keep the British from moving out of Australia. And there are thickos from Australia here too sadly.

I am glad though that you are enjoying your life here. I grew up in woop woop with nothing, so I think I have learned that life reflects you as an individual unless you are in an abusive situation or under an oppression.

You truly only get out of life what you put in.

Scandinavia.
Or here if the Tories get voted out - when hell freezes over

@MarshaBradyo me too. I am glad to have the freedom to choose between the two at the different stages of life. Suits us to live here now though even with all this uncertainty.

London or New York City. I’ve brogiht my children up in London and genuinely feel they are so lucky and privileged to have that opportunity. Rural life is my worst nightmare so this suits us perfectly

My dc think they are so lucky that they were brought up in London.

Dd especially has friends from all over the country and visiting them when she was younger she saw how much more freedom she had and the choices of things to do compared to her friends

Winesalot I’m getting the Aus passports back atm just in case (born in Eng so have both). Costing nearly £1k all up . I grew up in a tiny rural town 2000 people, sent to boarding school, then Melb University. I kept moving for bigger towns and cities. London opportunities are still exciting to me. And I can see that they are for dc even though it’s their norm.

New Zealand. It's beautiful, nice people, very outdoorsy. Looking forward to taking our daughter there next year

Luckily enough, right here where we are in a decently sized city in Norway. I can be at the beach in 20 minutes, in the mountains in 20 mins in the other direction. It's glorious, my kids are thriving here, I rather like the school system. I think it's a LOT better than the UK (where I grew up). Very happy to be here!

if not here then Canada perhaps, or Scotland.

We live in Singapore and it's a pretty great lifestyle for the kids. Summer all round so loads of swimming and playing outdoors. Strong standard of education (my kids speak English and Mandarin) and surprisingly good SEN provisions. Excellent job opportunities for us and good travel options. It's proving to be a difficult place to leave.

Back in the Sussex countryside where we are from. The grass is not always greener.

I'm glad we went home to New Zealand to give our kids their young childhood there. It was a lot more relaxed, there was more space, and I'm really sorry, but the food was so much better! And coffee. . .

However, they're in their teens now, and while we didn't move to the UK for preference, there are a lot of advantages for them as teens here. The public transport system makes it easier for them to be independent. The competitiveness and focus in education and the pre-occupation with getting ahead has made them really think about what they want to be and how they are going to get there, and they're really striving and being challenged and extended in a way they never were in NZ.

The proximity to Europe and the way we are surrounded by great history in the UK has made the rest of the world so much more 'real' to them.

And there's lovely people in the UK too. We've been made so welcome by so many, who have taken us under their wing, and folded us in.

@MarshaBradyo very similar to us without boarding school as our town had 5000. But we ping-pommed. Came here, ended up having a baby, moved back for awhile and now moved back here. Fully expect that we might have to ‘retire’ back there.

I love the weather here. I grew up in a continual drought (over a decade before it broke properly), I love, love, love green grass and rain!!!

Having said that, like @Rickytickytembo I'm also in Singapore. I love England but Singapore is a great place to raise kids. Safe, warm and great education.
I've lived in some shit places and Singapore comes a close second to the UK for me

A Singaporean wave to ploughingthrough! Sussex countryside does sound rather idyllic though.

@Jiggles101

Fingers crossed for you!

I was actually shocked on how expensive CR was.
I think it’s much costlier then many European countries though the average salary is significantly lower. One of the locals told me that they often solve it by living together with several (extended) family members and that many people live on a diet of rice and beans.

Right here..in cornwall

Beautiful beaches and countryside. Generally relaxed lifestyle barr a little bit of tourist related chaos.

We opted to go to rural Spain when DS was 10 despite most people saying it was a bad idea and might ruin his education. It was a breath of fresh air for us all. Low cost of living (except electricity), fabulous weather (most of the time), wonderful neighbours.

DS thrived at the local state school and had far more freedom than in the UK, was exposed to very little consumerism and he spent far more time outside. He speaks Spanish fluently. We all came back after 8 years for a number of reasons not least the continuing unemployment situation in Spain, especially for young people. DS went to university in the UK, did his post grad at Oxford and is now a teacher. Don't regret it at all.

Right where I am now! Coastal town in the Uk. I’ve travelled a lot and attempted living in Australia for a bit, but it just made me realize how much I love my current town. It’s got everything we want. Beach, countryside, river. near a big exciting city but still has its own independent shops, nice pubs etc. We have a very outdoorsy lifestyle, water sports etc etc. Good schools. We love it!

The Netherlands for me - children have a lot more freedom, it's safer to walk and cycle, very family friendly and a good education system. Plus it's warmer than the Scandinavian countries!

We moved the Perth and love it - can’t imagine going back to the UK but never say never . Yes I see points re job ops and isolation but theres so much stuff to do as a family etc, the weather does factor to. Sunshine makes me happy!

Zurich. I have friends who live there the schools seem amazing, so much going on and bonkers beautiful.

It's comforting that many people are mentioning Canada. I was born in Montreal, so have dual citizenship and we've often talked about moving there, Toronto or Vancouver.

Every time I've looked at the weather recently though, it's been worse than here!

@BlobbyTheLump what do you love about it so much?