Meet the Callahan Family
Similar to the Dupees, the Callahan family’s story is one of moving out of Wauwatosa — and then, just 18 months later, returning again. The family, which includes husband and wife duo and Wauwatosa natives Brian and Shana Callahan and their four children, ages 10 through 18, relocated to a previously family-owned lake property in Muskego two years ago, but quickly felt the pull back to Wauwatosa. Here, Shana shares why they ultimately returned to their hometown, their favorite Tosa spots, and firsthand advice for families relocating with young children.
You recently relocated back to Wauwatosa after a few years spent living in another Milwaukee area town. Why the return?
While lake life is really pretty and quite relaxing, there is no better community than Wauwatosa! We missed our “village!” We longed for sidewalks, restaurants, carpools, and family and friendships that helped us feel connected and alive. We gave our lake life in Muskego 18 months before realizing we couldn’t bear being away from HOME any longer. We longed for neighborhoods again, where kids ran up our driveway and into our kitchen every day! We longed for the sense of community that only Wauwatosa carries.
Having completed your move, can you offer any advice for families relocating with kids? Any tips for helping kiddos navigate the transition?
The move was hard, and relocating a family twice in two years was even harder. Add to that, as parents moving a family of six, we felt the weight of the world (as one might imagine). However, we knew that we had to keep our eyes on the big picture, and that getting back to Tosa, regardless of which neighborhood, would mean a better quality of life for all.
In the end, Tosa did not disappoint; in fact, it proved again just why we love it so much. We are now tucked into a new neighborhood, and part of new schools, which certainly held an element of uncertainty for us. While we couldn’t have loved our old neighborhood more, we find ourselves once again blessed by our new neighborhood. Our lives are full of joy and happiness, and that truly can’t be found easily. We once again have kids racing into our house, sitting in our kitchen, shooting hoops in the backyard, and we absolutely never have enough frozen pizzas on hand for the teens. And yet, we love it all!
Brian and I know Tosa is unique, and have appreciated finding our way from childhood into adulthood as Wauwatosa residents. Leaving and coming back gives us an appreciation we never carried before. The best part is that it really all does exceed our expectations again and again. Being welcomed into new carpools, new friendships, and new social circles is a gift. We appreciate all we had in Tosa before we left, and are grateful for all that is newly unfolding before us. Once again the community embraced us, as only Tosa can do for a person and a family.
What are you and your family’s favorite spots to visit in Tosa? And why?
Gosh, what don’t we love? We love easy walks to the village now, which we didn’t have from our old neighborhood. We have so much at our fingertips. There are so many wonderful places, but the greatest spots of all are with our friends and family — just sitting in living rooms or backyards, sharing life’s simplest moments, walking around the block and seeing kids playing, our boys learning where new friends live and finding their way back to the old neighborhood to see their buddies. The housing market was nuts when we were looking, and at times we didn’t know how we would find a house to call home. It was all worth the wait! We are so happy to be HOME for Christmas this year! There is really nothing like Wauwatosa.
