About the only thing I feel I am failing the kids on, is that the landlords do not want us to get a dog. Now since we have been in the house 2 years if we sign another lease it seems as if they’ll need to change carpets and such anyway, they might give in. Now the house is small, 1050 Sq. Feet, with two boys 10 and 12.
Since moving here two years ago, the kids are well adjusted at our upper class schools (Cardiff), both very well-liked, LL baseball all-stars, honor roll students, etc. They are enjoying quite a little childhood, for the $1800 a month I pay for this junker. And we could literally stay here for years, so maybe renting is ok IF and only IF you find the right house/landlord.
Coming from 2400 Sq. Feet with a 1200 Sq. feet basement was a bit of a shock, as well as losing the pool and basketball court in my 3 acre yard. However the kids manage. They’d move back to the midwest and have a big yard in a heartbeat, but right now I’d say things are pretty stable.