[rigorddonjr]

I am on the short list for a job in Omaha. I currently live in the Portland, Oregon metro area. I have some concerns as I have never been there.

My wife is a Crafter/Quilter who makes most of her sales at Christmas. Are there a lot of Craft and Holiday show opportunities?

Is there a problem with new kids in school being bullied or treated as outsiders?

My son loves football but I worry about Coaches who are too serious or out for wins only (he's 12). How are the youth leagues in the Omaha area?

Is there enough for the kids to do in the winter? Are they going to be "house bound"?

Any help is appreciated.

[ehenningsen]

Originally Posted by rigorddonjr

I am on the short list for a job in Omaha. I currently live in the Portland, Oregon metro area. I have some concerns as I have never been there.

My wife is a Crafter/Quilter who makes most of her sales at Christmas. Are there a lot of Craft and Holiday show opportunities?

Is there a problem with new kids in school being bullied or treated as outsiders?

My son loves football but I worry about Coaches who are too serious or out for wins only (he's 12). How are the youth leagues in the Omaha area?

Is there enough for the kids to do in the winter? Are they going to be "house bound"?

Any help is appreciated.

You will be happy with the craft and holiday show opportunities..
You may be dissapointed with bullies and not because it is unusually high here, but because they are a part of human nature and it is something that the Omaha public schools work hard at stopping.. without a guarentee mind you!!
You will be very happy with football opportunities here, kids live and die football as they all want to be a Husker (or anti-Husker for that matter!)..
You will be happy to see that winter provides an array of opportunities for fun that people from the very hot climates never get to experience! There are lots of things kids can do in the winter.. And most kids love the winter..

[rigorddonjr]

Thanks for the reply but the thing about bullies sounds little scary.

Is the school system working on a known problem or just an overall issue? My son is an athelete but also very sensitive. I am afraid he might not handle getting picked on too well.

[Harpoon]

Stay in Portland, your city is already ahead of where Omaha is, but Omaha is rising fast.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by rigorddonjr

I am on the short list for a job in Omaha. I currently live in the Portland, Oregon metro area. I have some concerns as I have never been there.

My wife is a Crafter/Quilter who makes most of her sales at Christmas. Are there a lot of Craft and Holiday show opportunities?

Is there a problem with new kids in school being bullied or treated as outsiders?

My son loves football but I worry about Coaches who are too serious or out for wins only (he's 12). How are the youth leagues in the Omaha area?

Is there enough for the kids to do in the winter? Are they going to be "house bound"?

Any help is appreciated.

We moved to Omaha several years ago, and love it here.

Your concerns will not find different answers than would be found in any city.


The bullying in schools, mentioned by another member and raising your concerns, is not going to be any different than anywhere else. Unfortunately, there are a few individuals - in every school - who feel it's their lot in life to bully people.


And yes there are lots of things for kids to do in the winter.


Again, we really like Omaha. I hope that if you move here, you grow to love it too!

[Dave1215]

My kids are just finishing high school and we've never seen or heard of bullying problems during their years in thier schools (Papillion)... not saying its not there, but two kids with very different personalities and neither experienced it.

[ehenningsen]

Originally Posted by rigorddonjr

Thanks for the reply but the thing about bullies sounds little scary.

Is the school system working on a known problem or just an overall issue? My son is an athelete but also very sensitive. I am afraid he might not handle getting picked on too well.

I understand your concern. Don't be concerned about bullying as it is not a big problem here. Bullying will happen everywhere and I was just letting you know that fact, however the area schools enforce anti-bullying rules in all the schools and therefore the threat is minimized.. that is what I was trying to say! In other words: good news that it is being minimized, but remember that it is always possible to encounter it no matter where you go!

[rigorddonjr]

Thank you all for your answers.
I want my family to all have a positive outlook if this happens.

Could anyone give me more info on winter activities for a 12 yr old boy and a seven year old girl? Also Does anyone have links for any of the larger craft or Xmas expos for crafters? Thanks so much for the help.

[buffy888]

An Arts and Crafts Affair comes to Omaha twice a year. It's a big show with crafters/artists from around the country, so I'm not sure if that's a larger show than your wife wants. Many area schools and churchs have shows around Christmas, but I don't have any specific links. It's not around Christmas, but Rockbrook Village has a craft fair Rockbrook Village Events in the spring.

Your question about bullying new kids - Are you intending to move before the end of the school year? Or during the summer so the kids can start at the beginning of a new school year? For most kids, it is easiest (not that it's ever really easy) to start a new school if they start at the beginning of the school year, after winter break, or at the beginning of a new semester. Bullying certainly does exist, but not necessarily against new kids more than any other segment of students. You say your son is sensitive; is he sensitive about specific issues for which you might be able to build his confidence before you move? Some bullies will try to pick on any kid once to test out areas of perceived weakness.

For kids at the middle school level, you will find many coaches (and parents) who are quite serious and only about winning. I don't have kids, but as a teacher and as a very involved aunt, I have seen this both for teams at school as well as league sports. It's not an Omaha-specific issue, though - it happens everywhere. So it will just be something your son will have to try for himself and you guys will have to stay on top of, knowing that if the coach's style doesn't mesh with yours, you will have to either stick it out for the season or be willing to walk away. My nephew is a baseball player more than football, but did play football throughout middle and high school more just for fun and for staying conditioned during the off-season, so any coach issues pretty much just rolled off his back. As ehenningsen mentioned, many Nebraskans do have some type of obsession with Husker football, but there are quite a few folks that don't (however, do keep in mind that shopping, restaurants, etc. can be a bit less crowded - not that anything in Omaha ever seems really crowded - during a Husker game ) - so don't worry if you are not a fan.

I'm surprised no one has given you info about specific winter activities for the kids. I'm sure some folks here have ideas as a few people said there were many activities in the winter. I asked some of my former students since they are closer to your son's age than my nephew is (and my niece is too young)... I didn't get many responses other than "Stay inside," "Have your parents drive you to the movies or the mall or someplace else inside," "Hang out on Facebook?", or "That's funny." So they were not overly helpful or creative in their responses! I know there is an indoor sports facility around Millard and indoor paintball fields somewhere (maybe Council Bluffs?). StrikeZone has indoor batting cages. Sorry I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, but I'm sure others here must have tons of ideas for you.

Good luck with the move if it happens.

[mattpoulsen]

Okay, the bully thing is way over blown. My son has zero issues. And I would say its nothing abnormal and nothing above what occurs and has occurred throughout the nation. Of course, bullies exist, but I don't see Omaha being a "hotbed" for bully activity.

I would also say that sports is what you make of it. Again, I see no difference between Omaha and other parts of the country. Nebraskans may love their football, but not as players...as fans. Its not like Texas. I just see nothing different in that regard than other cities. Kids are still allowed to play because they love playing. I think usually the pressure I see comes from the parents of a child and not so much the coach.

I think you need to visit Omaha to get a better feel. Once you do I think some of your preconceived notions of Omaha may be put to rest. The Omaha metro is pushing a million, but people who have never been here tend to think its a small little cow town.

I guess my point is the two issues you mentioned should absolutely not be the determining factors. The prevalence of the two factors is no worse (or better) than any other city in the U.S.