Comments on: Safety

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:08:15 +0000

I grew up in Texas, in a community of about 30,000 people halfway between Austin and San Antonio. We didn’t even have a bus line that ran through our town (that I know about it)…so when I moved to Chicago almost 20 years ago, getting around even the suburbs was overwhelming. But now that I’ve grown confident in the city — I have forced myself to — I couldn’t imagine raising my children anywhere else. The sort of confidence and street smarts they have — not to mention awareness of the realities of everyday life — amazes me. If I had that sort of confidence as a child and teen-ager, I doubt I would have been so scared of life. So, yeah, I’m someone who moved INTO the city to raise my kids, although we are in a rather gentrified area (Lincoln Square), and I don’t know that I would want to live with them in an area where crime is an ongoing problem.

By: BS

BS — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:55:09 +0000

I grew up in a small town of cookie-cutter subdivisions and rather small minds, but my parents are from New Jersey (and not the good part), so I’ve felt like a city-dweller my whole life. I get much more nervous in suburbia alone in a big house than I do in my little studio in the heart of San Francisco.

By: Mel Heth

Mel Heth — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:11:46 +0000

I had the world’s most overprotective parents, and honestly I wonder how I’ve made it as far as I have. Like you, I learned to trust my intuition when things didn’t feel right -- but I have no idea who taught me that.

I love the idea of raising kids the way your mom and dad did -- I think it builds healthy self esteem and resourcefulness to give that kind of autonomy. But then I watch The Today Show and see little girls getting kidnapped on their way home from school and I feel panicked -- which scares me even more because I might turn into MY parents! :)

By: Dee

Dee — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:56:23 +0000

I grew up in the middle of New York City and was taught to be well aware of my surroundings. I had freedoms beyond imagination and although a quiet child, I was free to experience just about anything my mind and physical presence allowed me to do.

However, as an adult, and moreso and adult with small children, I realize that these are different times that we live in. No longer does one neighbor really know and are able to look out for us kids. I realize that I allow my children to have a small modicum of freedom. I watch them like a hawk and they are not allowed to do half of what I did.

Once again, I live in an inner City and the thought of a stray bullet, someone walking by and snatching my children up, or doing something vile makes my stomach churn. With the economy in the crazy state it is in, many people are disenchanted and are not thinking in their right minds and are susceptible to doing almost anything. It does not stop me from living, but it does make me super aware of my surroundings while I teach and enable my children to be watchful.

I don’t believe in smothering, but I certainly believe in protecting until a child consistently shows they understand and are able to implement the values being taught to them.

By: michelle woo

michelle woo — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:57:02 +0000

I was the shiest kid ever. I’d talk to someone only if he/she talked to me first. I remember one time, while at the mall, some random clown gave me a balloon animal. I took it and showed my mom. She got really mad that I made contact with a stranger. I think that did kind of have an impact on me. Today, I’m STILL rather shy and pretty cautious of people. I’m definitely not one to make small talk on the bus or at the grocery store. I wonder what I’ll teach my own kids. There’s gotta be a balance.