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Yeah, Benson, that is true — about women working. My mother was a school nurse when we became school aged so we were on the same schedule. But all the mothers were home much more then than today.
The life you described was the same for me, and I grew up in an urban environment. I and my cousins would go roaming on the subway at the age of nine, all the way to Queens (and my parents knew we were doing so).
We were really unsupervised. Who knows if that was best, it was just they way it was…We had lots of accidents, broken bones, cuts that needed stitches. etc. We also did a lot of physically dangerous things…I think. But there was a very tight web of community, so other parents were aware to some extent of our activities. We roved as young kids in packs outdoors, playing games that we organized. It’s a different way of life for urban kids who seem to need to be more structured. We did have organized sports though and scouting.
I think the days of young kids running around un-supervised are basically over, be it in the city, suburbs or wherever. In fact, from what I have seen (I have alot of relatives in the burbs) it’s less so there. Many women work now and so there are less “eyes on the street”. Moreover, there seems to be a mania today, especially in affluent suburbs, to enroll kids in alot of structured after-school activities and programs. My sister-in-law spent 15 years being a chaffeur for her kids.
I was allowed to range around the block to friends’ houses & play outside from age 3 or so in a neighborhood similar to the Slope. I seriously doubt that would be safe today. From 8 or 9 I could cross streets to go to a Prospect Park kind of place. Again, not wise today.
I don’t think there are more weirdos than there used to be. It’s just that everyone knows about them.
Also I think brownstone Brooklyn is a great place to raise a kid, especially a teen. Part of that may be that my kid isn’t white. But I don’t think I would want to raise a white kid in an all-white (or 90%+ white) environment. Lechacal, please don’t get your panties in a bunch.
Yeah, Benson, that is true — about women working. My mother was a school nurse when we became school aged so we were on the same schedule. But all the mothers were home much more then than today.
Donatella;
The life you described was the same for me, and I grew up in an urban environment. I and my cousins would go roaming on the subway at the age of nine, all the way to Queens (and my parents knew we were doing so).
Times and people have changed.
We were really unsupervised. Who knows if that was best, it was just they way it was…We had lots of accidents, broken bones, cuts that needed stitches. etc. We also did a lot of physically dangerous things…I think. But there was a very tight web of community, so other parents were aware to some extent of our activities. We roved as young kids in packs outdoors, playing games that we organized. It’s a different way of life for urban kids who seem to need to be more structured. We did have organized sports though and scouting.
I think the days of young kids running around un-supervised are basically over, be it in the city, suburbs or wherever. In fact, from what I have seen (I have alot of relatives in the burbs) it’s less so there. Many women work now and so there are less “eyes on the street”. Moreover, there seems to be a mania today, especially in affluent suburbs, to enroll kids in alot of structured after-school activities and programs. My sister-in-law spent 15 years being a chaffeur for her kids.
I was allowed to range around the block to friends’ houses & play outside from age 3 or so in a neighborhood similar to the Slope. I seriously doubt that would be safe today. From 8 or 9 I could cross streets to go to a Prospect Park kind of place. Again, not wise today.
Why would I get my panties in a bunch?
Snaps – Didn’t you see that ‘coming’?
I don’t think there are more weirdos than there used to be. It’s just that everyone knows about them.
Also I think brownstone Brooklyn is a great place to raise a kid, especially a teen. Part of that may be that my kid isn’t white. But I don’t think I would want to raise a white kid in an all-white (or 90%+ white) environment. Lechacal, please don’t get your panties in a bunch.
Good God, there goes lunch!