Though she’s been in the U.S. for less than a year, life as an expat is nothing new for Kaitlyn Schaefer. At 21, she packed up her life in Ontario, Canada to pursue adventure—and a budding romance—in northern Germany. A decade later she found herself embarking on another international—this time with her German husband, Friedmann, and their infant and toddler sons. Destination: Frisco.
Last year, Schaefer and her family were among thousands who moved to DFW, as the area sees record population growth. What drew them from Europe to the Lone Star state? And what’s it like to move a family across the world? Schaefer shares with us here.
Interview with Kaitlyn Schaefer
DFWChild: You grew up in Cananda but spent the last ten years living in Germany. What took you there?
KS: I had met my would-be husband, who’s German, in Canada, and I was young and carefree. I didn’t really know what I was going to do in Germany since I didn’t speak German at all. Everyone thought I was kind of crazy; I guess I thought I was kind of crazy too! It was a combination of wanting to see how the relationship could develop and also wanting a bit of adventure—some room to grow into an adult woman.
I think that Texas is really underrated. We were in for some unexpected surprises here that we really liked.
DFWChild: And a decade and two kids later—Frisco. What brought your family here?
KS: My husband was offered a job in Plano. We had a lot of thoughts, lots of discussion about what this would mean for our family. I had always imagined raising German-Canadian children in Germany; I really loved living there. But we also thought it would be a really cool opportunity for our family to be able to live abroad together. We were up for it, but we were kind of skeptical. We were like, what’s in Plano, Texas? But now I think that Texas is really underrated. We were in for some unexpected surprises here that we really liked.
DFWChild: Did you have any misconceptions about Texas?
KS: There’s always stereotypes. When we thought of Texas we thought cowboys, BBQ, Tex-Mex food. And you can find all that stuff, and all that stuff is actually really great. But there’s also a lot of beautiful nature, and we’re big nature people. There’s a whole slew of amazing state and national parks within driving distance of DFW.
DFWChild: How did you prepare your children for such a big move?
KS: For Hans, it was a big change. There was a lot going on in his world—he was 2 years old, we were expecting a new baby, we were talking about moving countries, going to a new school—really big things for a toddler to comprehend. We talked a lot about Texas and before our big, final move, we came and spent some time here. We tried to explore as much as possible, going to different playgrounds, going to the zoo, to libraries. We tried to get him hyped up about moving and making it a fun experience for him.
DFWChild: What was the hardest change for him?
KS: It was a rough start transitioning to a new preschool. In Germany things are done differently, there’s a transition period—eingewöhnung—which is basically a phase where you give the children 4 to 8 weeks to get used to going to school. We started with 15-minute increments of him being there by himself, eventually working up to 6 to 8 hours a day. Here, it’s a different concept. It was like just throwing him in the deep end. It was really hard for him and also really hard for me.
DFWChild: How did you settle on Frisco?
KS: We wanted to be close to my husband’s work (in Plano), and we wanted a newer house. We looked at schools and school ratings. We also wanted to be located where there are a lot of family-friendly things to do. We love to be outdoors, and the proximity to Lake Lewisville is really cool for us. It has a different kind of vibe.
DFWChild: What advice would you give another parent about moving their family?
KS: Before you move, do a lot of research. I would recommend reaching out to the community somehow. A big resource for me were Facebook groups. I joined all sorts of social media mom groups in the area. And then, try to connect with people. Reach out to people on playgrounds. You’re going to come across people who are really open and receptive and looking for new friends.
DFWChild: What’s the best parenting advice you ever got?
KS: Cherish the years when they are small. I look at Tillmann, who’s 8 months old, and I’m like, holy cow, Hans used to be 8 months old and I remember it like it was yesterday. Now he’s running around, talking in full sentences. Where does the time go? So I try to remember to just take it slow.
Favorite Finds
Kaitlyn Schaefer on what she loves about her new home and her tips for exploring with kids
Play Days at Plano Parks
“We’re big playground people,” Schaefer says, and she’s found plenty of great ones around. Favorites include Windhaven Meadows Park, which Schaefer likes for the separate areas for bigs and littles, and playground at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. The best hidden gem? Ridgepointe Park, where the playground backs onto Lake Lewisville the scenic 3.5-mile Shoreline Trail. “It’s just a beautiful backdrop,” says Schaefer.
Easy Eats at the Ice House
When it comes to dining out with their two kids, the Schaefers keep it laid back. They like the vibe at Katy Trail Ice House, in Dallas, and especially the Outpost in Preston Park Village. “The trees, the shade, the picnic tables. It’s a super chill atmosphere and there’s kids running around. It’s a good spot,” says Schaefer.
RELATED: 25 Great Restaurants with Patios in Dallas-Fort Worth
Road Trip to Big Bend
The Schaefers checked Big Bend National Park off their bucket list within months of moving to the Lone Star state. It’s an experience Schaefer thinks every Texan should have. “It’s phenomenal,” she says.
Camping Quality Time
The family of four enjoys camping in Texas’s state parks. “It’s the ultimate activity for small children, because they’re always looking to help with something and explore everything. There’s plenty of that at a campsite,” says Schaefer. Her tips for camping with little ones: Splurge on a good popup tent that one parent can manage alone (while the other wrangles the kids) and keep everything else, including meals, simple and easy.
RELATED: 5 State Parks to Visit Within 5 Hours of Dallas-Fort Worth
Travel Hacks
Eleven-hour flights and days long road trips might sound like a nightmare with kids, but Schaefer’s found some sanity savers. “We’re a bit old school. Coloring books and crayons, mini cars and trucks, lightweight books and Play-Doh are all things that help us when we are on the road or in the air,” she says. And though her family is usually screen-free (they don’t own a television!), she lets her older son indulge in kid-friendly media when flying.
She also plans ahead with lots of snacks and deliberate pit stops. “We try to take breaks at sights that are interesting to see or strategically during meals times so everyone can stretch and use the bathroom at the same time,” she says.
Top image courtesy of Kaitlyn Schaefer
