Ukrainian village for newlyweds planning on having kids? (Chicago, Evanston: cul-de-sac, apartment complexes)

[marothisu]

Ravenswood/Lincoln Square/parts of North Center are better for families probably but it seems like a good number of things are being done still in areas like Noble Square to make it more family oriented. New single family homes to start, but when I was in Noble Square the other day, I noticed a handful of day care businesses, a few parks that kind of looked newer at least with the equipment and what not there.

Ravenswood area is more established though and the rent can still be OK. You can actually find 2 bedroom places there for around $1000. Though it may not be the norm and it may not be amazing, they still exist. The average price is probably still at a minimum $1400/month for a 2 bedroom in that area now, but it's not to say you can't find cheaper.

[It'sAutomatic]

If you have modest standards of living (and it sounds like you do), Ukrainian Village on your income will be fine. Note that you probably can get by with one car, as public transit and cycling are better ways of getting around here than they are elsewhere.

Raising families in inner city Chicago on medium incomes used to be normal; now people find lots of reasons to say it's wrong, insane, child abuse, etc. Most of the problems that people have with kids in Chicago can be solved by quality parenting.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by It'sAutomatic

If you have modest standards of living (and it sounds like you do), Ukrainian Village on your income will be fine. Note that you probably can get by with one car, as public transit and cycling are better ways of getting around here than they are elsewhere.

Raising families in inner city Chicago on medium incomes used to be normal; now people find lots of reasons to say it's wrong, insane, child abuse, etc. Most of the problems that people have with kids in Chicago can be solved by quality parenting.

Absolutely! For instance, the public schools in Chicago is supposedly bad. I might be in the minority here but I have had my son in the so called good schools in the suburbs. All I can say is that in my experience, it comes down to parenting in the end. My son is doing better now than he did when attending schools in the suburb.
How much time are you as a parent willing to spend on your child? My son brings home homework from school everyday. The first thing we do is go over his homework, followed by extra reading, math or other school related activities. I also make sure I have close contact with his teacher to keep me up to date on his progress.
Too many parents today think it is up to the teachers to do all the work but guess what, - times have changed. The parents have to be more involved than ever.
Also, living in the city can have its benefits. My son will be more aware and not as sheltered like kids growing up in some safe little suburb. He knows what to look out for, how to keep safe and so on. The city wont be some scary place. Obviously he is only 7 and I am not letting him go out by himself, but he is learning new things everyday and in a "few years" he can handle the city life on his own if he chose to live here then.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

Absolutely! For instance, the public schools in Chicago is supposedly bad. I might be in the minority here but I have had my son in the so called good schools in the suburbs. All I can say is that in my experience, it comes down to parenting in the end. My son is doing better now than he did when attending schools in the suburb.
How much time are you as a parent willing to spend on your child? My son brings home homework from school everyday. The first thing we do is go over his homework, followed by extra reading, math or other school related activities. I also make sure I have close contact with his teacher to keep me up to date on his progress.
Too many parents today think it is up to the teachers to do all the work but guess what, - times have changed. The parents have to be more involved than ever.
Also, living in the city can have its benefits. My son will be more aware and not as sheltered like kids growing up in some safe little suburb. He knows what to look out for, how to keep safe and so on. The city wont be some scary place. Obviously he is only 7 and I am not letting him go out by himself, but he is learning new things everyday and in a "few years" he can handle the city life on his own if he chose to live here then.

Nice post, points for you.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

Absolutely! For instance, the public schools in Chicago is supposedly bad. I might be in the minority here but I have had my son in the so called good schools in the suburbs. All I can say is that in my experience, it comes down to parenting in the end. My son is doing better now than he did when attending schools in the suburb.
How much time are you as a parent willing to spend on your child? My son brings home homework from school everyday. The first thing we do is go over his homework, followed by extra reading, math or other school related activities. I also make sure I have close contact with his teacher to keep me up to date on his progress.
Too many parents today think it is up to the teachers to do all the work but guess what, - times have changed. The parents have to be more involved than ever.
Also, living in the city can have its benefits. My son will be more aware and not as sheltered like kids growing up in some safe little suburb. He knows what to look out for, how to keep safe and so on. The city wont be some scary place. Obviously he is only 7 and I am not letting him go out by himself, but he is learning new things everyday and in a "few years" he can handle the city life on his own if he chose to live here then.

