SubscribePerhaps I should say, “Should you raise a child in the city”. As far as I’m concerned, the answer is unequivocally yes to both. I happen to be a mother of an almost two year old. This was not a child that just happened, I planned for a year before I even started trying to conceive. And I included all my friends and family in on the decision and planning since I was deciding to become a single mom. I asked that everyone raise their concerns BEFORE I got pregnant so that we could all enjoy the ride when it finally came. Several people that aren’t very close to me suggested that I would definitely need to move to the suburbs. Especially because I also had two very large dogs.
I laughed then as I do now at the idea that my life would be easier or that my daughter’s would be better if I lived in the burbs. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there is anything wrong with making the decision to move to the burbs, it’s just not one I can imagine making myself.
The biggest arguments are: the space-bigger house, bigger yard; schools; sense of neighborhood; safety. I’m the last person who could or would argue that you get less space for your buck in the city. I moved here from North Carolina, where half the cost got me more than three times the space. My sister and her husband live in a gorgeous corner lot single family home with a fenced yard in Shaker Heights, OH–where I grew up. They love coming to visit but can’t get over the idea of living in so much smaller a space. Well, we adjust. It sounds trite but its true. After about a year of living here, something changed for me, when I went back to Shaker, I still admired the houses and the neighborhood, but I couldn’t imagine what I would do with all the space. And when I walked the dogs, the huge front yards made me feel isolated from everyone living there, I barely saw anyone on our walks.
In Chicago, because we don’t have a yard, we have to venture out. And its wonderful! We walk up and down the streets, there is a small park on Honore (on the other side of my block) in a regular lot that is built specifically for kids my daughter’s age and we meet people there all the time. One block further away is Commercial Playground which has a basketball court, baseball field, brand new playground and gymnasium. I don’t care how far out I moved, I could never afford to buy all that!!
Our walks are great because it gives my daughter and I time together–just as it gives me time with my pup. We connect and discover in wonderful ways on our walks that we never would if I opened the back door and watched her (and the dog) playing in the yard. Even from a health standpoint–not only am I in better shape for getting out–no matter what–but my daughter is incredibly hearty. I absolutely think that the fact that she has walked the dogs with me three times a day–every single day–since she was born, has something to do with that.
The space in the house is something else but I think becomes a non-issue when you really utilize the outdoors. I have bundled my little baby up and gone out to play in the snow on more than one occasion. Having limited space inside also makes me more conscious of what I give her to play with. I believe there is wisdom in those that say children don’t need a million toys and if you don’t have a million toys, a little bit of space does just fine.
Schools. There is so much to be said that I wont go into it. Suffice it to say that I believe 100% that you can get a tremendous education in the city of Chicago AND you can be sitting in a diverse schoolroom with exposure to many different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds while you learn. That’s worth a whole lot to me.
Safety. I haven’t had any problem, ever. Not when I walk my dogs in the middle of the night and not at home. Bad things happen everywhere, I don’t want to make decisions out of fear nor do I want to raise my daughter that way.
Sense of neighborhood. Well, I’ve been talking about how wonderful the Chicago neighborhoods are since I started blogging! My neighbors are not far away in the houses set back from the street or in their private back yards–my neighbors are tending to their parkways right next to the sidewalks, or on their decks that I can see and we can stop and chat when I walk by. My neighbors are out and about–just like me! And lest we forget about the best part of summer in Chicago–the outdoor cafes! I walk my dog and daughter down Division all the time, just to be a part of all the bustling business and social interaction that goes on non-stop.
Before I moved to Chicago I couldn’t even imagine a way that I could offer so much to my children. Now that I am here, in the heart of it, I cant imagine ever moving away. I’ve been in small towns and I know people that grew up in them. If my daughter decides she doesn’t like the city, she wont have any trouble adjusting to something else, something (in my mind) less. Not so for many of those that grow up in the burbs or small towns–the transition is often so intimidating many never try. The best I can do for my daughter is give her options and growing up here will give her many.
Everyone agonizes over how to be the best parent they can be and how they can give thier children the very best. For anyone worried that the city isn’t a place for children, relax, enjoy, you and your children have so many options in the city you can’t possibly discover them all in a lifetime.
Christine C. 
Jennifer 
Dustin
looks like you wrote this post about a year ago. i found it doing a search abour raising children in chicago. my wife and i are considering a move to the city and are going through the same things. smaller home. doubts about the schools. is it possible. we’d like to take the leap and hopefully we will and hopefully everything will work out.