Meridian MS - family town? (Newton, West: apartments, crime, daycare)

[amywill5918]

I'm moving to Meridian MS because currently I live far from any family and far from amenities in NM. My husband and I have been here for three or four years and I'm feeling very lonely so I decided to move close to his family. He works nights and is addicted to World of Warcraft so won't notice the change too much! His family lives in Dalewood a little lakeside housing community. I thought my son would benefit by being close to family that adores him and cousins and even the social/learning opportunities of daycare.

Can anyone tell me how this area stacks up as a family place? Schools, safe neighborhoods, places for them to play, things for them to do? Karate class or gymboree and the like?

In Meridian, I can get childcare vouchers and return to work and school. I'm told there are grants for women there to get nursing degrees and other training for free.

The big thing is I grew up in NYC and DC area and lived in places like Anchorage and SF and never really needed to drive. I saw that the six buslines have some apartments on them but the problem is, I also need to be in a safe neighborhood close to amenities. Or on a busline to them and to work. I know its small, but likely not so small that every job opportunity I might get will be close by!

I'm sure its not as bad as here - I live outside of Albuquerque and don't like to take my toddler out because there was a drive by around the corner from me. Random killing of a child and his mom. My husband works on base and they work w/the sherrifs dept. and he heard about it.

My landlady, who owns many of the houses in the area assured me that the area was safe.

It seems like no neighborhood here is immune to violence and crime. I'm looking forward to moving to a relatively small town. I don't care if there are no bars and clubs (maybe there will be less mayhem) as long as there are movie theatres and stuff. I'm not into bars and such, I actually wouldn't even be into the church thing (way too many people!) but its healthy for my baby. As long as they don't teach hate.

I'm going to go into the medical field I think and I'm told this area is good for that. I'm jewish by descent but thought, when in rome and all and thought I'd go to the Assembly of God Church (they're extremely warm and welcoming and the pastor assured me the fact that my son and my husband's family is Asian is absolutely not a problem). I thought it would be good for him to spiritual structure (and me too) and its good for establishing a sense of community.

Although the church is okay with it, if anyone is from there perhaps you can let me know what I might face as far as prejudice or an unwelcoming attitude. I plan to be respectful and polite of course, as I would anywhere I go.

I'll be there on a visit starting next week and will make my decision then, after going to the One Stop Career Stop and shopping for apartments. If there was a bus, I'd work on base as I'm told that's an ideal place both to work and use the childcare.

Anyway, any info you can give me on the family activities and orientation of this town as well as safer neighborhoods (I'd love to live downtown it looks so nice) will be very much appreciated.

[amywill5918]

This was read over forty times - does no know anything or is that no one feels like answerng me - maybe I was too wordy....

[southernbliss]

Hi amywill5918,
I grew up in south ms. so maybe I can help a little meridian is a small city, I know very little about it but have never heard anything bad(if it was bad I would have heard) there are not that many jobs there unless u are a nurse,teacher,cop and a few other things.
I do not think there is anything wrong with meridian but there is a lack of things to due it is night and day from where you are coming from.
my husband is in the army and we are at bliss at this time, maybe 4hr. from you, I am telling you from some one who grew up and south ms. that this is a diff. cultre then what you are use to, you will be going from full speed to STOP!!! I love nm and can tell you it is nothing like ms.

I love growing up in the south and your kids will love too, it has the small town feel and you get to know people where that does not happen here but I wonder are you ready for that? are do you just need a long break from nm?
good luck I am sorry that I was not much help
ms. is a great place to live but it is still very slow moving.

[amywill5918]

Thank you, glad you haven't heard anything bad. Yes, NM is known for beautiful places to hike to and see - so I guess that's not the case in Meridian - is there a lack of things to do outdoors? (you said it was the opposite). I kind of live far from any amenities - far since my husband has the truck and we don't want to waste gas - outside of Albuquerque -and only one car - but we're close to the base which is good. I think it will be good to finally be in town again and close to everything. I always wanted to come to NM - but now I'm here and living in the outskirts of a city that is is one of the top cities for violent and other crime - there was a shooting of a mom and young child right around the corner.

I don't do much anyway with a toddler, If I didn't have him I'd likely be going hiking every weekend here and exploring pueblos and Sante Fe and all the tourist attarctions like ice caves that are here in NM. I don't think I've ever gone full speed. Not even sure what that means. Before my baby I went to school and before that work and on weekends, whatever state we were in, I went hiking or tried out a restaraunt...or just walked around the city.

Right now, we're stuck at home usually (and since there was a shooting around the corner -we really stick close to home) and it will be nice just to be able to walk safely around town and look at buildings and shops and spend weekends with his cousins on the lake and maybe go to some kid's parks - if there are any!

