Dallas Bound Single Mom (Plano, Hillcrest: fit in, violent crime, homes)

[Lakewooder]

Since some of you find pleasure in disputing anything I post, I made same drive today:

Left Mockingbird and Abrams 8:10 am. Got to the Tollway entrance at NW Highway 8:23 am (sign said "Spring Valley 6 minutes"). Passed the Galleria at 8:29 am. Got to my appointment on Spring Valley at 8:32 am.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Since some of you find pleasure in disputing anything I post, I made same drive today:

Left Mockingbird and Abrams 8:10 am. Got to the Tollway entrance at NW Highway 8:23 am (sign said "Spring Valley 6 minutes"). Passed the Galleria at 8:29 am. Got to my appointment on Spring Valley at 8:32 am.

TC80 made a very good point which you've chosen to ignore here...if you have children who start school at 8am (normal start time), you'll be commuting with the heaviest traffic.

Shift that same drive an hour back, then report back to us on Monday.

[Lakewooder]

I've done this drive at other times and the longest it ever took me was 40 minutes, and that was getting stuck on LBJ.

You've chosen to ignore that the lady could let her child off at St. Thomas on Mockingbird and/or Abrams at 8 am and then do the commute to work.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

You've chosen to ignore that the lady could let her child off at St. Thomas on Mockingbird and/or Abrams at 8 am and then do the commute to work.

That's because she mentioned St Monica, St Rita, and CTK in her original post.

The only one of those that's a realistic 'on the way' dropoff from Lakewood is CTK.

Why the hell should someone saddle themselves with a 40 minute commute when they can live in the lovely neighborhood next to St Rita and have barely any commute at all, or live in Sparkman Estates or even the Disney streets and be at St Monica in minutes? Why?

[Lakewooder]

I am trying to make suggestions since she is widowed, likes Catholic schools and may "possibly" work at the Galleria. She mentioned that Lakewood did not jump out at her, yet she likes the Park Cities and there are similarities, leading me to think she may not have gotten an accurate picture. Also I think that my area is very supportive of moms in situations like hers. How can more information be a bad thing?

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

I am trying to make suggestions since she is widowed, likes Catholic schools and may "possibly" work at the Galleria. She mentioned that Lakewood did not jump out at her, yet she likes the Park Cities and there are similarities, leading me to think she may not have gotten an accurate picture. Also I think that my area is very supportive of moms in situations like hers. How can more information be a bad thing?

Nothing wrong with more info; however I don't think you're presenting a realistic picture of the commute. That's all.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

I've done this drive at other times and the longest it ever took me was 40 minutes, and that was getting stuck on LBJ.

You've chosen to ignore that the lady could let her child off at St. Thomas on Mockingbird and/or Abrams at 8 am and then do the commute to work.

Most people need to be at work before 8:30 or 9. Just saying....

Sometimes Lakewood ISN'T the answer. Just as Park Cities isn't always the answer either. Note my recommendations of 75209 neifhborboods for this particular poster.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Azure1

Thanks so much for all the comments! Any opinions on being a single parent, and how that plays into having children in HPISD vs privates?

Hmm. Tough question to answer. As horrific as what I'm about to say sounds, I do think it's true: being widowed, you are the "right" kind of single woman so you wouldn't be perceived as a potential husband stealer. Even in the age of more divorced parents, there aren't a ton in the Park Cities (maybe 20-25% vs 40-50% general population based on the last time I perused a school directory). The community does a better job of taking care of & being empathetic towards widows/widowers than divorced singles. I see similar trends in my own church and would imagine the Catholic communities would mirror that even though it's not very Christ-like. I think its reality in the Bible Belt.

If you have a regular full-time job, it may be easier to get rooted in one community (church & school in one) vs two (church + public schools). You only have so much free time and will probably find a circle of femal friends and ofher families easier in the Catholic community vs juggling two groups. When you start seeing the same people at mass, carpool, kid bday parties, etc, it just moves faster. Make sense? No dig on the Park Cities but important to be realistic about not spreading yourself too thin.

[Willsson]

Let's keep the discussion on topic, to respond to the OP's actual inquiry. Any poster is going to find different qualities to a commute, no need to argue someone else's experience.

YMMV

[Azure1]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Hmm. Tough question to answer. As horrific as what I'm about to say sounds, I do think it's true: being widowed, you are the "right" kind of single woman so you wouldn't be perceived as a potential husband stealer. Even in the age of more divorced parents, there aren't a ton in the Park Cities (maybe 20-25% vs 40-50% general population based on the last time I perused a school directory). The community does a better job of taking care of & being empathetic towards widows/widowers than divorced singles. I see similar trends in my own church and would imagine the Catholic communities would mirror that even though it's not very Christ-like. I think its reality in the Bible Belt. .

Yes, a problem that I dread..... I am NOT a potential husband stealer! I firmly believe, "if he will cheat with you, he will cheat on you." I have NO interest in married men or even men who are single because they cheated!