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[quote=Anonymous]I am so disappointed in the neighborhood we chose to live in.  I am not from here originally so I can not compare but this area seems to have over-structured kids that are never playing outside.  EVER!  We have lived here (near the Rockville/Potomac border) for 5 years and I just keep thinking once my daughter gets older, it will get better.  That is not the case.  She is 10 and she has 3 kids in the whole neighborhood that are her age.  2 of which go to other schools.  There are kids of every age but they are never home, never outside playing.  No jailbreak at night, nothing.  Everyone is in activities after school until dinner and then homework and bed.  She has to plan set times to play with her friends.  It is a little ridiculous.

Is it like that everywhere in the DC Metro?  My husband's job is located here so unfortunately we can not move out of the area but we have both thought about moving to a better neighborly location.  I see all of my friends that live everywhere but here post about neighborhood picnics, block parties, july 4th neighborhood parades, monthly BBQ's, wine nights, halloween house decorating contests, etc...  I tried to start an annual halloween party and a summer party a few years ago and everyone is initially on board but then people are "too busy" to seriously pitch in and help.  After running both events 2 years in a row with a fair share of people showing up but little help, I stopped.  Only a few asked if we could start up again.  I find it very sad to not know your neighbors.  We have a few good friends nearby but again, everyone is "too busy!" and the gatherings are few and far in between.  No one knows each other.  People walk, bike, stroll right past others without saying hi.  So many don't even speak English, you can't talk to them if you wanted to.  I am a SAHM and even with a Mom's club it is really a sad lonely area for moms that are home and don't over-structure their kids all day every day.  I take my 3 year old to the playground and it is usually empty except for a few nannies with kids.   Most of the time my 10 year old will have friends here for 1-2 hours a few times a week but nothing major and most aren't allowed to be outside without parent supervision.  I feel like she is losing her childhood so quickly.  I relished outdoor time with my friends when I was younger.  Biking, playing kick the can, going to secret hiding locations, watching Little League games up the street, etc...  Stupid stuff that was free, fun and you were able to do without structure or a parent up your a$$.  She wants it too but it just doesn't happen.  She plays one sport a season and that is my limit.  I just can not as a SAHM rationalize paying hundreds of dollars a week for art, dance, more sports, and all the other paid and structured activities that seem to be the norm. She isn't a very artsy girl anyway and already plays instrument and sings in chorus at school.   I feel like an outcast.

Sorry I am venting here.  I am just really frustrated that my children's home and neighborhood is this way.  If you have a neighborhood that truly has kids playing outside, neighbors that get together, and families that can slow down for 5 minutes and enjoy the simpler life, please tell me where.  We are seriously looking to move in the next year but hopefully stay in Maryland.  Virginia is too far of a commute to most of my husbands jobs he visits and most of my family is up 95 North.

Thanks for listening.  I am sure there will be flames too but I have thick-skin  :D [/quote]

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