Living in America 2011

[MmeBucket]

We were a few messages away from being closed on the other one. Hope everyone finds me here.

Have you considered living in a suburb and having your dh commute in? Another possibility - here, if your child doesn't get into the magnet school that you want, he/she can transfer in later when a space opens up. There are two ways iirc. There is a waiting list but also as ds's school is a gifted school they also take recommendations from the other schools as to a gifted child who should have a place.

Oh, and have you looked at private schools yet?

You can just call the school, can't you?

It'll all be fine. Deep breaths now darling! :)

Want me to call them for you? I give good phone. :o

Hi Zellys!

We're off to do our look-round of Chicago in a few weeks time, then all going to plan we'll be there in July/Aug too, so perhaps see you there :o

Lakeview is nice.

There are good private schools in the city and a British school which, I think is in Lakeview, although they moved it and I forget exactly where it is now.

Panic not - it'll all be fine.

Thanks guys! jabberwocky, I'm a bit leery of the 'burbs (the non-driving is a factor here), have lived in cities all my life but would live anywhere if it'd be nice for all concerned.

We've looked at private schools and the british one but woah pricey - would consider it as a stop-gap while waiting for a new applications cycle though, if such things are possible.

Calling the schools directly is a great idea - I am going to find out some more about how the school system actually works over there first though or it'll be irritating for whoever I get on the phone! I might well take you up on that though CheerfulYank!

berri woohoo! Whereabouts are you looking at? Chicago is so friendly and fun, I know if we actually get there everything'll be fine. But I am never knowingly underworried.

Grockle thankyou! I found the british school - I'm not sure though, I'd like for the DCs to experience the difference if you know what I mean?

I was wondering, too - DS1 is on the gifted and talented register at our (state), school here - would that gain any traction if we applied to magnet schools or does it all depend on the test results?

*WAS on the G+T. there's something else now.

I thought you meant gin and tonic there!

Haha! That might be the logical next step once I've exhausted the calming properties of tea!

ok, cannot help at all with visas, nappy rash or chicago, but i keep losing this thread, so just saying 'hi'.

all this talk of 'butt cream' is making me smile - in school today, there was a word one of the kids appeared not to know, so she asked, 'what's a BUTT-ress?' she's 8th grade, so i'm guessing it was deliberate, even if she didn't know what it meant.

Nope, butt paste is this , always worked like a charm for DS.

Good luck zellys! Just put on your poshest accent when you call; they'll be all about you so they can claim they have "international students." :o

Ahh. . . butt paste. I always had multiple tubes on hand with DD.

We got a new dog this weekend. Now we have two. One for me, and one for the family and I to share.

Oooh, what kind? I love dogs! :)

Another dog?!

Hello fridakahlo - I am in South Orange. I drove through Lambertville a couple of years ago and now DH and I go back for annual apple picking.

Destin - 40% strength is what mums around my end use after 6 months when rashes get bad. Apparently it is 'nuclear' and very good for any rash a child might experience. Our obn has already told me to have a tube in hand as you never know when it will strike.

Zelly - you should check what the zoning is for schools. In New Jersey where you live determins the school you attend. I know Manhattan is pretty much the same (issue is when you get to high school). A good alternative can be Catholic schools. The fees at the local prep school for boys is only $10,500 per year. If you are part of the church the fees are reduced. Just be sure that you get into a good one. The good are great and bad are awful.

Hi Zellys

The areas we're tentatively looking at are Evanston, Wilmette & Lincoln Park, but we're going over for a recce in a few weeks time, so will know a bit more then.

Can I share your tea please, I'm far from calm about moving! :o

Another dog, Jabber.

The rescue thinks we got a min-pin chihuahua mix. Her face does look like a chihuahua, and she definitely has a min-pin personality, and has some of the odd min-pin quirks like our other one did. We also have a one-eyed doxie. It is good, because the doxie is kind of crabby old lady, and she isn't the family dog, she's my dog, and our new one is a total family dog that is way more into being loud and playing. Having two makes me want to have three, but I'm not sure yet, and I am sure that the line between animal lover and strange dog hoarder is going to be three dogs maximum in this house.

:) My mom always has three dogs...but then again she is kind of a strange dog hoarder!

We have destin. The butt paste is also zinc oxide based (in the UK there are loads that are not) so we didn't try that.

After 4 days of lots of naked time, it is no longer angry red :) If it hadn't been saturday morning we would have gone to docs in case of thrush or infection but it seems OK now.

Have my first appointment with the obstetrician tomorrow

Hi Zellys and Berri. I lived in Chicago for 3 years, in Evanston. It is probably my favourite place that I have lived since leaving London. I am in NY now. Evanston has good schools, loads of green space, clean beaches, really family friendly, it also has great links to the city, we were seconds from an L stop. I think driving is probably necessary though, but even though cars are big, so are roads and parking spaces and the driving test is very easy!

secondcity your post has made my day. My week, in fact :o

Have even copied and pasted it to DH, hope you don't mind!

I see aliens have came and abducted us all, since none of us have been posting.

I was abducted by some crazy lawyer chick in Ca who had us worried we may have to leave the country this week, due to her tardy filing of our visa renewal! And it is snowing a lot!