We've Moved 9 Times in 6 Years. Are We Home Yet?

Trying to explain the last few years of my life to people who don’t know me well is always a bit of a challenge. It’s never a great conversation starter when someone casually asks where you’re from and you launch into a long-winded (but still very much abridged) explanation of the many different places your family has called home.  

“Well, I respond, trying to keep it short and sweet, “we’re originally from Chesterfield but then we moved to O’Fallon and then spent a couple of years living in Florida (both Sarasota and Fort Myers Beach), but in the end we moved back to St. Louis and lived in Kirkwood for a few years, until recently when we decided to move to De Soto.”

My words are usually met with a confused – and sometimes completely blank – stare. I like to assume that the person standing across from me is busy trying to process how a seemingly normal family could manage to live in nine different homes in only six years.  

But more likely, they’re busy trying to comprehend why anybody would move to Jefferson County ON PURPOSE. I still haven’t entirely figured that one out myself.  

The reasons behind our many moves are long and complicated, but suffice it to say, I have years of experience leaving one house behind and moving on to another. I’ve learned the hard way that four walls don’t make a home, but that the people who live within those walls do.

Even so, when my husband opened a restaurant in De Soto last spring, I swore I would never trade the suburbs of St. Louis for the small, largely rural Jefferson County community. Moving is one thing; moving to a town that is 28.6 miles from the nearest Target and a whopping 32.0 miles from a Starbucks is a whole different beast.

And yet, last month, I packed up my family one last time and took the leap.

Come to find out, I’m more of a city girl than I realized. I don’t understand things like how driving across a set of railroad tracks and thirty seconds away from Main Street can qualify as being “outside of town.” I have zero interest in hunting season. And it is completely beyond my comprehension why no one here seems more concerned by the astonishing lack of access to a triple espresso.

Mostly, though, I can’t stop worrying about how small town life will impact my kids.     

I worry about the quality of the education they will receive, and the opportunities they will miss. I worry that the decision to pull them out of a top-rated district will haunt me in years to come when they’re filling out college applications.  

I worry about the kinds of friends they will make, and if the parents of those friends will be the ones secretly stocking up on cold medicine. (This is not just me being paranoid; in 2011, Jefferson County had 253 meth seizures, more than the states of Texas, Florida, and California combined).

You name it; I’ve managed to worry about it.  

My daughter, at 9, has a different perspective.

“It’s boring going to the same school year after year,” she told me when I expressed my concern over the changes. “New schools are exciting and pizzazz-y.”  

She sees life in a new town as one big adventure, an opportunity to meet new people and experience new things. After barely a month, she’s totally at home in her new environment – and I’m totally in awe of her ability to roll with the punches and embrace the opportunity in any situation.

As parents, we have this funny way of assuming that we should always be the ones doing the teaching and the hand holding, when, ironically, it’s often the other way around. In my case, I need to take a page from my daughter’s book, and focus on the many positives before me.

After years of living in places that never quite felt like home, we’ve renovated a hundred year-old building into a space I absolutely love. My husband, who we used to see only on Sundays, now works just down the street – and no longer spends two hours commuting each day.  

Despite my fantasies to the contrary, my kids are adjusting remarkably well, and the people we’ve met are some of the kindest and most generous you'll ever know. It’s been a long road getting here, but I have a feeling that my family has finally – FINALLY – ended up where we need to be.

If only it wasn’t so damn far from a Starbucks.

Share This Story

Alyssa Chirco is a freelance writer, mother and margarita lover, not necessarily in that order. In addition to writing for STL Parent, she is Contributing Editor at Parenting Squad, and covers parenting, health and lifestyle topics for publications across the country. She recently moved from the suburbs of St. Louis to a small town in rural Jefferson County, where she is learning to survive with no Target or Starbucks in sight. Follow her on Twitter @AlyssaChirco

 

Our Daily Things to Do email is the easiest way to plan your day.
Follow Us
 
Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.
Things to Do

Music & Movement

Explore songs, finger plays, music and more during this Music & Movement class for ages 2-6. Some sessions are held in person at various branches of the St. Louis County Library. Some sessions are virtual. 

 

 

View this event »
Trike Town at The Magic House

Adventures abound at Trike Town, the outdoor, child-size city at The Magic House. Kids can pick out their favorite little red tricycle and explore the entire town while learning about bicycle safety and the importance of wearing a helmet. 

View this event »
Pumpkin Decorating in the Park
Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Bring you little ones to this fun-filled pumpkin decorating event designed just for little hands! Pumpkin Decorating in the Park encourages children ages 2-5 to get creative as they decorate their very own pumpkins using an assortment of festive stickers. All materials and pumpkins are provided.

 

 

View this event »
You Might Also Like...

From Our Sponsors
Popular Stories

Embark on an Adventure at SLSO's Concert for Kids: Wild Symphony!

Embark on a musical adventure with Dan Brown’s latest surprise, Wild Symphony! Travel through the trees and across the seas to meet a wonderous whale and impatient ponies, busy beetles, and an eager elephant—each with a special secret to share. 

Continue reading »
COCA Ignites Creativity and Sparks Fun for Kids of All Ages, All Summer Long

Stroll along the Walk of Fame in the Delmar Loop, and you’ll spot the playwrights, actors, and artists who got their start in St. Louis, from Tennessee Williams and Katherine Dunham, to Tina Turner and John Goodman. Just a few steps away and around the corner, a new generation of Gateway City superstars will discover their love for the visual and performing arts this summer.

Continue reading »
Farmer's Markets Make Great Family Outings! Here is Your 2024 Guide to Farmers Markets Across the St. Louis Area

A trip to the farmer’s market is a fun outing for the entire family – and it can be educational too. Make plans to visit one (or several) of these top St. Louis farmers’ markets this spring and summer, so that you and your kids can learn more about where your food comes from and indulge in some of the freshest, seasonal produce the St. Louis region has to offer. Plus, many of these markets offer activities just for kids, feature food trucks, welcome dogs, and more.    

Continue reading »
6 Places to Find Fun on the Farm this Fall

Visiting a farm can be a real adventure for city and suburban kids. Getting up close to and even feeding farm animals can lead to lots of fun and unexpected learning. We've rounded up some tried and true nearby options where your family can spend a day in the country and meet some new barnyard friends.

Continue reading »
SUE: The T. Rex Experience to Roar Into the Saint Louis Science Center

This summer. families can meet Sue, the most complete, best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found, in the Lou! The Saint Louis Science Center will welcome SUE: The T. rex Experience beginning June 8. The special exhibition features the latest scientific discoveries about the species as a whole along as well immersive, sensory exploration of life in the Cretaceous period.

Continue reading »
Follow Us