New in town: J.T. Doscher
J.T. had been visiting Charleston since 2015. He recently made the move from New Jersey with his wife and two kids – drawn by the weather, family nearby, and a better work/life balance.
Age:
34.
Status:
Married with two kids.
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Current location:
West Ashley, SC.
Moved from:
New Jersey (born and raised).
Own or rent?
We own after monitoring the neighborhood for a few years.
What made you move to the area?
Weather, the people, being able to be outside, family closer, the food, beaches, and work/life balance and mindset. Hard to beat!
Was this move planned or spontaneous?
This move was planned for a while – it was about a year in the making once we officially
knew this was the place we wanted to be.
Did you know anyone in town before moving? Were you able to make new friends?
Yes we did, and we have already made new friends and will continue to. Those walks are a great way to make new friends.
Cost of living here compared to your previous location:
A little cheaper but not much!
Community and culture here compared to your previous location:
More welcoming, friendly, and slower in a good way. We aren’t in as much of a rush here so the
community seems to take more time to get to know you!
Traffic situation:
Man, coming from NJ, traffic is a common thing. The traffic here is different, I get it, I’m part of the reason – there’s been a mass influx of people moving here and the infrastructure can’t handle it. It just takes some time getting used to it and leaving at the right times.
One thing you wish someone had told you before moving:
Nothing really. We have been visiting since 2015 so we are super familiar with Charleston.
Advice for the town mayor:
Transportation and infrastructure (I know that takes time.)
What/who would you bring from your old town?
Better pizza and bagels 🙂
Do you call this place home?
This is our home and we are so happy. We are at peace here.
Favorite restaurants:
We love Southbound! We ate there recently. Staples for us include Mex 1 Coastal Cantina, Halls Chophouse, Slightly North of Broad. Love the Biergarten especially if we go to the aquarium. Raw 167 is on the list! Wife and sister-in-law have been pregnant or breastfeeding for about 3 years so timing hasn’t worked out but going soon!
Hobbies:
Exercising, walking on the greenway, sports, golf, and creating content on social media! I am not a reader, wish I were.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Honestly, no idea. Never really think like this. My wife and I love everywhere we visit. I think we would have multiple places. We would have another home in Maine to visit my in-laws. Probably a home on a ski mountain in Europe would be pretty amazing too!
What do you do for a living?
I am a pediatric physical therapist.
When should a parent actually call a pediatric PT?
I wish it was just a staple in child rearing! We can help in so many ways. You should call when you feel like “something is off”, you are noticing developmental delays, when the pediatrician might not be considering your concerns enough or is saying “wait and see”, and you need any physical rehab for a child under 21. If you are watching your child play with peers and they maybe aren’t keeping up, give us a call. You also would see us if your child has more intense developmental needs from a specific diagnosis.
One thing about a baby’s movement or development you wish every new parent
knew from day one:
Facilitating movement from day one actually isn’t that difficult. Maybe 5-10 minutes a day. Purposeful play consistently is the key to supporting appropriate development and it is just taking mindfulness when playing with your child. If you can take the time to make those decisions and support them with effort, your child will just be consistently developing and will be supported. You are likely doing more “PT” than you even realize!
Do kids in warm climates hit gross motor milestones differently than kids in cold ones?
Nope, it has nothing to do with that. Access to outdoor play is definitely helpful but it doesn’t mean your child develops differently.
When did your Instagram account start and what made it take off?
Started March 2024. I got lucky with a few viral videos and now I have built an amazing following! I am so proud. I love sharing with my followers.
What’s the most common question parents DM you?
Questions about developmental delays or toe walking.
Follow J.T. here.
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