Kirkland, Redmond, Bellevue questions

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by pifke

... I do have a relocation agent, in theory, but s/he didn't contact me yet (the signing happened a few days ago ...

You're very welcome, Pifke. If I were in your shoes, I'd get on the phone this morning to MS, call the HR name who walked you through the contract signing, and ask him or her who your relo person is, what's their name, and get transferred to that person's extension, and say you're really looking forward to working with him/her because you need their knowledge and wisdom right away, etc. Nothing like showing you know who someone is to set a fire under them. It's worth a try, right?

[Seattleborn]

Sorry, I think some of the criteria has changed since I had my son in daycare.

Not all chains are bad. Just the ones in the areas you mentioned I looked at and walked out. It seemed very cold and lacked color. I did not like the ratios either, especially with younger kids. This doesn't mean there are not good ones out there.

Here are another few that you may want to check out. A few years ago I paid 1200/ month for daycare. I would expect it to be around 1500 for quality care.

Montessori Children's House Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Child Care, Redmond Washington

Countryside Montessori

[megs517]

I don't have kids but do have a couple reccommendations....

Kirkland is a cute, busy town, that has tons of restaurants/cafes, coffee shops, a couple bars, and lots of little shops.

The drive from Seattle to Redmond never ever only takes 20 minutes (okay maybe sometimes when you happen to get lucky) but almost all other times it will take you at least 40.... and during "traffic" hours, it will take about 2 - no joke. Just take that into consideration!

However... the drive from Microsoft to Kirkland will also take up to 40 minutes in traffic so it pretty much always sucks to drive during 5-7 pm during the week!

Good luck

[allforcats]

Megs, are you really sure it would take 40 minutes between MS main campus & say downtown Kirkland? NOT using 405, which anyone would have to be insane to use anyway, you just drive the back arterials -- 85th/Redmond Way going east, then south on 148th and hang a left on NE 40th. I've driven that about a thousand times at all times of the week and weekend, and it's never taken me more than 20-25 minutes.

[scirocco22]

Although, I bet in the reverse direction at the time period Megs describes, it could take a good 40 minutes, allforcats. I remember routinely waiting through several cycles of lights both at Old Redmond Road and 148th and Redmond Way at 148th in the evening rush ...at least 20 minutes sitting on 148th. THEN, you got to sit in traffic on 85th for another 20 minutes ...especially at the intersections of 132nd and 124th on 85th.

*whew, I'm glad not to be in that traffic anymore*

[haggardhouseelf]

I believe most day cares and preschools have waiting lists - I thought I might just throw that out there for you - once you know where you will be moving to, you might want to get on the waiting list ASAP. A family I know just opened up a preschool near us in Redmond and before they had even begun hiring staff they were fully booked with 36 children on the waiting list. There seems to be a shortage of day cares and preschools here.

Microsoft has several different locations as far as I know - which location will you be working at? I would definitely try to find a location within walking distance to work. Traffic here is very bad and getting worse all the time with all of the new condo and housing developments going up everywhere.

We were lucky to find a nice place to rent which is 3 blocks from where my husband works, and only about a mile from the kids school. Our cars stay in the garage most days. We aren't happy about a lot of things here - but the commute to work is something we don't have to be grumpy about! It's amazing how much more family and free time you have when you're not spending 45 minutes to an hour (or more for some people) every morning and afternoon in your car. Plus the walk between work/school and home gives you a nice way to "decompress" and sort of switch modes...

Good luck with everything!

[pifke]

Hey haggardhouself
Oh the waiting list....I've been calling centers for the past few days, and they are all fully booked for and have waiting lists of months in advance.
In one center the woman told me that my son may be accepted to the two's group in 18 months - by the time he'll be 3.5....

I did manage to get him into kindercare's waiting listc(the one in Overlake), and consider that an achievement (Bitter laugh...)

I agree that leaving the cars in the garage is something to aspire for. I live in the bay area and hate the constant driving.

And I will finish with a question - Anyone has an opinion about KinderCare overlake?

[pifke]

KinderCare overlake - Who has opinion about it?
What's good about it? wahat are the down sides? what to watch for?
So far that's the only place I manage to get my son into its waiting list. Everywhere else I've checked had closed waiting lists for months on end...

[haggardhouseelf]

Sorry pifke - we have never used babysitters or day care for our children... I wish I could help. My only suggestion might be to visit and observe the place and if that's not an option call them to see if they can send you pictures or answer any questions you might have? Good luck!

Also, this link might help you find other child care options for the area:

Child Care Resources of King County, Washington | Information and referral services for child care in Seattle

It says "Seattle" but it's for all of King County I'm pretty sure...

[haggardhouseelf]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

Although, I bet in the reverse direction at the time period Megs describes, it could take a good 40 minutes

The construction is so bizarre here... some days it is a quick 20-25 minutes both ways... some days you're stuck. Sometimes it's because of the time of day you hit it, sometimes it's due to the construction guys doing whatever they are doing... It took me an hour and 30 minutes to drive home from CostCo (the one in Kirkland) the other day. I live in Redmond (Ridge). It only took me about 20 minutes to drive there. I had the Darjeeling Limited soundtrack playing in my car so I didn't care about the traffic that day. I just sorta spaced out and enjoyed the music...