I don’t know what it is about 2016, but it seems like the year of the baby boom in Downtown Sanford. All of our favorite locals are bringing new little Sanfordites into the world, almost like there’s something in the water. (I think I’ll continue to stick with the beer.)
As someone who grew up in Downtown, I find it heartwarming to watch couples settle into new homes and start their families here. My childhood memories are filled with scenes of bicycling down brick streets, making friends with local business owners, and dancing at street parties, and I love the idea of a whole new generation of kids growing up in this awesome community.
But since I’m pretty clueless about how to raise children in Sanford (beyond, of course, brokering Game of Thrones-style marriage alliances for when they all come of age), I consulted one of the coolest moms I know, Tammy, on her experiences in starting a family here and balancing a life of all the things I believe make Sanford great (our history, our events, our beer) with the needs of little ones. Among other accomplishments, Tammy and her husband, Jeb, have just purchased their second historic home in Sanford, and have two little girls, Sloane, 4, and Sawyer, turning 1 year this month. Coincidentally, Tammy really wished she could have been having a beer at Oktoberfest last year instead of being in labor, but it was worth it!
Q: So first, what was your life like pre-children?
A: Tammy: This is a good one. Like anyone else, we were footloose and fancy free before we had kids. We lived in Orlando (Colonialtown) in a tiny seven-hundred-square-foot bungalow and ran with a pretty cool crowd. We’d take weekend trips to places like the Bahamas or Savannah on a whim or find ourselves in the midst of a raging house party on a Sunday night. One by one, our friends started getting married and having children, and we were some of the last ones standing.
Q: What were your hopes or plans for the future at that time?
A: Tammy: I always wanted this, what we have right here in Sanford, ever since I was a child myself, growing up here.
Jeb: I wanted a family, but certainly never saw myself raising one here, until Tammy forced me to move to Sanford, ha! I’ve grown to love this town and look forward to raising our girls here. The small-town feel and the sense of community appeal to me.
Q: At what point did you decide to reset your roots in Sanford?
A: Tammy: In 2009, we decided to buy a home, and we realized quickly that we were priced out of our ideal neighborhoods in Orlando and obviously Winter Park. Returning to Sanford was a natural choice. It was a good financial decision as well, since there were so many great affordable homes for sale. (Not that we recommend buying almost-100-year-old houses to everyone . . . that isn’t always a good financial move—ha!)
Q: How have your life and routine changed since you had your first child? How do these things compare to your expectations of parenthood and married life?
A: Tammy: Having our first daughter was a major game changer for us. We really became motivated to settle down and focus on our careers and the future, saving/investing, etc. I never had any actual expectations of what life would look like being married with kids—I was raised by a woman whose homemaking skills would make Martha Stewart feel inadequate—and I know I could never duplicate that. Having our second child made a bigger difference in our lives. With one kid, we still went everywhere and did pretty much what you wanted with her in tow. After our second daughter was born, weekends at home became more routine and we learned to embrace entertaining!
Q: How does living in Sanford influence your parenting style? What are some of the advantages of raising kids here?
A: Tammy: We have a fairly relaxed parenting style, although we do try to maintain a routine. Our kids are really integrated into almost all aspects of our lives. We don’t bat an eye at hosting a dinner party and setting a place for our four-year-old or stopping for an afternoon beer while out for a walk on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I love the community we have here, and the small-town feeling. Sanford is diverse and authentic. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe—the history, the beauty.
Q: Do you have anything to say to people who claim there aren’t enough family-friendly activities in Sanford?
A: Tammy: Yeah—“Are you living under a rock”? I’ve never actually heard anyone say that. Everyone I know who is raising kids here stays busy. One important point to make is that not every event can or even should be kid-friendly. It’s healthy to carve out some adults-only time!
You better believe we’ll be seeing Tammy, Jeb, and the girls at Oktoberfest this year, #Sanfording family-style. It’s great to know that you can still have a life after parenthood . . . in Sanford, at least!
Top 5 Family-Friendly Outings in Downtown Sanford
The Zoo
Your little animals meet actual animals. The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens actually has a wealth of cool events specifically designed for children and families all year round, in addition to the standard self-guided tours and petting zoo. Keep an eye out for their endangered animal events!
Picnic in the Park
Sanford has several beautiful neighborhood parks, including Park on Park (hello, wooden playground) and Ft. Mellon (bonus: splash pad!). Tammy’s pick is takeout and a soft blanket in Touhy Park (which is where she and Jeb had one of their first dates!).
Explore the Neighborhood
Grab some ice cream and take your own tour of our historic neighborhoods. It’s a great way to start a conversation about history or preservation with your children by letting them point out what they like about different architectural styles or what houses they would like to live in one day. Take the car to cover a lot of ground, or use the opportunity to teach the youngins proper pedestrian or bicycling safety!
Movies
Downtown Sanford has several awesome movie events suitable for kiddos. Tammy likes taking the girls to the Movie in the Square, sponsored by the City, and the E for Everyone block at the annual Love Your Shorts Film Festival. As your family grows up, try the Movie Classics on Magnolia; what better way to teach young adults about the progression of technology and entertainment than with some black and white classics? This is especially fun for kids who are “old souls”.