Feeling so lucky for community

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly feel so lucky for this community we have around us. We live in an apartment in the city. Near a lot of other buildings but a newer area and not many playgrounds or kids classes nearby yet.

We have found a group of kids and parents/nannies who stay home and every morning we meet up in a grassy field area and bring snacks for the kids and activities. This am we had paint and some canvas for the kids and someone else brought a water table , someone else brought tball set up and stomp rocket. Another family had chalk and bubbles and we also had a sensory bin of lentils and scoopers.

This all happened organically. And there are about 6-8 kids that come every single am and others trickle in and out as they pass by.

The kids are all around 2 and they know each other now and will go to other parents for snack or bubbles.

All we've ever wanted for our child is a strong sense of community and friendship. I just feel so lucky. Unfortunately I know we will end up moving to a suburb but I can't see how it can get better than this.

Later we are meeting at a building to grill and take the kids in the pool. We are planning to bring homemade colors for a holi celebration on Friday. And so many cultures and good coming together. I just love this and my heart is so full.

Go to the park. Bring a blanket and set up toys me talk to your neighbors. It is absolutely worth it.

You sound like someone who would absolutely thrive in a homeschooling community as your kid gets older. Many homeschool coops continue to exist like this past the baby/toddler phase. Check out some in your area! Otherwise, I agree with other posters, that as kids get older and want to choose their own friends, start to have preferences about how to spend their free time after school, this stuff is harder to maintain. But we live in the burbs now and the kids have their own awesome community and play pick up soccer, etc after school all the time without parent involvement (some of the parents I'm not even sure of their names), bike to eachothers houses to play in eachothers yards on weekends, etc. and I love it so much. But if you value community in the sense that both parents AND kids spend a lot of community time together- look into those sort of coops!!

This can last though, some kids will choose their neighborhood friends and choose to not be busy.

Yes absolutely- in my neighborhood the kids are like this- but it doesn't include the parents, because the kids don't want to hang out with parents doing family style activities when they're 11 and 12 , at least not all of the time. They want to play and hang out independently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly feel so lucky for this community we have around us. We live in an apartment in the city. Near a lot of other buildings but a newer area and not many playgrounds or kids classes nearby yet.

We have found a group of kids and parents/nannies who stay home and every morning we meet up in a grassy field area and bring snacks for the kids and activities. This am we had paint and some canvas for the kids and someone else brought a water table , someone else brought tball set up and stomp rocket. Another family had chalk and bubbles and we also had a sensory bin of lentils and scoopers.

This all happened organically. And there are about 6-8 kids that come every single am and others trickle in and out as they pass by.

The kids are all around 2 and they know each other now and will go to other parents for snack or bubbles.

All we've ever wanted for our child is a strong sense of community and friendship. I just feel so lucky. Unfortunately I know we will end up moving to a suburb but I can't see how it can get better than this.

Later we are meeting at a building to grill and take the kids in the pool. We are planning to bring homemade colors for a holi celebration on Friday. And so many cultures and good coming together. I just love this and my heart is so full.

Go to the park. Bring a blanket and set up toys me talk to your neighbors. It is absolutely worth it.

You sound like someone who would absolutely thrive in a homeschooling community as your kid gets older. Many homeschool coops continue to exist like this past the baby/toddler phase. Check out some in your area! Otherwise, I agree with other posters, that as kids get older and want to choose their own friends, start to have preferences about how to spend their free time after school, this stuff is harder to maintain. But we live in the burbs now and the kids have their own awesome community and play pick up soccer, etc after school all the time without parent involvement (some of the parents I'm not even sure of their names), bike to eachothers houses to play in eachothers yards on weekends, etc. and I love it so much. But if you value community in the sense that both parents AND kids spend a lot of community time together- look into those sort of coops!!

No thank you!

I mean, it's not for me either, but neither was planning standing group playdates to make homemade colors to celebrate Holi or take group field trips to the zoo with 10 other neighborhood families. I'm saying if OP enjoys this sort of curated, community stuff where the parents organize enrinchment for the kids and prioritize the communal stuff, that's literally what the homeschooling coops in my area do. It's not for me, but it might be for OP. Personally I was happy when my kids started to want to do stuff on their own without me having to make small talk with moms who I was only friends with because our kids were the same age.

[Anonymous]

We have this too and just decided to never make the move to the burbs. We're still in the condo we bought as newlyweds that we assumed we would upgrade a few years in. Once we had our DS we weighed the option of getting more floor space or a backyard against keeping our city lifestyle - condo living, ability to walk to multiple parks and many of our favorite restaurants, rarely having to use our car, etc and we just couldn't give up those pluses. We live in a much smaller home than most of our friends, but we don't have to do any yard work and we our housing expenses are way lower than our means, so we can travel frequently. I realize this is easier with one kid than multiple though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have this too and just decided to never make the move to the burbs. We're still in the condo we bought as newlyweds that we assumed we would upgrade a few years in. Once we had our DS we weighed the option of getting more floor space or a backyard against keeping our city lifestyle - condo living, ability to walk to multiple parks and many of our favorite restaurants, rarely having to use our car, etc and we just couldn't give up those pluses. We live in a much smaller home than most of our friends, but we don't have to do any yard work and we our housing expenses are way lower than our means, so we can travel frequently. I realize this is easier with one kid than multiple though.

What makes you think that the suburbs don’t offer the same situation? We live in Takoma park and it’s all the same stuff here as well.

[Anonymous]

Op I feel the same way. Right outside dc in garden style condos and i am so greatful! We have a communal playground and can walk to the park. Im afraid others will move away as their kids grow older but appreciate it for what it is now. Also headed out to grill and let the kids play in the sprinklers now!