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csawilk
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| Posted: Feb 10 2012 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
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Hi everyone,
I am mostly a lurker on these boards, but I am writing to ask for some advice, info, and prayers. My husband has found a job opportunity in Rochester, MN that is tailor-made for him. He (and I and the baby) are going up for his second-round interview next week, and things are moving incredibly fast.
A week ago, I would have said we never intended to leave Austin TX (our current home). We chose to move here, worked hard to make it happen, and meant to stay here, period. We are near family on both sides, two sets of godparents, and we have an amazing, supportive community around us that it's taken years to build. But... there are so many good arguments and providential signs in favor of this MN move that it's increasingly hard to ignore.
Here are my questions:
1. Anyone have info on the Catholic community specifically in Rochester? Parishes to check out/avoid? Homeschool groups and resources? I've used Google a lot but I'm looking for personal experiences.
2. What about homeschooling in MN in general? We are currently members of a part-time Catholic co-op, and homeschooling in TX is insanely laissez-faire and unregulated. A move to full-time homeschooling is daunting, especially with no social support network and no experience documenting our work for outsiders!
3. How on earth do you know whether to uproot your entire family for something that could be great in the long run but will be really, really hard in the short term? (I know, I know: PRAY!) Hearing from families who have successfully made BIG moves with LITTLE kids who are deeply rooted in their place would be helpful.
4. What should I be looking for/asking about during the 2 days I have on the ground in Rochester next week?
Many thanks in advance!
Christy
Wife to T
Mama to 4, ages 6y to 3mo
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Feb 10 2012 at 11:10pm | IP Logged
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I know nothing about MN  but wanted to say moving with young kids is probably easier that moving with older kids. We moved 3 times in 1 year with ds, he was about 1 year when the first move occurred. The kid did fine, moving stuff was the hard part  Ds had to move again at about 7, and dd was 2, and again, it wasn't such a big deal to them. If we had to move now...THAT would be very difficult with a 14 and 9 year old. They are so much more socially connected than when they were little.
There are a lot of changes between TX and MN. Be aware of them and try to plan for them. We moved from the south to the Midwest in January. THAT was not fun. Moving in summer would have been an easier transition. We moved from a neighborhood to rural. That has been a big change and we love it now! but winter didn't help-trying to drive in snow and find a grocery store with little kids and the nearest store 30 minutes away was tough.
Having a GPS would be helpful  And a sense of humor as you find your way around geographically is important. I remember ds encouraging me from the backseat of the car as we pulled in our driveway from a day out, "mom, you did great, that is the first time we didn't get lost."
Being far from family is hard. My parents came out a lot the first year--that helped with all the family events like birthdays. We also traveled a lot. We are fine now and have our resources so travel a lot less-but mom and dad still come out 
Good luck with your decision.
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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SusanJ
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| Posted: Feb 11 2012 at 7:37am | IP Logged
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We have moved five times since our first was born and the kids always did fine. The chaos surrounding the move and mom's stress level seemed to be more important to them.
One of those five moves was to Minnesota. In our case, we were moving closer to family and an established network of friends so that part wasn't hard at all. We also had only one job and there it was. We lived in St. Paul, not Rochester but I will say that I said then and continue to say that MN must be about the easiest place to move to in the entire country. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. All kinds of services were easy to acquire. It was very easy to learn my way around by car. We were very happy there and established in a community very quickly.
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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csawilk
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| Posted: Feb 13 2012 at 9:42pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for your insights, Anne and Susan. I'm especially glad to hear that your 7yo took the move well at that age, Anne. I'm most worried about my very social 6.5yo daughter -- she has a real, true, dear best friend she's known since age 3 (whose mother is also one of MY best friends) and that will be a tough blow. Then again, she makes friends easily. The younger ones I'm less worried about.
Feeling a bit calmer, though the Catholic community there is still a big black box. We leave on Thursday and I'm going to try to attend Mass at a few different parishes. Any other tips for scoping out a city in 48 hours?
Thank you for your help! I would appreciate your prayers this weekend, if you happen to think of it.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 13 2012 at 10:45pm | IP Logged
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I haven't moved with older kids (though I did it myself as a child) One thing I found for the younger kids was to keep talking while I was packing (or while others were packing) "we're putting _________ in a box so that we can take it with us".. it needed lots of repeating but I did see that eventually the kids grasped the idea and it wasn't so hard to see everythign disappear into boxes for them.
