Where are all the kids??? Please HELP!!! (Madison, Fitchburg: spring break, for rent)

[remcycle]

Okay, so I just moved to Madison, and unless I'm missing something, I'm starting to think it was a BIG mistake. I'm writing this because I'm hoping someone will give me some information I can use before I pack up and move us somewhere else.

My family consists of myself, a 31 year old InfoTec guy who is working for the University; my wife who is 30, and a 7 year old daughter.

I like my job, but can work anywhere. My wife is currently contemplating grad school so Wisconsin would be great, but then again, just as good as anywhere.

The real reason for this post is my daughter. We moved into a neighborhood in Fitchburg where there are NO kids (seminole forest). None. Zero. Furthermore, we're three doors outside of the Madison school district, so we have to go with Verona's offerings, which we're not entirely sure of, but will find out this week as spring break is just ending and the schools are opening up again.

We've been exploring...doing our research...looking at neighborhoods. There are some nice ones and some not-so nice ones. Just like anywhere. Our daughter has had fun at the kids museum, downtown, the capitol and the zoo, and today we went to explore the Arboretum (it was a very nice day)...

...and yet, through all our journeys through town; all the grocery stores, museums, stops in town, shopping trips, and explorations, we haven't seen a single kid older than 4 or under 16. Where the hell are all the kids???

This is huge for us. We're starting to feel very isolated, and aside from our horrible spot in Fitchburg (we're only in this house for 6 months, so that's a relief), we can't seem to see any kids anywhere!!! Are there kids here? Are there neighborhoods with families?

It's silly of me to ask this this way, as I *know* they're out there somewhere. I'd really just like some guidance as to where we need to be to see these apparently elusive creatures.

Thanks for any help you guys can give! You've helped us make the decision to move here, but now we desperately need help finding other families with grade-school aged children.

[Megan1967]

From your post I have to assume you just moved here.
Most of the school districts already had their spring break so the kids are back in school already.

Many children go to day care after school until their parents can pick them up at 5:30 - 6:00 or they have after school activities - sports, music lessons, dance classes. After that they eat dinner and do their homework. So I can see why you haven't seen any children. Once your daughter starts school she'll met other kids. Signing her up for some activities will also give her more opportunities to meet children her own age.

[remcycle]

The kids were off school all week and went back today.

[Megan1967]

I meant that, if you were out and about the town and saw no children it was because most of the school districts around here had their spring break weeks ago. Verona's break was later than most of the rest, like Madison Metro SD.

I just thought of something else. The children were probably at day care during break during the day as both parents work in most families.

Don't give up! Madison is a great place, but I do think you have to get your children involved in structured activities as it doesn't seem like kids "go out to play" like they did when I was growing up.

Like I've said in previous posts, if the weather were better I wouldn't even think of leaving. Actually, I'm really interested in your perceptions of Madison and how it measures up compared to Austin.

I'm going to have to pay attention to when and where I see children now.

[L.K.]

personally,I would be more happy with the Verona school district anyway.Did you buy your house in Fitchburg or are you renting? I will bet that you will find kids coming out as the weather warms up.Are there playsets in yards? Did you research this development before going there? We no longer live in Madison,but I have 3 kids and lived in 3 different areas in Madison and there were always kids!

[florida_sassy]

I am going to give you someone to talk to... Don Tierney. He is a farmer who had a vision and a dream to build a community like the one you are looking for. I plan to move into one of his communities. We too can live anywhere in the field we are in, and we choose Madison for all of the qualities we missed from when we were younger. I don't know where you have lived, but we have lived in IL, PA, NJ, NC, TX, LA, FL (most of the time) and have chosen Madison out of anywhere in the US.

We live in Mount Horeb, WI ... now there are plenty of kids, but we see better out there.

<Moderator cut: no realty websites - see forum TOS - use DM>

Check out this elementary school in one of his communities

Waunakee Arboretum Elementary School (broken link) . Visit his communities. I assure you that I do not work for him or do any marketing for him... this is just word of mouth. I would be more then happy to talk to you about what we have witnessed in our numerous trips there trying to see if we are wrong about how wonderful his communities are. He wants to bring back free play for kids. When we drive to his communites... kids are outside playing. He sponsors an organic garden for the kids (kids only). He gave land and built parks for the community and GAVE them to the city. He sponsors sleigh rides at Christmas and has everyone sips hot chocolate and sings Christmas Carols.... When we first went to the communities people waved and when they saw we were taking a info sheet on a property people would come out and talk to us. His newest community... when you drive to the new part in the back "Southbridge" he built has so many homes being built you would never know there is a possible recession happening... there is something amazing happening in his community.

Now, when you visit the website there may be only two properties there... and they are priced in high level... but drive out to his community and you will see that there are some options there... as low as 300K and as high as a million.

On a side note, Verona schools are good... one of the best. So is Waunakee, Middleton, Mount Horeb, and that is all I know for now, but I am sure others on this board will be able to advice further.

Good luck, please let me know if you want more info.

Diane

[remcycle]

Originally Posted by L.K.

personally,I would be more happy with the Verona school district anyway.Did you buy your house in Fitchburg or are you renting? I will bet that you will find kids coming out as the weather warms up.Are there playsets in yards? Did you research this development before going there? We no longer live in Madison,but I have 3 kids and lived in 3 different areas in Madison and there were always kids!

We're just renting. What happened was that the University Alumni Association offered me a job and in a rush, a family friend had a house for rent in what appears to be a very family-UNfriendly neighborhood. Apprehensively we took it because we needed the place to land. Had we had more time to research, we would've opted for a neighborhood not only closer to town, but far smaller and more tight-knit. The houses in our neighborhood are MONSTERS, and from who I'm seeing drive down the streets, it's mostly retirees who are happy enough with grandchildren stopping by once every blue moon.

We are getting the hang of the Madison "thing", however...learning the streets and such. Isabel starts school at Stoner Prairie tomorrow (anyone have an opinion?) and she's SUPER excited; more to be around other kids than anything else.

Megan, when I have some time I'll post my "analysis" of the Austin-Madison connections, as there are a few but not nearly as many as I would've expected. Madison is a very different place with WAY WAY WAY friendlier people.

Have you been to Austin for any extended amount of time before? If so I can use specific neighborhood names in my spiel.

[stattscan]

Just wanted to give a shout out for you to check out Madison's friendly eastside! But no matter where you end up, come spring all the kids will come out! You see, we're like bears here in the Midwest! Good luck and take care.

[florida_sassy]

We moved here two years ago and never had a problem with the streets here with our handy dandy "GARMIN" GPS.

You have to get one... they are the best.

[Megan1967]

Remcycle,

That's really interesting in that someone just posted (a life long Austin resident) that people from Wisconsin, MN and IL are rude and arrogant. I begged to differ, but he (I assume) would not hear of any conflicting opinions.

I'm going down in May (17-22nd), for the fist time. I can't afford Austin proper so I'm looking at Round Rock, Georgetown and even Taylor as they have some nice historic houses. I don't think I'll want to live that far out, however.

So, I'm essentially looking at the urban sprawl areas because I can't afford to do otherwise....