Days Past

We take on more obligations as we get older. This may not have been the case when we were much younger. When growing up, all we might have had to deal with were chores from our parents and may have even gotten an allowance too. We may have been told to wash the dishes, do the laundry and mow the lawn and our homework too. Most of us dealt with a defined set of responsibilities and then we were able to go and play, we didn’t have any other care in the world. We took care of our chores as quickly as we possibly could and then went to go find some diversions or make up our own. Those days go by so fast.

Growing Older

But as we grow older we find that there is more to be done. We find that there is more expectations, expectations that bring with it more obligations. We get past high school and head off toward college, the second tier of academia. We find that there are more costs involved in our decisions, tuitions have to be paid for and the expectation is that we will succeed in school. We will make great grades because of costs incurred as well the fact that our future is on the line. Some of us may find that we have to go to work at a local food joint or mall to help stave off costs and earn our way through college, a process which helps us to understand the need for work and why it matters in our lives. While in college we enter into many different relationships. There are those that are social, school clubs, fraternities and other. Then those relationships which are more personal and intimate and others that are professional as well.

In each of the relationships that we enter into and each of the activities that we take on, we realize that there are expectations and responsibilities that are attached. We learn that we have to go to class on time or the professor may close the door and deduct points from our final grades, we learn that we have to go to work on time or we let down our co-workers and the end customer and that we have to work hard in school to make our parents proud. We might also realize that we have our own individual expectations. We expect to be at one destination or other in life and we know that we will only get there by taking on certain responsibilities and making certain decisions. Life may throw different stressors at us, different obstacles to overcome and yet we press on while learning more about how the world turns each day. We then graduate college and seek to start our careers and potentially get married.

Adulthood

We graduate college, polish up our resumes and land a job. Ideally, we have found a job in our intended careers but this may not always be the case for a variety of reasons. At times we may start with an entry-level role that is way off from where we started but we realize that everyone has to start somewhere. We take the setbacks with stride, vape a little, take a couple of deep breaths and keep hacking away. We progress on in life, we think to ourselves that we want a family life, so we go on a couple of dates, experience some squabbles, de-stress by vaping with our e-cigarettes, work out our issues and then get married.

We begin our family life, a life that comes with different expectations of its own. We have to tend our significant others, do our chores (while not getting paid for it) and make sure that we’re tending to our kids and doing what we can to create the best possible future for them. We might find that we rarely get time for breaks, that there is always something that needs to be done.

If we don’t pay attention we can take a significant amount of stress and burnout. To avoid falling into this state of lethargy and overall tiredness due to a lack of regular breaks time to de-stress make sure to figure out how to pace yourself.

The Pomodoro technique helps in time management as well as being able to catch yourself if you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of endless work. Take short breaks each day to de-stress how you see fit, whether that means taking a few short strolls while vaping each day or getting out of work mode and relaxing at a park nearby, take the time out.

You’ll be glad you did.

Raising a family is an extremely difficult task to undertake. Not only do you need to work enough to support your family, but you also need to set aside time to spend time with your children, cook them meals, and aid in any school work they may have. With all this going on, you don’t want any distractions making your job as a parent even harder. Things like long commutes to work, high cost of living, and poor city infrastructure can really make your life as a parent difficult, so location plays a huge role in your ability to be an effective parent. That being said, there are a few cities where raising a family is as easy as possible. What are these amazing family-friendly cities? Here are the five best cities for families to move to.

Ann Arbor

Michigan probably isn’t the first state that comes to mind when thinking of desirable destinations for relocation, and even if it was Ann Arbor probably isn’t the first Michigan city you would think about relocating to. That being said, Ann Arbor actually has some amazing qualities that make the city the perfect location to raise a family in. First, Ann Arbor has some amazing school districts, a key element in raising children. Education is extremely important as it sets your children up for future success, so you want to ensure that your children are getting the best education available to them. In addition, the city has an extremely low crime rate, meaning that the possibility that your children will be victims of crime is extremely low. If you want your children to be safe and smart, Ann Arbor is the perfect city to reside in.

Minneapolis

Another great Mid-Western location to raise a family in is Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minneapolis meshes the best of both worlds when it comes to city life and rural life. Minneapolis has some great amenities and entertainment options, just like you would find in other major cities. However, Minneapolis doesn’t have the high cost of living associated with housing, food, and entertainment that other big cities have, making raising your children much easier. In addition, Minneapolis residents are extremely nice and polite. Many studies have shown that Minneapolis is among one of the friendliest and politest places in the entire country, making it a great place to raise children.

Fort Myers

One location that your kids will surely enjoy growing up in is Fort Myers, Florida. First, Fort Myers is extremely close to the beach, a fact that your children will surely enjoy. Your children will love going to the beach and enjoying Florida’s lovely weather, increasing their overall enjoyment and happiness. Fort Myers also has a rapidly growing economy, meaning that it is becoming a hot spot for young professionals looking to start their career. If you’re a young parent and are looking for a location that can both advance your career and allow you to effectively raise your child, then you should definitely consider looking for Fort Myers houses for sale.

San Jose

San Jose is often overshadowed by its close counterpart San Francisco, but San Jose has a lot to offer families that are raising children. The city’s biggest claim to fame is that its school districts prepare its students for high school among the nation’s best, setting their students up for great success as they prepare to go off to college. In addition, San Jose is located in California, a state who has gorgeous weather year-round. Having warm weather all year can make it much easier for you to get your kids outside and active, something that is extremely important when the nation is facing a childhood obesity crisis.

Washington D.C

You might think that raising a family in a major city Washington D.C will be hectic and volatile, but that isn’t always the case. Sure, the cost of living in Washington can be relatively high, and things like traffic can be an absolute back-breaker when you’re trying to balance work and childcare. That being said, D.C also offers a lot of positives to raising a family that offset these negatives. First, the job market is extremely large due to the size of the metropolitan area, meaning that your ability to find well-paying jobs won’t be limited like it might be in some smaller cities. In addition, you are raising your children around the nation’s capital, allowing them to be fully engrossed in America’s history and politics. There are so many educational advantages to growing up in the nation’s capital, which alone makes the idea of raising kids in the D.C area extremely promising.