feedback for "Street Walkers"

1. You know I may have liked your article but for the general vibe of self-satisfaction. Why bash the suburbs for being overrated? Can't you simply point out the many virtues of raising children in the city and let your argument stand on its own merits? Or, perhaps, once you realized that your city life changed after having children, you could entertain the possibility that a similar deeper connection can occur among small town neighbors too.

    

   Is the attack mechanism a quirky affectation of a diehard New Yorker or a learned response to criticism about your housing choice? I'm not trying to be judgmental - I'm honestly curious.

   posted by : cd74 on 12/14/2006 at 7:34 PM Flag For Abuse

2. This is elegantly put, and consistent with my experience of living in New York with a 22 month old. The first time we took an epic, 5 mile stroll across New York we had no fewer than 12 different people come up and say, "how old is he/she?" or "where did you get that drink holder attachment for your stroller?" or some other variation of the above. I had lived in new york for 8 years, and the only other time i had experienced this level of spontaneous friendliness was post 9/11.
   
   What this caused me to realize is that new yorkers (and no doubt all people) want to be friendly, they would like an excuse to converse, given some ice breaker, and some evidence that you are somewhat like them. The presence of children takes the edge of people -- they reduce cynicism and increase interaction, no question about it. This is among the biggest windfalls of the early parenting experience.
   
   

   posted by : Papaganoose on 12/18/2006 at 10:07 AM Flag For Abuse

3. I live in the bay area, in a fairly suburban area and I find that kids bring strangers together wherever they are.  I know this from my friends experiences, and also my own.  My kids aren't even here yet, but people see my enormous pregnant belly and they talk to me, smile at me, and wish me well.  I'm highly introverted and I'm finding that what I feared most about parenthood is already true.  My kids will force me into a more social life.  I think parenthood turns out to be like any subculture.  You find you have observable things in common and it creates a connection.  A very, very old woman smiled at me the other day at the grocery store when she heard me mention that I'm expecting twins.  She, too, had one day, long ago, been huge with twin babies.
   Also, for although suburban, my area is very diverse.  There just aren't a lot of nightclubs in walking distance.
   

   posted by : Marj on 6/22/2009 at 11:49 AM Flag For Abuse

4. I loved city living, but I after the birth of my daughter we found living by the beach in LA just wasn't kid friendly enough. Moving to the suburbs seemed frightening as a concept, so we decided to experiment for six months by renting an apartment in the suburbs north of LA, about 40 miles away. Got to say, shocked by how awesome it is here. Mountains, hiking, CLEAN parks everywhere, tons upon tons of cheapcheapcheap high quality kids programs and really friendly people everywhere. Also, way less social status sizing up than back in the city. The idea that you're imprisoned in your tiny strip of backyard is puzzling. I don't know anyone like that here in suburbia. Everyone is either at the beach, picking fruit at local farms, meeting up at the park or farmers' market, hiking up mini-mountains or doing nature-based science project with their kids. Granted, I haven't worn 4 inch heels or gone to a bar in ages, but I don't really miss it much when there is this incredible community of people to explore. I wouldn't knock the suburbs until you've tried it. 
   

   posted by : LAmomma on 7/18/2009 at 9:56 PM Flag For Abuse