Home is L.A. with her husband and daughters. But their favorite getaway is Fresno

“Why do we have to live in the worst place ever?” my 8-year-old often now yells at me. “It’s Mommy’s fault we live in junky LA,” my almost 10-year-old says, backing up her sister. These recent and frequent quotes from my daughters make me laugh just as much as they feel like a deep stab in the heart.

On our last trip to the Central Valley a few weeks ago, they wielded their opinions with my immediate family present. My sister gasped (and then smiled like ‘ha ha ha’). My dad immediately said “Move back here.” I just wanted to cry. (Sometimes I do.)

Growing up in Fresno, I had a fabulous childhood — both sides of grandparents close by, opportunities to learn and shine, safety and security of a medium sized-city with familiar faces and philosophies everywhere we went. I remember being in the third grade the first time I announced to my parents that I wanted to “go to UCLA and live in L.A.,” to become an actress/singer/dancer/famous-on-TV. (Ha! I figure I’m 71% there?) I left home long ago, but now I find myself wanting back in.

Raising kids in Southern California — in this new world of pandemics and civic unrest and polarizing politics if you dare think about or discuss a situation outside of what CNN specifically instructs — has me wishing I moved my family back to Fresno when the possibility arose back in 2017. Now that my husband’s new practice (plastic surgery) is up and running, “that ship has sailed....” (direct quote from him). I’m not angry, I’m just kicking myself.

My desperate solution to satisfy what my daughters and I now want? We vacation in Fresno — even more than we did before the world turned upside down. My sister’s home and backyard is our go-to resort. The family friendly hangouts of Clovis (Pelican’s Snoballs and Old Town shops) are new favorites. Pismo’s Coastal Grill single-handedly restored my faith that people and business owners are living life and forging ahead with good spirit and sensibility. Fresno is reasonable (decent values). Fresno is comfortable (affordable). Fresno is safer (danger and crisis always hits the big cities first and hardest).

For Central Valley-born college kids, just-married couples or anyone who might be considering a move back home right now, hear me, heed me, think about the long haul and the weird world we inevitably face ahead. Home is a most certain place to be when times are most uncertain.

Thirty-four years, two daughters and five months of big-city turmoil later — after declaring my future-move to the City of Angels at age 8 — I now understand why the Fresno area is a much better place to live a real life and raise kids than where I’ve landed (and I live in a nice L.A. suburb with great schools). Fresno is home, our prime vacation destination, and the place my daughters talk about wanting to live in when they grow up.

Here’s hoping they each have a spare room for their mom to visit.

Jill Simonian was born and raised in Fresno and is creator of TheFABMom.com. She is a Los Angeles based TV/media contributor and author of book ‘The FAB Mom’s Guide’ for first-time pregnancy. Connect with Jill on Facebook and Instagram @jillsimonian.