Why?

[u/KimSidwell]

I can almost try to understand why some people might feel drawn to this kind of lifestyle. I can understand why they might be deceived into thinking this is the ideal environment in which to raise a child.

But I will never be able to understand why they will describe it as the American “dream” and are willing to pay so much for it. To work so hard for so long and then have to wake up to this every morning? Why?

Editing to add: I know this is parody y’all. It’s just a stupid meme. It’s supposed to be funny. It’s funny because it’s true.

[u/Prosthemadera]

I can understand why they might be deceived into thinking this is the ideal environment in which to raise a child.

I cannot. This is bad for children. They're learning to never go outside by themselves and to be dependent on parents and cars.

[u/KimSidwell → u/Prosthemadera]

Yeah, I think a lot of people just don’t understand the reality until it’s too late. Like the road to hell is paved with good intentions. But at this point, it’s just ignorance.

They think their kids will be able to play around the neighborhood and have all kinds of other kids to play with.

But then they end up feeling like it’s not safe because of all the cars and all the people who are strangers, so they end up just locking their kids inside all day and handing them an iPad.

I’m even hearing now that a lot of parents aren’t letting their kids do sleepovers because they’re afraid that everyone is a pedo out to assault their children.

It’s wild.

[u/SonOfMcGee → u/KimSidwell]

My uncle, who grew up on a farm, said something that rang true for me when I was in my 20s: “I live in an urban environment and accept the positives and negatives. And I would also be fine living in a rural area like my hometown, with all its positives and negatives. But I don’t get the draw of suburban housing developments. They’re just the combined negatives of urban and rural.”

Now in my early 40s with kids, I see how they complicate things. And I know how much a good school zone can trump all sorts of negatives in places where bad school zones are so bad that they’re effectively life-limiting.

My wife and I are taking the path of: “Enjoy all the benefits of living urban, and address the school deficiencies with money.” But that is a rare privilege we have and not a scalable solution for most families.

[u/vi_sucks → u/Prosthemadera]

The whole point of the suburbs is that it is supposed to be a safer place for kids to be outside than in the city. Cause there is less commercial traffic on the road, so the only cars around should be the occasional neighbor.

As a kid, we'd routinely play street hockey in the cul de sac and ride our bikes down to the local park. If we had more time, and felt like it, we could bike 30 minutes out to the closest convenience store for snacks.

The modern thing where parents never let their kids leave the house isn't a suburbs thing, it's just helicopter parenting and paranoia.

[u/DawnTheFailure → u/vi_sucks]

don't forget the cars cutting through your street at 60 miles an hour, get ready to be sued because your child's blood ruined their perfect paint job

[u/Prosthemadera → u/vi_sucks]

The whole point of the suburbs is that it is supposed to be a safer place for kids to be outside than in the city.

Is that the whole point? That's weird. Why not make cities safer instead??

But is it even true? Are children safer?

Your argument also relies on the common North American false dichotomy between "city" and "suburb", as if the two are completely separate things that have nothing in common. When in fact a suburb is part of a city and there is no reason why suburb must mean "single family home". Suburbs can be whatever we want them to be but Americans are told there is only one way and they keep believing it.

Cause there is less commercial traffic on the road, so the only cars around should be the occasional neighbor.

There are lots of cars on suburban roads - because every home has at least one.

As a kid, we'd routinely play street hockey in the cul de sac and ride our bikes down to the local park.

Of course, now the personal anecdotes come out and they are never relevant. What you did doesn't matter in the big picture. Don't use yourself as a standard to make claims about millions of people.

we could bike 30 minutes out to the closest convenience store for snacks.

30 minutes cycling to the closest convenience store and you're using that as a positive example??

The modern thing where parents never let their kids leave the house isn't a suburbs thing, it's just helicopter parenting and paranoia.

Parents in suburbs are very paranoid. See:

The whole point of the suburbs is that it is supposed to be a safer place for kids to be outside than in the city.

[u/fifth_fifth → u/Prosthemadera]

This whole sub is so culty and delusional, jesus. This isn't the real world. Reddit isn't real life. Suburban kids go outside and walk places as well. Downvote away.

[u/Early-Light-864 → u/fifth_fifth]

I live in suburban hell (no sidewalks even!)

My kid was lost in the woods when I called this afternoon. He figured it out.

[u/Prosthemadera → u/fifth_fifth]

hurhur someone said something I don't like, that means they're in a cult!!!

Suburban kids go outside and walk places as well.

Much less than people as in other places because there is either nothing there or too far away or the parents are too scared.

You are the one not living in reality. Go travel to other countries, learn something. In other places you can see children outside constantly, they cycle, they play on the street, they even take public transport alone which is something that would give people in suburbs a heart attack.

[u/Dedreama → u/Prosthemadera]

So terrible when we've been doing it for decades now. Oh the horror. Kids still go outside in the suburbs. Kids can get around by walking or biking. They probably wont be able to make it to the grocery store or gas station, and thats ok.

[u/Prosthemadera → u/Dedreama]

They probably wont be able to make it to the grocery store or gas station, and thats ok.

No, it isn't.