Does anyone live in the city?

By Ra Dec 15, 2012

I've posted about this before, but DH and I are on the house hunt. We have mainly focused our search on the city (I lived there before I moved in with DH, and we are both city people) but we have received a TON of backlash about it! Everyone and their mom feels the need to lecture us about how awful it is to raise children in the city. They make it out like we are being selfish, terrible parents who will be doing our child a disservice.

I am only 11 weeks pregnant. As this will be our first purchase, it will most likely not be a forever home. Besides, cities have parks, museums, and all kinds of fun places we can take LO to play.

Does anyone have children in the city? Do you regret it?

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11 comments

Weagle
coconut / 8498 posts

Dec 15, 2012

We previously lived in the city and I would definitely raise children there. If we could have afforded what we wanted in a house we would still live there! Like you said, there are plenty of parks and museums. I think the we would be outside even more than now just because there's limited indoor space.
mrbee
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts

Dec 15, 2012

We live in Brooklyn... is that considered a city?

We really like it here! When the kids get a bit older though, we're gonna have to figure out what the long-term plan is.
Ra
honeydew / 7586 posts

Dec 15, 2012

@mrbee: I would definitely consider that a city! We really, really wanted to move to Brooklyn. We looked in to it, but we just couldn't afford it.
BoogieBea
pomegranate / 3503 posts

Dec 15, 2012

I grew up in Brooklyn and loved my childhood. The city has so much to offer for kids. Sure, my parents struggled and we didn't have a lot of space but I have very fond memories of my childhood. I would have no issues raising my kids there but we're in a smaller city now due to my husbands work and we love it here too. I do hope to move back to ny when the kids are older.
Foodnerd81
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts

Dec 15, 2012

We plan to stay in the city for a few more years, now that we have a LO on the way. But we don't plan to buy until we move to the suburbs, probably when this one is 4 or so. We want to have a backyard and enough space and we just couldn't afford it in the city. But, if you can afford a place that's big enough for your needs, and the schools are good, I think there are tons of benefits of staying. I think city kids get out and see other kids more because everyone goes to the playground, instead of to their own backyard, and things like that. People will judge whatever you choose to do, so you can only do what works for you.
travelgirl1
cantaloupe / 6630 posts

Dec 15, 2012

We live in downtown Toronto and have a newborn - we love it! She's only teeny now but everything we need for her is,within easy reach without a car, there are still nice walks to go on away from the traffic and when she's older there will be loads of fun things to do. Ultimately though I can't imagine us,settling here as all our family is in England, in towns and villages rather than the city.
Mrs. Jacks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts

Dec 15, 2012

We live in downtown Salt Lake City... It's not Brooklyn or manhattan, but it's all the fun of city with the safety of a small town.
mrsmate
persimmon / 1081 posts

Dec 15, 2012

I grew up in a city and DH grew up in an exurb. When we were first married we lived in a suburb, but when I got pregnant we bought a house in the city. It was the best decision we made as parents, by far. There are so many resources for us within walking distance or via public transit, and it is so easy to meet people.
What made it affordable for us was to buy a duplex. The rental income allows me to stay home with our LO, and will help support us in retirement.
My parents raised me and my sister in a 1br apt until we were in hs, when we moved into a 2br. I don't really get the argument for needing space to raise kids. There are many kinds of suburbs, but in general I think the suburban lifestyle is wasteful and to be avoided if at all possible.
@rahlyrah: get used to getting all kinds of advice as a new mom. It still drives me crazy as a mom of a toddler but at least everyone's coming from a place of caring.
BKCaribBaby
pear / 1672 posts

Dec 15, 2012

I was a city kid (I grew up in NYC, Queens specifically), and I live in Brooklyn like Mr. Bee. I know that we may get a lot of flack from my DH's side of the family and from many of his friends who all live in suburbs (some of which border on rural). That said, this current choice is great for us for a variety of reasons including commuting time, cost (the suburbs of NYC are not necessarily cheap particularly in relation to property taxes), the cultural and racial diversity (which is extremely important to me being in an interracial marriage), and many other reasons including the depth and breadth of offerings and services for kids and pregnant women here, IF you are willing to pay for them.

I understand the reasons why people believe that suburban and rural life is better for children. I feel in the U.S. we tend to have biases against city life. That said, people are going to judge you for lots of things and have a crap load to say about how you live your life. I am really at the point where unless you are paying my bills, you can say what you want to about me. I don't care. But that's just me.
Baby Boy Mom
pomegranate / 3983 posts

Dec 15, 2012

We live in the city and I think it's wonderful for kids. There are lots of activities near by within walking distance. We're at the park every day. There are always events going on, which is so important when trying to figure out things to do with the kiddo. Plus, I love that we interact with people all the time and aren't stuck driving in the car everywhere. The only thing I would change in our living situation is a yard (we're in a townhouse so we just have a common area at the end of the street).
LindsayInNY
bananas / 9229 posts

Dec 17, 2012

We just started TTC and are moving to NYC (from NJ) in April! I cannot wait to raise a child in the city!

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