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While you're at it, kick off your shoes, get knocked up again and rustle up some victuals in the kitchen.
He has a point, though. Bugs and heat are hardly valid reasons for uprooting an entire family. There are countless ways of coping with both. If her husband isn't convinced that moving is necessary then it is probably not the best idea for them.
What about breathing problems. I never had to take 2 allergy medications year-round and sometimes a rescue inhaler in other places I've lived, only needed to take a single seasonal allergy medicine and here, the medicine only takes the edge off. My child could die if she gets bit by a fire ant and possibly the other kids could have the same allergy since my husband has it and I don't know if I'm allergic. It's not just bugs are a nuisance. They are literally dangerous and unavoidable unless you want to be stuck at home or stay on pavement all the time- avoid cracks in side walks though as you could find fire ants there, too.
You should stay where you are. You have 4 kids and you don't work. There is no additional financial support coming from you. He is supporting the entire family. Do what he wants. He is the bread winner. If he doesn't want to move, then suck it up. Your family is better off than most. If you move and it doesn't work out for him jobwise, then you are all up a creek and your husband will blame you.
And she should watch where she steps or sits, fire ant mounds are very visible.
And she should watch where she steps or sits, fire ant mounds are very visible.
She's just about to turn 5, easier said than done and they were crawling all over the playground at the park. I didn't even see them at first until I had some on me.
My biggest issues with Texas are the pests (fire ants, mosquitoes and brown recluse spiders in particular), the militant Evangelicalism and social conservatism in some areas (especially Dallas-Fort Worth) and the fact that winters are long, cold and offer absolutely no respite for the brutally hot and humid summers (in much of the state).
What about breathing problems. I never had to take 2 allergy medications year-round and sometimes a rescue inhaler in other places I've lived, only needed to take a single seasonal allergy medicine and here, the medicine only takes the edge off. My child could die if she gets bit by a fire ant and possibly the other kids could have the same allergy since my husband has it and I don't know if I'm allergic. It's not just bugs are a nuisance. They are literally dangerous and unavoidable unless you want to be stuck at home or stay on pavement all the time- avoid cracks in side walks though as you could find fire ants there, too.
Get the whole family tested. Get on a full scale desensitation program. Most insurances pay for all of it. Are you self medicating right now?
Part of your problem may be your rental home. Start by moving to a better location.
I really have wanted to move for a few years now. The first year we moved here, it was still new and fresh and I tried to keep an open mind. But, I'm really over Texas, now. Fun to visit, but not to live in. I grew up in Minnesota and lived in Billings, Montana for 3 years before moving to TX. We've been in Texas 4 years, now. For reference, I am 30 and my husband is about to turn 34 and we have 4 children, 9 and under. I am a stay at home mom and we homeschool our kids, so uprooting them is not an issue. No family and not many friends here.
The only real plus to living here is that my husband has a nice job with the city. The reason I find Texas intolerable is because we can't be outside most of the year. The only time it's OK to be outside is when it's colder and the days have less light and it's only like that for about 4 months.
My husband and at least one of my kids are very allergic to fire ants. There are fire ants EVERYWHERE.
My daughter got bitten by one or two when we went on a walk a couple years ago and got hives all over her body. I was able to treat her with benadryl, but it was scary. I was ready to pick up and move the next day seeing that. (my husband not so much)
My husband got bitten and turned red all over from an allergic reaction and had to go to urgent care. I still don't know if others in our family will be allergic, but they are unavoidable and pesticide resistant. These are the main reasons I want to leave and find it intolerable here. I can't send my kids outdoors to play because it's dangerous for them to be out there. I followed the advice of putting socks and shoes on them, but we went to the park yesterday and the fire ants were crawling all over the playground equipment. I had them crawling on me before I realized it. Thankfully, I just brushed them off and we got out of there before anyone got bitten. I also hate the cockroaches that come around when it's warmer. We have to set traps and block up all the drains and stuff. Haven't had an infestation, yet. But, I've had one rub up against my foot once and one come out of the emergency sink drain when I was washing my face and nearly had a heart attack.
My husband has over 10 years experience in the civil engineering field and is known as an expert in the field. So, he should be able to fairly easily find a job elsewhere, but I'm having trouble convincing him to move because his job with the city is secure and mostly 40 hours a week. He takes on more hours through other people, though. So, doesn't seem to keep him from working extra hours in reality.
If anyone has any advice or suggestions, that's would be great. Maybe you know of other places that might be good for a homeschooling family with civil engineering related opportunities?? I will keep bringing it up to my husband in hopes of getting him more open to moving.
1) If fire ants were crawling on you, they would have bitten you before you could manage to brush them off, so I doubt that you actually had fire ants crawling all over you today. Just sayin.'
2) How can you live in a decent sized city for four years, not work outside the home, have four kids and still not have friends? Honestly - Texans tend to be very friendly. Sounds like you may be part of the problem.
3) You can't be outside most of the year????? Are you kidding? Look - Texas is pretty dang hot for about three months out of the year. The winters are generally fantastic. Fall and spring are usually breezy and pleasant. But to each his own, I guess. My husband works a lot up north and frankly, he thinks the weather up there is pretty miserable most of the year and can't wait to get back home to Texas (except for in August and September).
4) We've never had any sort of infestation of cockroaches ever - ever - in all our decades of living in Texas. So I guess I just can't relate to that part of your saga.
5) I did approve of you having your kids wear socks and shoes - that's pretty civilized behavior on your part and I commend you. But just so you know, we don't have much of a problem at all with fire ants, because we keep very effective fire ant treatment on hand and as soon as we see a mound, we treat it and POOF - it's gone. In fact, we only have about two or three fire ant mounds a year try to start in our yard and they're gone with one treatment.
6) It doesn't sound like your husband wants to move. Maybe he likes Texas - lots of people do. But Texas is not for the faint of heart or weak of spirit - or those prone to heat exhaustion or folks who are afraid of the occasional alarmingly big bug. Everything's bigger in Texas.
Exactly. People dont appreciate how good they have it until they leave. Life in the north is good.
Very true. North is def good. I moved to Northern VA from Texas. Best decision ever. Just couldn't adjust to TX no matter what I tried. Embraced it while there, but wasn't sad when I drove away leaving it behind in my rear view. Glad I got a chance to scratch it off my bucket list.
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