Reply to So what do we think about the New Yorker article with the Cheverly moms?

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[quote=Anonymous]Finally read this article as I catch up on my New Yorkers at the end of the year.

I found it interesting because I live on the Hill and have met some of the families in the article. My DH and I have actually debated moving to the burbs, and Cheverly specifically, for affordability reasons. We live in a condo and I would love a house with a yard but we can't even afford a row house on the Hill anymore. Also like the community feel of Cheverly and are on the waitlist for the pool already (a lot of Hill families get on that waitlist as it's definitely the closest pool club to us -- PG pool is a longer drive and works better if you live in upper NE).

But we're liberal and pro-choice. We have two kids and no plans for more. Both work and I (the DW) make more money. I did stay home for a few years when kids were babies. I wish we had European-style family policies in the US with longer parental leaves, subsidized daycare, better support for new moms (I had severe PPD and the US does a terrible job with taking care of mental health in new moms). I also think abortion should be legal and a decision by a woman.

The thing that struck me reading the article though was how many things I agreed with these conservative women on, EXCEPT abortion. It actually made me hopeful because I think there is real common ground. And I don't really even have an issue with someone opposing abortion on moral grounds, as long as they don't legislate against it. My sister and mom are morally/religiously opposed to abortion for any reason other than medical necessity to save the life of the mother, but they have reached a point where they agree it should be legal even for people having abortions for other reasons. I feel like if they can reach that point, so can other women.

But I totally get wanting to live somewhere affordable with more community and a more family-focused vibe. The Hill sort of has that but you need to have a lot of money here. Having a big family on the Hill is only accessible to wealthy people. We are UMC and I recognize that stuff like me taking time off when my kids were little was a privilege most people can't afford.

I'd love to work with women like those in the article on finding common ground that would make life better for families and mothers. For them these policies might make abortion less common, reducing it without outlawing it. For me I just think it would just be more humane. As long as abortion is still legal, I can get on board with the rest.

I think we could find common ground.[/quote]

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