would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would worry about the provincialism I see in wealthy kids who grow up in NYC. Kids in suburbs around the country, especially ones focused on education, adopt the idea early on that they’ll eventually leave for education, work, whatever. They may love their hometowns, but they don’t believe their hometown is the center of the world. As a result, they are mentally open to the idea of spreading their wings as young adults.

But wealthy NYC kids grow up absorbing the message that where they live is the best place in the world. And they are so weirdly provincial about it. I’ve met native New Yorkers who won’t go to Milan or Shanghai, for Pete’s sake. There is a proud myopia that exists that’s puzzling, and it would worry me. No amount of city activity can make up for a refusal to engage with the rest of the world.

+1
I’ve seen this too. There’s also so many people who would be much happier elsewhere but their identity is dependent on staying there. Bizarre.

Yes, what is odd about native New Yorkers is that for people whose identity is so tied up in being “the best,” they are often shockingly provincial. It’s a really weird disconnect.

Yup- this is my cousins!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would worry about the provincialism I see in wealthy kids who grow up in NYC. Kids in suburbs around the country, especially ones focused on education, adopt the idea early on that they’ll eventually leave for education, work, whatever. They may love their hometowns, but they don’t believe their hometown is the center of the world. As a result, they are mentally open to the idea of spreading their wings as young adults.

But wealthy NYC kids grow up absorbing the message that where they live is the best place in the world. And they are so weirdly provincial about it. I’ve met native New Yorkers who won’t go to Milan or Shanghai, for Pete’s sake. There is a proud myopia that exists that’s puzzling, and it would worry me. No amount of city activity can make up for a refusal to engage with the rest of the world.

+1
I’ve seen this too. There’s also so many people who would be much happier elsewhere but their identity is dependent on staying there. Bizarre.

Yes, what is odd about native New Yorkers is that for people whose identity is so tied up in being “the best,” they are often shockingly provincial. It’s a really weird disconnect.

Yup- this is my cousins!

sure. native new yorkers are all unsophisticated and narrow minded. That totally tracks with everything we've ever heard/ read about/ seen/ understood about the entire essence of new york city since forever. Glad your cousins could nail that data point for us.

*immediately decamps to Hempstead to get some of that sweet open mindedness you always hear about coming out of Long Island.

seriously people. lot of reasons to move to the burbs but fear of my kids being provincial is not one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assume HHI around $800k. Which would you choose between Manhattan, BK, Northern burbs?

Mount Vernon.

[Anonymous]

Westport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume HHI around $800k. Which would you choose between Manhattan, BK, Northern burbs?

Mount Vernon.

Stop with the jokes. lol

[Anonymous]

BK! I have one in college and one that is a HS senior and they feel so lucky to have grown up in NYC. They both went away/are leaving the city for college but plan to return (who knows for sure but I hope they do!!!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume HHI around $800k. Which would you choose between Manhattan, BK, Northern burbs?

Mount Vernon.

Stop with the jokes. lol

Op - why not mount Vernon? I have never heard of it but near bronxville no?

[Anonymous]

Mount Vernon is working class.

[Anonymous]

Why are NYC asking advice on this FORUM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Rockland County and loved it! Had a 2 acre yard, learned o drive at 15+ but was close enough to the city that we could enjoy everything it had to offer.

❤️❤️❤️

I also grew up in Rockland. It was the best childhood ever! Rockland is much more down to earth than Westchester (which I like but I recognize that it’s generally more competitive) and than Long Island. It’s a great place to raise a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are NYC asking advice on this FORUM?

Bc UrbanBaby closed down a few years ago and we have nowhere else to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Rockland County and loved it! Had a 2 acre yard, learned o drive at 15+ but was close enough to the city that we could enjoy everything it had to offer.

❤️❤️❤️

I also grew up in Rockland. It was the best childhood ever! Rockland is much more down to earth than Westchester (which I like but I recognize that it’s generally more competitive) and than Long Island. It’s a great place to raise a family.

I raised my kids in NYC and disagree with the idea that living in Rockland County somehow allows you to enjoy everything NYC has to offer. Thinking that flitting in and out on occasion is enjoying all the city has to offer is laughable and just screams “sheltered suburbanite”.

[Anonymous]

OP if you already have a weekend house with all the trappings of suburbia, staying in the city during the week sounds like a nice compromise if that works for your family. With your HHI and dual-houses the biggest concern is making sure your kids don't succumb to obnoxious privilege. No judgement - we live in an area where we have to combat this too, but are on the lower end of HHI so it's more of an attitude than reality for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Rockland County and loved it! Had a 2 acre yard, learned o drive at 15+ but was close enough to the city that we could enjoy everything it had to offer.

❤️❤️❤️

I also grew up in Rockland. It was the best childhood ever! Rockland is much more down to earth than Westchester (which I like but I recognize that it’s generally more competitive) and than Long Island. It’s a great place to raise a family.

I raised my kids in NYC and disagree with the idea that living in Rockland County somehow allows you to enjoy everything NYC has to offer. Thinking that flitting in and out on occasion is enjoying all the city has to offer is laughable and just screams “sheltered suburbanite”.

Like most people in the city, you have no idea about Rockland, do you? I went to elementary school and high school in NYC. I could get into the city faster than my cousins who lived in Brooklyn. My doctors, dentists and afterschool activities were in NYC and from the age of 12yo, I rode the subway alone. (Okay, I was usually with my sibling but no adults.) But frankly, most people don't do that. They have their kids attend school in suburbia because they prefer the suburbs (more fields for sports, etc) and go in and out of the city selectively (museums, theater, medical care). To each his own. The beauty of living in southern Rockland County is that you can make that choice because you can get into Manhatttan in under 30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Rockland County and loved it! Had a 2 acre yard, learned o drive at 15+ but was close enough to the city that we could enjoy everything it had to offer.

❤️❤️❤️

I also grew up in Rockland. It was the best childhood ever! Rockland is much more down to earth than Westchester (which I like but I recognize that it’s generally more competitive) and than Long Island. It’s a great place to raise a family.

I raised my kids in NYC and disagree with the idea that living in Rockland County somehow allows you to enjoy everything NYC has to offer. Thinking that flitting in and out on occasion is enjoying all the city has to offer is laughable and just screams “sheltered suburbanite”.

Like most people in the city, you have no idea about Rockland, do you? I went to elementary school and high school in NYC. I could get into the city faster than my cousins who lived in Brooklyn. My doctors, dentists and afterschool activities were in NYC and from the age of 12yo, I rode the subway alone. (Okay, I was usually with my sibling but no adults.) But frankly, most people don't do that. They have their kids attend school in suburbia because they prefer the suburbs (more fields for sports, etc) and go in and out of the city selectively (museums, theater, medical care). To each his own. The beauty of living in southern Rockland County is that you can make that choice because you can get into Manhatttan in under 30 minutes.

Your experience is the exception, and not the rule. Unless you describe your experience everyone will assume its a typical suburban experience. Also, you must have been in school a long time ago, because a 30 minute commute to Manhattan from Rockland County is not believable unless you are leaving at 6am.