Help Mom's in the Orlando Area!!!

Hi J. - Not to be the judgemental jerk but it sounds like you're planning to uproot yourself and your daughter to be with a guy who hasn't committed himself to the two of you yet? Are you engaged? Planning to be married before the move? I'm only asking because we as women and especially as moms, sometimes think we have to settle for whatever slight committment we can get from our man. We're taught always to give and never to ask for anything. This is not true. You and your daughter deserve a committed husband and father and it's okay to say that a life without that committment is not enough.
Is a move to Flordia right for the two of you without your boyfriend? If not, then why would you do it for something that's only a possibility?
You're the mom, right or wrong, you make the call - I just wanted to ask because you don't sound totally convinced this is the best plan for you. Trust your guts and know that it's okay to ask for what you want and need.
Good luck to you both.

Have you considered the Carolinas at all. I have family that live in Orlando and none of them like the public school system, in Orlando it is either private school or home school (sorry). Also, Florida has gotten just as expensive to live as NY in recent years, especially with homeowners insurance being thru the roof b/c of the weather (hurricanes). I have numerous friends that have moved to North Carolina, in the surrounding Charlotte areas. Schools are great and living is very affordable for both rentals and homes and property taxes are dirt cheap. If you are open to somewhere other than Orlando, Fl. I can give you some more info on towns and schools in the Carolinas if interested.

I am also a single mother of an 8 year old boy and a 6 month old daughter. I am too looking into moving to the Orlando area. I went with my son in May. (We had a day at Universal too, that definately helped with his negativity) They have beautiful homes and apartment complexes. I also looked at a couple of schools in the Altamonte Springs area. One school even had a broadcasting room. While it does not compare to NY education as everyone states, the faculty and staff seemed very friendly. School is already over in Orlando now and they start in August for the new year, so remember to keep that in mind. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me @ ____@____.com I hope everything works out for you.

Dear J.,
I see that warning you about the guy has already been done. I would like to hear from you, regarding your feelings. I had a son, when I met my husband. He wanted me to move with him and I said not unless we were married. He married me and then we moved. I am orginally from SF, CALIF. I have met more than a dozen women who were stranded in the Bay Area, after following a guy to the city, (some with and some without children), and then the guy left them. It is a hard task, for a woman to get it together, after she has been dumped in a city where she has no support circle.
If you are moving because you have a job there, with your own money, enough to take care of you for the next three or more months once you are there, then hey, go for it.
Miss Jackson

I think you should hold off on this plan for at least a year, maybe two. You have only been dating this man for 6 months and that is nothing compared to the 8 years you have had your daughter. She is your first priority. You really need to know this man well and have a solid commitment to him-like planning a wedding-before you entertain the idea of moving for him. If he is not willing to wait then he is not the man you deserve. You need to set a good example for your daughter and take it slower. Also, my best friend lives in the Orlando area (Palm Bay) and the school districts down there are not great. She has two stepkids that are 7 and 11 and she says the schools are terrible compared to where she grew up in upstate NY. The entire Florida school requirements are just not as rigorous as the NY state requirements. I know NYC schools are not always great either but at least there is the option of getting into some of the better high schools here.