Let Children Experience a Simple Childhood: Parents Move from the City to the Countryside

Gregory family wanted their children to experience a traditional childhood, so they sold their house in the city and moved to a small cabin on a mountain in rural Alberta, where they could enjoy the mountain views.

“When you look back at your childhood, most people will mention ‘simple’ or ‘simpler times’,” Internet content creator Chantal Gregory told the Epoch Times. “There’s no denying that days are so different now, and I want to do everything I can to protect their innocence and let them enjoy their childhood.”

Former nurse turned toddler and newborn mom, she starts her day by cooking a family breakfast, including deer sausage, sourdough bread, and fresh eggs. Then, she and her 2 and a half-year-old son Jack do some chores on the farm, where they have chickens, sheep, dogs, and barn cats.

The highlight of the day for the toddling Jack is helping care for the chicken flock. He fills his mini tractor with feed for the chickens or sheep and drags it to the coop and the pen.

Mrs. Gregory said, “The chicken coop and free-range pastures are quite extensive, so he enjoys finding eggs laid outside the henhouse. It’s like the Easter bunny comes to see him every day.”

Jack started learning to drive an ATV at 11 months, with his parents giving him a small tractor knowing he would love it.

This independent toddler has developed his own skills and is helpful on the farm.

“My husband says Jack can drive better than me now!” Mrs. Gregory laughs.

While the Gregory farm isn’t large and traditional, Mrs. Gregory believes it’s a good place to “escape the city craziness.” They decided to leave the city because it became “too chaotic and political” to raise their kids.

“The small towns in Alberta still give you a sense of simplicity,” Mrs. Gregory said, with small-town life reminding her of the “good times” from her own childhood. Here, the couple has the opportunity to teach their son hunting, fishing, growing their own food, and respecting others.

Undoubtedly, little Jack – wearing a cowboy hat, riding his toy in the mud – loves this lifestyle.

“Moving to a place with no neighbors for miles gives you privacy and security you can’t find in the city,” his mother said. “He spends 90% of his time outdoors, and we know no cars will pass by, and there’s no one we don’t know or trust, so we feel much calmer.”

Living outside the city has its challenges, with one of the biggest being a lack of shopping options. Living 35 minutes from the nearest grocery store with a toddling child and a newborn isn’t easy, but the Gregory family is willing to pay the price.

Sometimes, during Alberta’s harsh winters, a small cabin and a toddling child to care for bring some challenging days.

Mrs. Gregory strives to raise her kids in a “traditional” way, focusing on discipline, Sunday church, and plenty of outdoor play.

“‘Don’t come home until the street lights are on’ is something I often said during my childhood, and we love that,” she said. “I want to provide this service for my children, allowing them to just be kids.”

“We want them to respect adults, be kind, and have a strong faith.”

By teaching their children to prioritize God, then family, and everything else, the Gregorys’ goal is for their children to stand up for what’s right, even if no one else is doing it.

Fortunately, the Gregorys have found other rural families who share their values.

As a full-time Internet content creator, Mrs. Gregory documents her rural lifestyle on social media, and her journey has received positive feedback.

“People love it!” she said. “I’ve received so many comments from other parents wishing they could provide a similar lifestyle for their families, showing how fast the world is changing.”

In sharing her story, Mrs. Gregory wants to remind people to “slow down, live a simple life, and enjoy the little moments.”