It can be argued that the most important and central character in HBO’s Sex and the City is New York City itself. This is because of the prominent role the streets, restaurants, buildings, and landmarks play in the lives of the characters and plot lines of the show. Such is true in our daily lives, as the city and county in which we live and raise our families are an integral part of who we are, who our children are and will become.
Whether you are new to Collin County entirely or simply wanting to reignite your relationship with your hometown, it can be difficult with the hustle and bustle of daily life to get out and explore. As a new resident of Collin County, mom of two young children, wife, and individual searching for that hometown feel and sense of belonging, here are some of the things I have found helpful in getting to know my new home:
Embrace change. Get out of your comfort zone and try new places. It is so easy to fall into a rut and stick to the same old dinner spot or take the kids to the same park every weekend. In my situation, I have been forced to dive deeply into what is new and unknown.
What started off as intimidation has blossomed into a world of refreshing exploration. Every time I take my family on an outing we try to experience a different restaurant, try out a new park, check out the children’s section in different libraries, and sometimes get lost simply exploring different cities just to heighten our sense of adventure and get to know our way around. New play places and places to eat seem to be popping up everywhere, so take a deep breath, strap everyone in the car and check them out!
Use your resources. I have recently been stunned by just how many groups and events here in Collin County are advertised and organized through social media. Join groups on Facebook to find out about upcoming groups and gatherings. Research your community’s HOA website to find out about happenings in your own neighborhood.
If you don’t already, get to know your neighbors – they can be the best resource around, possibly introducing you to local things and places you may not have otherwise known about.
Finally, bookmark our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Collin County Moms Blog will be your ultimate resource for events, play dates, groups, and more in Collin County.
Join a group. As busy moms, we have a lot on our plates and the thought of adding to our overflowing list of things to do and places to be can seem extremely daunting and down right exhausting. Nevertheless, it’s quite possible that that list lacks the opportunity for us as moms to get out and enjoy our community. Sign up for that local book club you’ve been curious about, enroll your child in an activity where they can have fun and you can retreat with other moms. Put yourself out there!
Take a drive. Collin County is quite large and ever expanding, so it is always beneficial to take a minute to explore on wheels. If your child is refusing nap time, but almost always falls asleep to the sweet vibrations of your moving minivan, take advantage of the situation and conduct a nap time exploration through town. Drive through areas that aren’t part of your daily commute, turn the map app off of your phone, and see where your instinct takes you. If nothing else, hopefully your cranky kiddo got in a few z’s and you got a few minutes to catch your breath and gather your thoughts.
These things may all seem like no brainers, but if we don’t make it a point to recognize their importance and take the time to execute them once in a while, we may find ourselves trapped within the confinement of the ordinary.
Collin County is an extraordinary place to live and raise our families, so whether you have wound up here as a result of a job transfer from another area or are desperate to put some pep in your daily step, I urge everyone to discover and re-discover this amazing county. I have always wanted to live somewhere where I felt a strong sense of community and wholeheartedness and I am finding every day that Collin County provides just that.
Ready, set, EXPLORE!
