Anonymous
10/24/2021 14:34
Subject: Re:Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
You eventually get to a point where properly educating your children is more important than walking down the street for a cup of coffee.
Anonymous
10/24/2021 13:39
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
We stayed in the city. My husband had no interest in maintaining a house. I walked everywhere with my kids in the stroller when they were little. My kids were able to attend a wonderful K-8 public school. My kids played sports and we have been at Randall's rarely. We love city living. My kids are now old enough to travel on public transportation on their own. My only reservation for a family with young children right now would be the public school situation. There is a far-left faction of progressive education disciples in the DOE which are pushing low education standards on the rest of us. My kids are old enough to have missed that, but that's really something you need to consider.
Anonymous
10/22/2021 22:01
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a NYC or nowhere type of person, although I strongly prefer Brooklyn to most of Manhattan. As many of my friends, I left for suburbs at one point, lasted there or 8 years, sold my house and came back to Brooklyn when my kids were 6 and 8. Later we had one more kid. For me, the benefits of the suburbia did not outweigh the negatives of it.
Also, I grew up in a city, was raised in an apartment, and so I don't have a problem with having a smaller place or sharing space. My parents never had a car and neither do I now.
Brooklyn is the burbs.
Sure, tell me more, please!
Anonymous
10/22/2021 21:53
Subject: Re:Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
I grew up in the suburbs, lived in NYC for ten years for college until my late twenties, then moved to westchester when I was expecting my first child. I didn’t want to deal with cramped apartments with small kids and all their gear. I didn’t want to deal with cut throat competitive processes to get my kids into nursery school and beyond. I didn’t want to drag car seats in cabs, or strollers down subway stairs. I wanted a lower pressure lifestyle with kids. My neighborhood is walking distance to our town, and it’s only a five-ten minute walk to Starbucks, Dunkin, several coffee/bagel shops, restaurants, drug stores, a park and several pre schools. I feel like it’s definitely been the best choice for my family. I loved NYC when I was living my child free twenties lifestyle, but the suburbs has been better for this next phase of life.
Anonymous
10/22/2021 16:36
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
Anonymous wrote:I am a NYC or nowhere type of person, although I strongly prefer Brooklyn to most of Manhattan. As many of my friends, I left for suburbs at one point, lasted there or 8 years, sold my house and came back to Brooklyn when my kids were 6 and 8. Later we had one more kid. For me, the benefits of the suburbia did not outweigh the negatives of it.
Also, I grew up in a city, was raised in an apartment, and so I don't have a problem with having a smaller place or sharing space. My parents never had a car and neither do I now.
Brooklyn is the burbs.
Anonymous
10/22/2021 16:33
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
The suburbs are boring as all fuk. I know, I live in them and I miss Manhattan a great deal.
Anonymous
10/22/2021 06:15
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
You could try Roosevelt Island, too.
We let our middle school kids run around since RI is probably safer than most suburbs. Lots of green space. When you get off the subway on a summer evening it sounds like the county with all the cicadas and crickets. But it’s just one stop away from the UES/63rd on the F train.
Honestly, having a house looks like a pain in the neck - my sister has one in the burbs, and maintaining it takes (what I consider to be) a huge amount of time and money.
And the commute into the city stinks. My coworkers in westchester/NJ/LI have their lives ruled by their commute.
We let our middle school kids run around since RI is probably safer than most suburbs. Lots of green space. When you get off the subway on a summer evening it sounds like the county with all the cicadas and crickets. But it’s just one stop away from the UES/63rd on the F train.
Honestly, having a house looks like a pain in the neck - my sister has one in the burbs, and maintaining it takes (what I consider to be) a huge amount of time and money.
And the commute into the city stinks. My coworkers in westchester/NJ/LI have their lives ruled by their commute.
Anonymous
10/21/2021 17:20
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
I am a NYC or nowhere type of person, although I strongly prefer Brooklyn to most of Manhattan. As many of my friends, I left for suburbs at one point, lasted there or 8 years, sold my house and came back to Brooklyn when my kids were 6 and 8. Later we had one more kid. For me, the benefits of the suburbia did not outweigh the negatives of it.
Also, I grew up in a city, was raised in an apartment, and so I don't have a problem with having a smaller place or sharing space. My parents never had a car and neither do I now.
Also, I grew up in a city, was raised in an apartment, and so I don't have a problem with having a smaller place or sharing space. My parents never had a car and neither do I now.
Anonymous
10/21/2021 16:10
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
Anonymous wrote:I've lived in NYC for all of my adult life and grew up in Westchester. I always pictured myself staying in the city and raising my kids here and honestly, nothing (even the pandemic) has really changed my love for the city. I do really enjoy being able to walk everywhere and nothing has made me say this is it, we're moving to the suburbs.
