If you’re anything like me, you might find yourself among the few moms who have chosen to live in the city. Perhaps you aspire to city living, but with a small family, you’ve been persuaded that the suburbs are a better fit.
Well, we understand the struggle all too well.
Many people we encounter in the city—vendors, retailers, and more—often can’t believe that we truly live here. There’s an assumption that we must be tourists or, at the very least, commuters from one of the quieter neighborhoods or suburbs.
But that’s not the case.
We’re right here in the heart of the city, just a 20-minute stroll from downtown and nestled in a neighborhood renowned for its vibrant nightlife and cuisine.
And you know what? We absolutely love it.
That doesn’t mean it come with no challenges.
But that doesn’t mean the city life comes withouth hurdles.
The neighborhood we live in caters largely to the 21+ crowd, creating a lively atmosphere but proving a bit frustrating when seeking connections with other young families.
It also means our favorite restaurants are, in fact, “bars” – a revelation only made after our baby arrived.
Moreover, the majority of our neighbors are without children, leading to a lack of understanding about babies and parenting. Going out with our little one sometimes feels isolating.
However, having spent a year navigating city life with a baby, I’d like to share a few tips:
- Become a Regular: Establishing yourself as a regular at local spots can make you feel more at home. Once you get to know the staff at a particular restaurant or bar and grill, they become friendlier and more forgiving to you and your little one. And will get to see how the baby grows!
- Brush off the Negative Looks: Don’t worry too much about disapproving looks. For every judgmental glance, there’s likely someone in awe and inspired by your strength and commitment to raising your baby in the city.
- Explore Free Resources: There are likely more baby-friendly resources in the city than you realize! The longer I live in the city with my little one the more resources I find. Some are free activities, some are financial resources, some are just free diapers for young parents! It is quite incredible!
- Connect with Other Parents: Don’t be shy about exchanging contact information with fellow parents. Building a network can make the urban parenting journey more enjoyable and less isolating. And its a mistake we have made a couple times.
- Enjoy it: Enjoy everything about the city that you love with your baby. Showing your baby early on what it is you love about the city so much, will help him/her appreciate it and enjoy it as well. For us its the late nights of thursday art walks, the bussle of pike place market, the endless options of stores and thrift shops and parks.
I hope this was helpful!
Leave a comment or subscribe if you would like to know more 🙂
Subscribe for more
Don’t forget to follow me on:
Mama Lifestyle 