need info about Westminster --HELP!!

[madawna]

Hello! I am hoping that someone on this board might be able to help me get some info on Westminster MD. I am looking to get info on the general experience of living there and the specific experience of raising kids there... :) I know nothing about the area really, and am needing to find out about the public schools there and how it is to live there-- is there access to good MOTHERING family living sorts of resources?? Anyone who can give me info -- or connect me with someone who can-- please contact me asap!! Unfortunately I am trying to get this "research pjt" done in a hurry!! Thanks so much!! Dawn madawna@earthlink.net

[glad2bhome]

Not sure about any Mothering info there but check the Baltimore Child newspaper. I remember they list LLL meetings, MOM's Club (I know, pretty mainstream but a nice way to meet new moms and get more info on schools, etc.), etc.. Even if you can't GO to these meetings yet, you may be able to talk with the representative of each organization and ask your questions. As far as I know, Westminster is still a less-expensive area and is growing rapidly (lots of new homes, stores). Best of luck!

~Melissa

[Groundhog]

I moved to Westminster about 3.5 years ago from very progressive Asheville, NC, so take that into consideration.

I have had a hard time finding like-minded mamas, but have found a few. There are a couple LLL groups in the surrounding area, I think, though I never went to meetings. There is a Bradley teacher who lives and teaches nearby and I took a Reiki class at the Women's Place at the hospital. My dh is an acupuncturist and has a thriving business, so there is an element of the alternative here. There is a Carroll County Holistic Network that sponsors alternative medicine/healing type lectures and has a monthly meeting. I met one mama there.

My other good friend I met at the library story time a couple years ago. The library system here is wonderful, I think. Lots of community activities and music things for kids. The Carroll County Arts Center just opened up downtown in a renovated theater and promises to be a good resource for the community.

I work in a small independent toy store and so meet lots of families. There is a wide range of parenting styles and philosophies, most of which seem on the conservative/traditional side in my view, but of course not all. I have had conversations about natural birth and extended breastfeeding and preferring wooden toys over plastic. It is of course difficult to get a full picture just from a few minutes, but that's just my take on it all. I will be teaching natural childbirth classes within the next year.

The hospital here is not terribly wonderful, especially in terms of giving birth. Midwives are not allowed and it is assumed that all women want and need medication and interventions. A natural birth is one that is done without an epidural, no matter what other medication is used, apparently. The birth classes taught there are very traditional.

My dd is 4 1/2 and will be starting school at the Montessori school in the fall. My understanding of the public school system is that it's quite good, we just prefer a different educational model. My good friend's son goes to public school and has had a great experience. He also plays baseball and basketball in county leagues and has enjoyed that, too. Most of the private schools are parochial, and most of the homeschoolers are Christian. There is one secular homeschooling/unschooling group in the area, too.

In general, this is a rather conservative area, with lots of folks whose families have been here for generations. This is not a very racially/culturally diverse area, though that seems to be changing a bit, as more folks move out from the city.

Lots of farms, though they're disappearing in favor of subdivisions. There's a lot of growth and they have put a moratorium on new building, which has sent the real estate prices up. We live in an old farmhouse just outside of town, near New Windsor. In October of 2000 we paid $132K for it. Now it's worth about $180K. When we rented three years ago, we paid $750 a month for a small two bed, 2 bath house with a yard near downtown, and I think that was a good deal at the time.

So I've nattered on quite a bit. I hope some of this is helpful. I would be more than happy to answer any other questions or help in any way I can. I'll e-mail you with my e-mail.

Take care.

[madawna]

Thanks to you both for your great ideas/info!! I am checking it all out!
Dawn