Great place for our kids?
I moved back to Buffalo two decades ago because I wanted to raise my family here. The reasons to return home (in our case from California), were the same in the mid-1980s as they are now: being close to family, plentiful day care, affordable cost of living, good schools (at least in the suburbs), and a family-friendly quality of life.
Western New York has always had the reputation of being a great place to raise a family, but does the hype live up to reality?
That's what writer Nicole Peradotto wanted to find out for her story that appears in First Sunday magazine. As you might suspect, there's good news and bad news in her report. Not only did she do extensive research and reporting, but her piece also reflects her personal experiences as the mother of two young children.
What Peradotto writes about mirrors exactly what I experienced 22 years ago when I moved home with an 11-month-old in tow:
Family connections are strong; day care offerings iffy. Public schools disappoint; activities for children - beyond sports - are wanting.
Overall, WNY is no better or worse than most other places to raise a family, despite what the marketing folks would have you believe.
To find out why, read her piece and join the conversation on the Inside the News blog.
