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City vs. Suburb

Which Is the Best Place to Raise Baby?

By Jenn Director Knudsen

Kelly Maul found this to be true. "It was very difficult for me to make friends and meet people when I first moved here," says Maul, 42, who stays home in rural Ridgefield, Wash., with her two girls, Lilian, 4, and Angelina, 11 months. "It wasn't until I had children of my own and joined a mom's group that I finally met some friends of my own. It was quite lonely the first few years."

Maul has advice for at-home parents interested in living in closer proximity to nature than people:

• Get involved in the community before moving and stay involved.
• Form or join a mom's club. "Small communities can be cliquish and slow to welcome newcomers," she says.
• Get a cell phone – you'll be in the car a lot.
• Organize your errands so that you take care of a few things while you're out.

Of course city people also can be tough to crack. "In Chicago, the people at the corner Starbucks never asked my name," says Ellen R.

Clearly, there are many decisions to weigh when considering a move either from the city to a less-populated area or from the sticks to an urban locale. And a parent's priorities may change as her family grows and their interests evolve.

So, advises Kohl, do what's best for your family and your values now, while allowing for the need to make a change later. "People have to give themselves 'room' to make different decisions at various points in their family life," she says.

Want to see more?

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• Talk about it!