Stay-at-Home Mom friendly neighborhoods in E. Cobb (Atlanta, Hampton: transplants, for sale) - City-Data Forum

Lilycharm · 03-18-2010, 02:10 PM

After living in another area of Atlanta for nearly 7 years, we are considering moving to E. Cobb for the better schools. I have a good support network here, so I worry that if I move to a new part of the suburbs it will be hard to make new friends with moms who have all known each other since there kids were in preschool.

I will have an incoming Kindergartner and First Grader, and the elementary schools that are my top contenders are Timber Ridge and Mount Bethel, but I am open to other suggestions.

Are there any subdivisions that are particularly welcoming to new neighbors?

Thank you,

Lily

BobKovacs · 03-18-2010, 03:13 PM

I think you may be worrying about something you really don't need to concern yourself with. Most of the Atlanta metro is made up of a large number of transplants, and neighborhoods are constantly changing- I highly doubt you'll find yourself being the first new resident to move into any subdivision lately. While there will surely be some folks who have know each other for a while, there are sure to be other recent transplants, so you really don't have to worry about being the only "newcomer".

Lilycharm · 03-18-2010, 04:29 PM

Thanks, Bob. That is reassuring to hear. My question stemmed a conversation I had with a mom while we were touring an E. Cobb elementary school. I asked if she liked the subdivision she was living in, and she said there weren't a whole lot of moms home during the day, but that other subdivisions had more stay at home moms. However, we didn't have time to go into detail about what those subdivisions were.

Anyone else have any insight? I have other questions, but I think I will start a new post so that this one does not veer off topic.

msh0146 · 03-18-2010, 06:22 PM

Why exactly would any subdivision not be welcoming to a stay at home mom?

RainyRainyDay · 03-18-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msh0146

Why exactly would any subdivision not be welcoming to a stay at home mom?

Hmm, I haven't replied to this thread until now because I didn't have any subdivisions to offer. (I'm in East Cobb, but not near the schools that Lily is considering, and I'm a working mom). However, I've been slightly amazed by the replies so far.

As a mom myself, I thought Lily's question was completely clear and obvious. Because she's a stay-at-home mom, she wants to live in a neighborhood which has other stay-at-home moms around during the daytime. The prospect of spending your days in a street full of empty houses, because everyone who lives nearby goes away all day to school or work, is a bit bleak, even if you are a well-adjusted person with lots of things to keep you busy. It's much nicer for a stay-at-home parent to have other stay-at-home parents in the neighborhood, so you can socialize a bit, exchange child care at times, etc. Basically, you hope to find some colleagues in stay-at-home parenting.

kaday · 03-18-2010, 06:45 PM

Actually I can't think of one that would not welcome a SAHM. Though swim/tennis neighborhoods are great for meeting "moms" and kids at the pool, I'd look for those first.

I think East Hampton is Timber Ridge. I know they have an active swim/tennis.

Lilycharm · 03-18-2010, 06:50 PM

I should probably just rephrase and ask if anyone knows of particular subdivisions in the East Cobb area that they would recommend.

While I hope to take tours of additional schools, so far I have visited Mount Bethel and Timber Ridge and have liked them both. So if other areas are suggested, I would definitely take them into consideration.

Thank you.

Lilycharm · 03-18-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

Because she's a stay-at-home mom, she wants to live in a neighborhood which has other stay-at-home moms around during the daytime. The prospect of spending your days in a street full of empty houses, because everyone who lives nearby goes away all day to school or work, is a bit bleak, even if you are a well-adjusted person with lots of things to keep you busy. It's much nicer for a stay-at-home parent to have other stay-at-home parents in the neighborhood, so you can socialize a bit, exchange child care at times, etc. Basically, you hope to find some colleagues in stay-at-home parenting.

YES!!! Exactly it.

The thought that some neighborhoods might be inhospitable to stay-at-home moms never entered my mind. Just that some might have more parents around during the day than others.

Thank you very much for summarizing my intention.

aries4118 · 03-18-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaday

Actually I can't think of one that would not welcome a SAHM. Though swim/tennis neighborhoods are great for meeting "moms" and kids at the pool, I'd look for those first.

I think East Hampton is Timber Ridge. I know they have an active swim/tennis.

Easthampton is actually Mount Bethel (it shouldn't be, but it is). So, it is still a good choice for the OP. (I'm talking about Easthampton proper...the small parts of Easthampton off of Bishop Lake Road do attend Timber Ridge, however).

To the OP...what is your price range for housing/neighborhoods?

Lilycharm · 03-19-2010, 07:45 PM

My "comfortable" price range is in the 500 - 650K price range. Possible we could work our way up to 700K.

It is interesting to me that as I look at home listings, there are several homes in the 400K range and almost nothing until you hit the mid 700s. Is there really nothing in the middle, or are those houses just not for sale?

Thank you again for your insight.