Moving - Kingwood,TX

Hi A.:
I don't have a lot of advice on moving with kids as I have my first child now who is 4 1/2 months. BUT, I, too, am new to Kingwood. I lived in Humble, TX (just up the road) in an apartment for about a year, then we bought a house in Kingwood. Prior to that I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have also lived in L.A., Chicago, and New York. In fact, I went to school at SUNY at Stony Brook for a semester.
My husband has two boys that are 7 and 9 but live mostly with their mom in the L.A. area.
I wanted to be a resource to you for your move and possibly for a friendship. I had my baby here in Kingwood so I have some good doctor references if you want. I do not know many people around here except for work friends. I work full time but mostly from home. Want to chat? My email is ____@____.com the way...I am 37 years old.

Hi, A. - I am also moving to Kingwood, so I can relate to some of your worries and also your excitement. I am from Virginia (Washington, DC area) and have lived in NYC, Philadelphia, and Miami. My children are 5, almost 3, 18 months, and 5 days old. We are moving this week. (Yes, that will be an adventure with my four young children.) We have spent a little time in Kingwood already and we love it - our new neighbors seem really nice and the community has so much to offer.

I am interested in some of the references and referrals that others have offered here - specifically, I need to find:

1. Pediatrician - need this right away! My baby was born last Thursday and I want him seen by a ped in KW as soon as we arrive this week. Prefer a group practice versus sole practitioner.

2. Ob/gyn - no preference of male/female, tend to prefer older male doctors but open to other recommendations.

3. Church - looking for a racially diverse congregation (I know that can be hard to find!), charismatic Christian church - any denomination, or non-denominational (community or bible church). I like lively music and strong, active ministries for women, children, and families.

If anyone has any suggestions, please email me at ____@____.com. Thanks!

R.

Well as a native Texan I guess we can make room for one more Yankee. Please know that moving is hard. But kids are resilient and they will survive. Kingwood is a great place to live. I have lived here for 22 years. I have some great recommendations for Dr., restaurants, church, and if I don't know about it I can try to find out about it. Remember, you are meant to move, the people that are meant to have your current house have shown up. It may not be easy to let go of friends but with the internet it is easier everyday to keep in touch. If you have family already here, just take a Benadryl, ride on down and see where you land. Don't forget to email me when you get here and let me know you are here.
C.

A.,
Moving is an enormous task - there are a lot of areas on which to give advice! I've moved 8 times in 10 years, 6 of them with young children. I'm assuming your biggest worries are about how your kids will adjust. My kids are 5 & 7 now, and they've done remarkably well with each move - better than myself and my husband! Moving IS exciting, and it is a huge adventure, esp when you have the luxury of letting your parents handle all the details and drudgery of the move. We've always talked it up with our kids, and let them decorate their own rooms in their new homes, to make them their own. We've planned goodbyes with old friends, reassured our kids that we'll keep in touch, and that they will absolutely make wonderful new friends. My husband and I have hurt with my son (who is a bit more shy than my daughter), when he's been lonely and without close friends at first, but we just support him and reassure him that it just takes a little time. And he's doing great now.

We've lived in a few different states, including PA near Philly, so I understand the culture shock you may experience when you move here. :) The best thing about TX, is that people are so friendly. I have never lived in a place where I've gotten to know my neighbors so well, where we've had block parties, and where I've made so many friends myself, so fast. Kingwood is wonderful, b/c the traffic isn't as bad as Houston, and there's still a lot to do nearby. And I can't say enough about how good the schools are. This is our 2nd year here, and I'm so impressed with the teachers, the challenging programs, and the endless opportunities for outside-class activities.

Good luck and if you have any other questions, I'm happy to help. ____@____.com

Sincerely,
M.