However, now that I have a child, it creeps into my mind every once in a while. I think of my amazing schools growing up where we had plenty of room to play outside and great facilities. I think of having a backyard with a pool. I think of my friends who send their kids to preschool and grade school where they play outside in private playgrounds and have a ton of room to run around. I think of how a lot of the schools there offer ice skating and swimming for PE and how they don't have to drive to Randall's Island for every sports practice. I think of how easy it would be to load up the car with everything we need for the kids rather than pack it all into a stroller.
I also think of not necessarily being able to walk to get a coffee or not having the entire city and all of the great things it offers at our feet and the possibility of boredom. Maybe it's a "the grass is always greener" situation but does anyone want to help me out here? Did you move to the suburbs? Would you? Or are you an NYC or nowhere kind of person? Would love to hear your experiences!
If you're downtown, I recommend maybe looking uptown for a best of both worlds situation. I'm on the Upper East Side in the 80s and I think that might give you most of what you're looking for! Our kids do a ton of their sports at Asphalt Green and 92 Street Y and Yorkville Tennis and the drive to Randall's Island when necessary is 15 minutes. You're close to the biggest backyard in the world (Central Park) and you have access to a ton of other kid friendly things including great schools and after school activities.
Anonymous
10/21/2021 15:46
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
We have 4 kids in the city and love it. I would be miserable in the suburbs, as would DH. If you have a backyard, then your kids play on the same structures every day. In the city, you can go to different playgrounds each day. We have popped into museums for two hours on the way home sometimes. Can't do that in the suburbs. You can get anywhere by train.
I wouldn't move to the suburbs. And I think if I asked my kids (late elementary to early hs) they would say it would be boring in the suburbs.
I wouldn't move to the suburbs. And I think if I asked my kids (late elementary to early hs) they would say it would be boring in the suburbs.
Anonymous
10/21/2021 15:32
Subject: Re:Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
Even when I lived in the city I never walked to get coffee, it’s such a bizarre concept to me. Seriously people can’t make a coffee.
Maybe I’m old but eating out is so unhealthy so I prefer to cook. If I eat out once a week, I can drive.
I love that I can walk to a hiking path, creek, pond to fish, place to kayak… though I’m too lazy to carry my kayak.
I love that walking is for health with fresh air instead of trying to get some place breathing smoke and exhaust.
Of course I could move back to the city and find things I love.
Love the one you’re with baby!
Maybe I’m old but eating out is so unhealthy so I prefer to cook. If I eat out once a week, I can drive.
I love that I can walk to a hiking path, creek, pond to fish, place to kayak… though I’m too lazy to carry my kayak.
I love that walking is for health with fresh air instead of trying to get some place breathing smoke and exhaust.
Of course I could move back to the city and find things I love.
Love the one you’re with baby!
Anonymous
10/21/2021 15:25
Subject: Help me figure this all out (city vs. suburbs)
I've lived in NYC for all of my adult life and grew up in Westchester. I always pictured myself staying in the city and raising my kids here and honestly, nothing (even the pandemic) has really changed my love for the city. I do really enjoy being able to walk everywhere and nothing has made me say this is it, we're moving to the suburbs.
However, now that I have a child, it creeps into my mind every once in a while. I think of my amazing schools growing up where we had plenty of room to play outside and great facilities. I think of having a backyard with a pool. I think of my friends who send their kids to preschool and grade school where they play outside in private playgrounds and have a ton of room to run around. I think of how a lot of the schools there offer ice skating and swimming for PE and how they don't have to drive to Randall's Island for every sports practice. I think of how easy it would be to load up the car with everything we need for the kids rather than pack it all into a stroller.
I also think of not necessarily being able to walk to get a coffee or not having the entire city and all of the great things it offers at our feet and the possibility of boredom. Maybe it's a "the grass is always greener" situation but does anyone want to help me out here? Did you move to the suburbs? Would you? Or are you an NYC or nowhere kind of person? Would love to hear your experiences!
However, now that I have a child, it creeps into my mind every once in a while. I think of my amazing schools growing up where we had plenty of room to play outside and great facilities. I think of having a backyard with a pool. I think of my friends who send their kids to preschool and grade school where they play outside in private playgrounds and have a ton of room to run around. I think of how a lot of the schools there offer ice skating and swimming for PE and how they don't have to drive to Randall's Island for every sports practice. I think of how easy it would be to load up the car with everything we need for the kids rather than pack it all into a stroller.
I also think of not necessarily being able to walk to get a coffee or not having the entire city and all of the great things it offers at our feet and the possibility of boredom. Maybe it's a "the grass is always greener" situation but does anyone want to help me out here? Did you move to the suburbs? Would you? Or are you an NYC or nowhere kind of person? Would love to hear your experiences!