Almost 4 years ago, my husband moved our budding family (our 8 month old LadyP and myself) out to a quaint little small town suburb just outside of Los Angeles. I cried. I protested. I kicked. I screamed. I pouted. I cried again. I acted like a real baby.
Why? Because we were moving away from the city. (How stupid of me. Never mind how lucky and appreciative I felt to own a home… it’s just that it was outside the city!)
“Trust me,” he said. (Over and over.) “The schools are good, it’s all families here, you’re gonna love it.”
It took me a full one and half years to get emotionally invested… but let me tell you, I AM NOW INVESTED. Fully. I am in love – IN LOVE – with the community we live in and have threatened my husband that if he ever decide to relocate his practice and relocate our family to anywhere else in the whole wide world he’d have to go alone. (Rude, but necessary.) Because the girls and I intend to stay in our quaint little small town suburb just outside of Los Angeles. Because we love it… and it’s good for them. It’s good for all of us… for our life. (I mean, I walk my daughter to preschool…)
I’ve seen the light. I’ve gotten drunk on the local lemonade stands. There’s no going back now. (I would’ve slapped myself five years ago had I’d heard these words coming out of my mouth.)
As a mom of two little girls (the older one starting *real* school this fall!) I’ve genuinely become more passionate than I’d ever imagined about family security, community fun, quality public schools and getting to know your neighbors. Turns out I’ve got old school American values. (Who knew?)
Which is why I’m posting this invitation for any and all Southern California families looking for a smaller, sweeter and more satisfying way of life when it comes to the very big picture of raising kids: Great Park Neighborhoods Beacon Park is opening this summer in Irvine, CA… Get. Excited.
Meet The Builders (you can follow #MeetTheBuilders this weekend if you’re obsessed with Twitter like me) is a free event happening on Sunday, May 17 from 12noon – 4pm. Meet, talk with and ask questions to the teams of builders involved with this most unique family home development. You might recognize some of the builders’ names? They’re kinda famous.
There’ll be food, info, fun, plenty of bike parking (since Great Park Neighborhoods’ planning centers around bike trails connecting unique neighborhoods all around a larger park… with a mix of shops, schools, offices and the Irvine Transportation Center all close to home).
I’ve peeked at Great Park Neighborhoods’ website, materials and a few pictures… and this [unexpected] suburban-obsessed mom authentically thinks the whole concept is really cool. Fabulous, even.
Take your kids (they’re gonna have plenty of free cookies), take your bikes, take your dogs, take your in-laws (well maybe you can skip that one if it’s not completely necessary… hehe). But why not check it out if you think you might be in the market to find a house for your growing brood… you might just find the dream home you weren’t necessarily lookin’ for yet.
Just promise me that you won’t scream and cry and whine and throw an embarrassing tantrum like I did if you do end up moving to the suburbs. Trust me… there’s a great chance you’ll love it.
DISCLOSURE: This post was sponsored by Great Park Neighborhoods Beacon Park to promote #MeetTheBuilders event. All experiences are mine, all opinions are my own.
