Homesick - help! (Columbia, Camden, North: purchase, school, live in)

[HermieCKX]

Flamingo - That's just it! I am used to green parks and sandy beaches - and FREE outdoor activities for my son. We quickly learned that my son can NOT run around in our backyard our first week here after he was covered head to toe in fire ant bites! My poor baby... and like I said, there just aren't green parks, or playscapes for him in our little town. That's why I was thinking about Gymboree type classes, or something similar. I dont need paid activities at all - and actually can't afford them right now anyway. We just cant seem to find any nature areas around here like I was used to growing up - think softball fields, jungle gyms, picnic areas, maybe a river? I am looking forward to Finlay Park this week though!

And BRANDON! Thank you, thank you. Sincerely - I have spent the evening surfing this forum, and I can tell many posting regulars are not truly helpful - or kind for that matter, and spend their online time attacking and criticizing the transplants who are having trouble adjusting. You advice has been worthwhile and friendly. My mother in law is visiting in 2 weeks and I have been hoping to visit Lake Murray. That will be the perfect day trip. We went to Myrtle Beach in July and LOVED it. Thanks again.

[Nausikaa]

Google The Little Gym International, there are locations in Columbia.

Things for little one:

Dance lessons

Pony riding lessons (Camden is very horsy).

Playgrounds at McDonalds

Playgrounds at elementary schools, usually open on weekends.

Many subdivisions have swimming pools.

Buy a little boat and go to Lake Wateree.

Playground equipment for your back yard.

Sand Box, with sand box toys.

A kitten.

Many churches have Mom's Morning out, where you can go and shop, and little one can play with other kids.

[ciara27]

We live in Northeast Columbia in Lake Carolina. My wife is part of a moms group that does the things you have talked about. At least once a week they visit a park, the zoo, strawberry fields in Blythwood, they also go to a place called Bounce Around in Lugoff.

Another great thing they do is have a moms night out once a month where they leave the kids at home with us dads and they visit local restraunts in the area. It seems to be a great success. In the 2 1/2 years we have been here my wife and kids have made tons of friends.

If you would like to be put their email list just let me know.

Hope this helps.

[KCGIRL]

I also live in Camden, but I grew up here..Sorry you are already sick of Camden, but you have only been here 2 months?? Frankly, the summer is always quiet here and in the Fall things start to pick up. If you dont have a job and home all the time with children you really have to go to Clemson Road/Columbia to be entertained. You are right, Camden is a very quiet, safe, and friendly town, but that is why people live here! I have lived in other cities and moved back for those very reasons. Some ways you can really connect with people around here is if you join a church, have kids in local schools/daycare, the local gynmastics center/rec dept./ballet programs(they all have toddler classes), kids are always in the parks (which I think are wonderful), CamdenCountry Club (golf,tennis,pool) or make an effort to meet your neighbors if you live in a great neighborhood. Lots of fun events are also coming up that are fun. Fine Arts Center many Fall events...a free concert with parents and kids this Friday night 9-28, Blues Festival 1st weekend in Oct. and the Colonial Cup horse races in Nov. So, Camden is a tight knit community and we like the fact that we have no traffic, shopping malls, and dont mind the 15-40 commute to Columbia. Hope this helps and Good luck!!

[Brandon Hoffman]

They will be opening a new YMCA in NE Columbia very soon that I've heard will be first class. I don't have a date but I imagine the information will be on the YMCA website.

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by HermieCKX

Thanks for the "help" Dave O, LOL! Not. We really don’t have a choice… I guess we could move back to Michigan and be homeless with no jobs…. But hey, at least we’d have stuff to do?

Exactly my point, so quit complaining. If things were so peachy up north then you Yankees wouldn't be coming down in droves.

[sgfludd]

Hermie - I feel your pain. When we left Columbia for Los Angeles- I cried every day for almost six months. Now, a good wallow in self-pity never hurts - but I got plum
carried away! LOL
I agree with the above - you're going to have to hang out in Columbia. Village of Sandhills is a good place to start. There used to be Gymboree in Columbia, did
you check their corporate website?

The State paper publishes a Neighbors section (I think on Thursdays) pick up a copy to see what meetings and events are going on in NE Columbia - which is
closest to you.

You must get to the Riverbanks Zoo - one of the best in the nation. Family memberships are very reasonable - then you can go anytime you like. They have great
programs for kids where they can come in and pet baby animals, meet zookeepers, etc.
The Columbia Marianette Theatre and the state museum and there is a new Kids Museum right next to it.
Sorry - I know a lot of these are paid activities - but I'm just trying to give you lots of ideas. Craigslist is also starting to pick up in popularity
in Columbia, I dont know if they have meetings and activities listed there yet - but you should check that out too.
Also - Columbia has a Parenting magazine - not sure where you can find a copy - but they would have good resources as well.
Hang in there - you'll feel at home in no time. OH and the STATE FAIR starts soon. You MUST check that out. It's HUGE. And this is the time of year
for the Columbia Home Builders Parade of Homes - gorgeous dream houses decorated to the nines!
Gosh - now I'm homesick. LOL

[Fieona]

Here's just what I think, i think ur underestimating the isolation of being a mom and not knowing anyone, i was in the same situation (it was 30 years ago in columbia - but there wasn't that much to do back then). Camden is charming, but i think anywhere away from your home would be difficult. please don't be so hard on yourself. some of my ideas may seem somewhat radical - but i always think that your more important than a house, perhaps you could move slightly closer to columbia and your husband a slightly longer drive. you'd have closer access to everything. it would be a sacrafice for him, but he'd probably rather have you happy. there's a clemson university park on Interstate 20 at Exit 80 - it's about 3 miles down off the exit. it's beautiful -

i will also be relocating back to columbia from DC soon - (i think, if i can sell my house here) -

hopefully some of the young moms might chime in here and give you some other ideas - but, also look for things for you as well and i think you'll like being in camden better. good luck to u - !

[Luvsdabeach]

HermieCKX, if you go to a Lowe's or Home Depot there is a product, can't remember the name, that you can spread on your lawn similar to fertilizer that keeps away fire ants for the whole season. I put it on my lawn in the spring and I haven't seen any fire ants.

[usc_gal98]

Originally Posted by Dave O

Exactly my point, so quit complaining. If things were so peachy up north then you Yankees wouldn't be coming down in droves.

Why are you so hateful? I truly hope you are not a born and raised southerner because if you are, I'm ashamed of you. We are supposed to take pride in our hospitality.

It's obvious that the poster is having a hard time here. Hopefully, things will change for her soon.

And OP, I have a friend who lives in Lansing and she tells me about the lake there. Says it's her favorite place to be. She also tells me that she loves to vacation down in SC just to be able not to do anything.

Oh yeah, the best thing for those fire ants are grits, and plently of them. They swell and cause them to burst. My son is allergic to them, too. There is a stick of some type of amonia based product that helps with the sting. You can find it at any pharmacy.