Although I kind of consider Albuquerque as a small town - or a sprawling suburbs compared to other cities I've lived in, I'm actually looking forward to living in a true small town - kind of (I'm sure there are smaller towns with no malls, theatres or Walmart) that is safe for families as I hope Meridian is.

I'm going to apply to DirectTV they need CSRs and I'm going to try for something on base - my husband's entire family contracts to the military and both his brother and sister work on base. His mom and dad work on a base in Key West. And he is hoping to transfer there when the current contract ends. But really I'm crossing my fingers to get a job along one of the six buslines - one goes to Bonita Mall and I promised myself I'd never work retail - standing on my feet all day! - and another to a hospital - wouldn't mind working at a hospital in a clerical position....

I hope I can find something, it would be helpful for me to be working too...

Thanks for your help!
.

Originally Posted by southernbliss

Hi amywill5918,
I grew up in south ms. so maybe I can help a little meridian is a small city, I know very little about it but have never heard anything bad(if it was bad I would have heard) there are not that many jobs there unless u are a nurse,teacher,cop and a few other things.
I do not think there is anything wrong with meridian but there is a lack of things to due it is night and day from where you are coming from.
my husband is in the army and we are at bliss at this time, maybe 4hr. from you, I am telling you from some one who grew up and south ms. that this is a diff. cultre then what you are use to, you will be going from full speed to STOP!!! I love nm and can tell you it is nothing like ms.

I love growing up in the south and your kids will love too, it has the small town feel and you get to know people where that does not happen here but I wonder are you ready for that? are do you just need a long break from nm?
good luck I am sorry that I was not much help
ms. is a great place to live but it is still very slow moving.

[rebecca2008]

Hi I live maybe 2 miles from the location that you are speaking about.. To me I love this arean Northeat school is a very good school to attend I have never heard anything negative about Dalewood. We go out there every week. Probally 6 days a week we are at Dalewood... There are some karate classes and things like that here in meridian I can give you all info. I will get the directions and pricing and everything for you..

[Pamela50]

I do a large portion of my shopping and dining out in meridian. I'm not familair with the surrounding towns. I do know the bus system is a bit of a joke lol. I think the local colleges though put up cards for carpooling for gas money. Education for nursing is pretty easy to find in Meridian and a few surrounding junior colleges.
I dont think you wil have anyone give you any problems at all about being asian. I hope it lives up to your hopes but understand that moving doesnt cure all problems.

[KEKI]

Originally Posted by amywill5918

This was read over forty times - does no know anything or is that no one feels like answerng me - maybe I was too wordy....

hey, whats up, let me tell you alittle about meridian. I grew up not to far from this place when my familly came back down here from chicago ill a couple of years after I was born, my mother stayed there for awhile she liked it there, although she left and moved to Newton Ms a few miles away to be with us because of some family issues that was dangerous to her life she had to leave us. Anyway enough of that I just wanted to let you know that meridian has alot to offer as in jobs and alot of places to go out to like numerous places to eat,go to parks a shopping places to chose from and as far a for a grant to get into school with that should not be a problem in mississippi as long as you don't make too much money you should be fine, its a great place to raise kids if you have them or planning on it.They have plenty of hospitals to go in to as of a career so thats another good thing anyway I can go on but you have to just check it out for yourself, I hope I helped you some.

[MSgirlfornow]

I was born an raised in Lauderdale county, which contains Meridian. It was a wonderful place to grow up. I would recommend it to anyone.

[amywill5918]

Originally Posted by rebecca2008

Hi I live maybe 2 miles from the location that you are speaking about.. To me I love this arean Northeat school is a very good school to attend I have never heard anything negative about Dalewood. We go out there every week. Probally 6 days a week we are at Dalewood... There are some karate classes and things like that here in meridian I can give you all info. I will get the directions and pricing and everything for you..

My mother in law owns two houses there and her son rents one. I wouldn't mind living there but its a bit removed from town, I've always lived in big cities and never needed to drive. So I guess I'd have to get a car (I like the smartcars).

I'd love all that info - I actually wantt to enroll my almost two year old in the classes they have for parents and toddlers for karate. How helpful you are! If you pm me I can give you my E-mail.

[amywill5918]

[quote=Pamela50;5088029
I dont think you wil have anyone give you any problems at all about being asian. I hope it lives up to your hopes but understand that moving doesnt cure all problems.[/quote]

I did notice there aren't many buses but a few are on the same line as apartments and malls.

I know it doesn't cure everything but I miss being near family. I think our son would benefit greatly being close to a loving extended family, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. And closer to my own family. And I can get a break if we trade childcare! Or even if we I'm the 24 hour carefgive for my toddler - as much as I adore him. its nice to have a break at family gatherings Ican relax while he's passed around and the kids play with him. And with the price of gas and airline prices skyrocketing - we may only be able to visit every few years....if we continue living so far away in NM.

Thanks for all the great info