When we first moved to Arlington, we thought it was the perfect middle ground between Fort Worth and Dallas — a convenient compromise for our commute, our family and our future.
Over time, we realized something more meaningful: Arlington isn’t just between two cities. It’s a place that has everything we need, and we’ve grown to love our little corner near the I-20 and Green Oaks exit.
I was introduced to the area more than a decade ago, when I visited as a prospective doctorate student considering what is now the University of North Texas Health Fort Worth. I ultimately stayed at Ohio State University. My husband likes to joke that my decision had less to do with academics and more to do with meeting him just a week earlier, in the summer of 2015.
Five years and two kids later, life brought us back to North Texas when I joined the faculty at the JPS Health Network Center for Epidemiology & Healthcare Delivery Research. We didn’t know exactly where we’d land, but Arlington became home in all the ways that matter.
On some Saturdays, my husband, our three sons and I treat ourselves to IHOP. A woman who works there greets us with a smile and blesses our family like we’re old friends.
“Your family is so perfect. May God bless you all,” she says every time.
Her words, simple as they are, remind me that we are seen — and celebrated — right here in our neighborhood.
Before church on Sundays, we often stop at Pilaski’s Donuts, drawn not just by the sweets but by the familiar faces behind the counter. An older Korean couple run the shop, often alongside their two sons. They never let our boys leave without extra donut holes. These small rituals are meaningful reminders of how community forms through recognition and routine.
Fielder Church, just 10 minutes down Pioneer Parkway, has become more than a Sunday stop. Its bilingual services in English and Spanish reflect the diversity of our area. The warmth of the congregation has helped us celebrate birthdays, holidays and the everyday chaos of parenthood alongside other young families.
When the weather cooperates, we explore nearby parks and trails. Laughter carries across the playgrounds, especially when the kids spot one of Arlington’s painted “Star of Texas” statues. Each one feels like a small discovery and a reminder that wonder can live close to home.
At the Arlington-Mansfield YMCA, we’ve found a second home. The staff knows our names and happily cares for our boys while I take a Bodypump class. Programs such as Parents’ Night Out and summer camps give us rare chances to recharge — something every parent needs.
Our neighborhood elementary school has been more than convenient. With universal pre-K for 4-year-olds and a strong academic rating, it’s a place where our kids feel safe, challenged and connected and where classmates become friends with friendships spilling into weekends and playdates.
At Ron Wright Library, my kids light up when they see a librarian they know from story time. Each visit tells them they belong not just at home but in their community.
What began as a practical choice became something deeper. Our southwest corner of Arlington is where routines turned into traditions and strangers became part of our story. We came for convenience but stayed because we found a true sense of home.
Rachel Meadows is a second-generation Korean-American researcher and mother of three. She has lived in southwest Arlington since 2021 and is writing a memoir about complex trauma, healing and intentional parenting.
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