Raising kids up in SF?

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by lizabe

I can't wait to raise my kid in San Francisco. I love the diversity and culture and feel lucky to live here. I look forward to having my child exposed to many different kinds of people and activities.

There are several recent threads on this topic on the San Francisco boards. I raised two of my kids in the City and it's NOT child friendly overall. I think that the vibe is anti-child. It wasn't always like this, but the City has become a mecca for the anti-family,anti-aging, anti-marriage, anti-child movement. It's great place if you are young, single, hip, and have money to burn..and your dog is your family. Or, both parents work, make loads of money and you just hire a nanny to do all the hard stuff.

You can find diversity everywhere in the Bay Area..it's not limited to San Francisco. I visit friends/family very often with my kids (in fact I was just in the City yesterday) and the looks you get when you even step foot into a restaurant with children (cheap Thai place at 4:30, not 8pm). Hopefully your experiences will be better though!

[JSD45]

Unless I could afford a mansion in Pacific Heights, I wouldn't do it. Like others have said, bad schools, grimy, not kid friendly, blah, blah, blah.

I would raise my kids in a suburb with more space and you could go into the city if you want. I go to Santa Clara Univ. and a lot of my friends are from Los Altos Hills/Saratoga/Los Gatos/Hillsborough & Marin....all very expensive, but very nice & family oriented places.