Look up the Catholic community by going to websites, parish bulletins will often give you a good idea about what's there by who's meetings are being announced.. is there a KofC group? Adoration? Bible stufy? Latin Mass? Homeschooler group? Scouts? various and sundry programs that you could look up if they're unfamiliar and see if it's something authentic or if it's a bit "off" or whatever. Understanding that smaller areas will do fewer things as well (less money, fewer people participating means fewer groups).. you can generally get a feel for what types of things happen, especially if you can look back over past bulletins on the website.
A secretary may have time to chat with you for a few minutes on the phone or in person and may well know the people and be able to give you some other answers like are people expected to use a cry room all the time with small children or do people welcome the small children into Mass even if they can cause minor disruptions. Or if there are any families that homeschool.. if there's not an official notice there may be families there that homeschool and get together informally.
Be "aggressive". Some places people are more likely to chat with you but if someone smiles at you, go and introduce yourself and explain that you may be moving there and ask a question or two.. people are generally helpful and if they don't know or don't want to talk they'll direct you to someone much more chatty.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SusanJ
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Search Yahoo Groups for homeschool groups near you and see if any of them are having meet ups the couple days you will be there?
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: Feb 14 2012 at 9:38am | IP Logged
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I know lots about Minnesota.
My cousin's wife works for the Diocese in that area. I don't know anyone homeschoolers personally in that area, but I've asked her for help. I'll pm you when I get some news!
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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csawilk
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| Posted: Feb 14 2012 at 9:14pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Paula! Let me know what you hear. If your cousin's wife has any info about particular parishes I'd love to hear that too.
JodieLyn, thanks for suggesting some questions I never thought of regarding parish life! I had started by looking for parishes with adoration, which narrowed it down pretty quickly, but wouldn't have thought about the nitty-gritty details like a cry room/nursery.
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: Feb 15 2012 at 11:58am | IP Logged
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I can't recall the names of the parishes in and around Rochester, but I do get a lot of Garden of Francis orders from that area - so Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is big.
We lived in West St. Paul for almost a year, while I was in Montessori training. It's a really great area!
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Garden of Francis
HS Elementary Montessori Training
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csawilk
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| Posted: Feb 27 2012 at 1:33pm | IP Logged
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Well, we're moving! Still haggling out the details of the offer but we received some VERY clear answers to our prayers for clear discernment. Wowza. I have never had prayers answered so thoroughly and completely.
I was able to visit several parishes and to connect with a few families, who reassured me that there are other homeschoolers in the area. Daunting as it is to move across the country, we are really at peace with this change and excited about the possibilities for our family. There seem to be several parishes that are orthodox in their teaching, even if more modern in their liturgy and music. Found an atrium with all three levels! Yeah!
I have been praying for all of you who've piped up to help me and for your intentions. Thanks for talking me down off the ledge!
Now, does anyone have good books about explaining/preparing for a move to kids?
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JodieLyn
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I never used a book, though I know there must be some out there. I just talked about things they have experienced.. like when we'd go and visit someone we'd pack up our things to take them with us. And that we're packing our things into boxes to take them with us. And just kept repeating and repeating and repeating.
It's also helpful to find things the kids would think is fun or options for continuing some activity they love and showing it on the computer. Is there online pictures of the area you're going to? the parks? a public pool? things like that that would be fun to see.. create excitment for the new place even while it's sad (and tell them it's ok to be sad) about leaving your current place.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Marcia
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My husband went to school in Winona and we visit there often. It's a great seminary at St. Mary's that feeds our diocese (Peoria, IL). I'm sure you'd find some great contacts through there.
Also Catechesis of the Good Shepherd....cgsusa.org shows Pax Christi church in Rochester has an atrium! That would be easy to fit in there with the ages you have! (almost makes me want to move. :)
Prayers for your transition.
I have a friend who makes organic cupcakes in Winona and delivers to Rochester....you might need need to splurge for yourself. Mon Petit Cupcakemonpetitcupcake.org
__________________
Marcia
Mom to six and wife to one
Homeschooling 10th, 7th, 5th, 2nd, PreK and a toddler in tow.
I wonder why
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CatholicMommy
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I didn't know you were looking at atriums too :) It's definitely an atrium-friendly area! Carol Dittberner (a CGS formation leader) is right there in Minneapolis, so it's handy for more people to have the training. There were two parishes with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd right in West St. Paul; and the atrium in Rochester has ordered materials from online business a time or two.
:)
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Montessori Nuggets
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Panic! Possible BIG move to Minnesota...
