Advice from Americans in IST (Istanbul)

I am an american that was married to a Turkish women for 10 years. We divorced and in September of last year she died of a Brain Hemorrhage at her home in Dallas,TX. She was 42. It was an awful shock to me and our son.

While our divorce was ugly in the past year of her life we become good friends. Going for meals, sitting at her house drinking Tea and calls everyday.

Together we have a 12 year old Boy. I am now raising him alone. I have no family support and she had no family in America.

Her family especially her mother wants us to move to Istanbul. But we agreed to yearly visits for now. Most of her her family lives in the Barampasa district. They have offered us an apartment (they own property) pay for our sons schooling in an International school, and pay for the tickets to Turkey.

Now i think thats very nice of them. However i am the EX Husband. Our son understand very little Turkish. It's an awkward situation.

I am looking for an answer to two simple questions.

1. Is it safe as an American?
2. Would you recommend us coming to Istanbul for 1 month?

and any comments good or bad would be welcome.