You can live your life any way you choose anywhere you choose but it seems beyond belief that a child in 2nd grade would be doing better in CPS with the same level of parental involvement as stated above while in 1st grade or kindergarten in a desirable district outside CPS. While I have no reason to doubt that what is being said is true somehow it seems more likely that factors outside of just the move / new school are the issue...

http://goo.gl/wu7wn4

There is no reason to believe that children that spend sufficient time in desirable parts of Chicago but go to school elsewhere will find the city "a scary place" nor is there any basis for suggesting that there is anything inherent in living outside the city that will result in other than an appreciation for city life. Just look at how many people that frequently extol the virtues of city life grew up in Oregon or Minnesota.

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by chet everett

You can live your life any way you choose anywhere you choose but it seems beyond belief that a child in 2nd grade would be doing better in CPS with the same level of parental involvement as stated above while in 1st grade or kindergarten in a desirable district outside CPS. While I have no reason to doubt that what is being said is true somehow it seems more likely that factors outside of just the move / new school are the issue...

There is no reason to believe that children that spend sufficient time in desirable parts of Chicago but go to school elsewhere will find the city "a scary place" nor is there any basis for suggesting that there is anything inherent in living outside the city that will result in other than an appreciation for city life. Just look at how many people that frequently extol the virtues of city life grew up in Oregon or Minnesota.

[It'sAutomatic]

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

Absolutely! For instance, the public schools in Chicago is supposedly bad. I might be in the minority here but I have had my son in the so called good schools in the suburbs. All I can say is that in my experience, it comes down to parenting in the end. My son is doing better now than he did when attending schools in the suburb.
How much time are you as a parent willing to spend on your child? My son brings home homework from school everyday. The first thing we do is go over his homework, followed by extra reading, math or other school related activities. I also make sure I have close contact with his teacher to keep me up to date on his progress.
Too many parents today think it is up to the teachers to do all the work but guess what, - times have changed. The parents have to be more involved than ever.
Also, living in the city can have its benefits. My son will be more aware and not as sheltered like kids growing up in some safe little suburb. He knows what to look out for, how to keep safe and so on. The city wont be some scary place. Obviously he is only 7 and I am not letting him go out by himself, but he is learning new things everyday and in a "few years" he can handle the city life on his own if he chose to live here then.

This is the kind of attitude a parent has to have. It's also about recognizing that ~75% of what kids learn in school is fluff that's not going to help them much outside of getting graded (this includes flat-out misinformation). It's the child's ability to learn that is much more important than any of the lessons that a mediocre CPS teacher will give. This, I believe, comes mostly from constant interaction during a brain's formative years.

[TeresaChicago]

Thanks for the input and sorry about falling off the face of the earth. I am not sure that we will have a car at all--insurance for two young people in Chicago is not cheap and both of our families are quite train-accessible. (Although it's possible that my job will require a car.) Again, the school question is not really relevant as the child doesn't exist yet and probably won't be going to school when it does. I am thinking at this point it might make sense for me to apply to a bunch of jobs and then ask for advice on a place roughly in between our two jobs.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by TeresaChicago

Thanks for the input and sorry about falling off the face of the earth. I am not sure that we will have a car at all--insurance for two young people in Chicago is not cheap and both of our families are quite train-accessible. (Although it's possible that my job will require a car.) Again, the school question is not really relevant as the child doesn't exist yet and probably won't be going to school when it does. I am thinking at this point it might make sense for me to apply to a bunch of jobs and then ask for advice on a place roughly in between our two jobs.

... if neither of you has a particularly lengthy trip from home to work. Alternatively, especically for folks that have young children (or even moms to be...) it may make sense to try to minimize at least one parent's commute so that there are fewer opportunities for delays in getting to the infant's care giver (or mom's prenatal visits...). If you are late some care givers (and health professionals...) charge fees to discourage folks from making the whole process run late into the night.

[TeresaChicago]

Originally Posted by chet everett

... if neither of you has a particularly lengthy trip from home to work. Alternatively, especically for folks that have young children (or even moms to be...) it may make sense to try to minimize at least one parent's commute so that there are fewer opportunities for delays in getting to the infant's care giver (or mom's prenatal visits...). If you are late some care givers (and health professionals...) charge fees to discourage folks from making the whole process run late into the night.

Yep, that's a good point. Thanks! I think it would be my commute that we would minimize because his job has a pretty good work-from-home option (I think it's up to three days a week!).