Manhattan Mothers Replace the Mini-Van

by | Dec 16, 2014 | Downtown Living, Family | 0 comments

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Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Reynaud

While parents in suburban communities resort to carpooling neighborhood kids from school to soccer practice to dance class, Manhattan parents utilize “kidpooling,” taking turns getting their children from point A to point B. Living downtown, they do not have the convenience of a five-seater minivan for every child in the neighborhood to pile into. This causes parents living downtown to work together differently.

Similar to a chauffeur or car service, suburban parents create distance between their booster-seat bound children from the front seat of their cars. Downtown parents are able to commute from place to place while holding their children’s hands, sitting next to them on the subway, and spending time walking the streets of the city. While most Manhattan parents may not initially realize how valuable this is in regards to their maternal relationship with their children, they get to spend additional time together through the hustle and bustle of their fast-pace, urban lifestyle.

The team of Manhattan supermoms trickled throughout each Downtown neighborhood, do not typically get the credit they deserve. Many of them with full-time and part-time jobs, go above and beyond to be present in there children’s lives. Denise Courter, a Manhattan mother and DOWNTOWN’s Lifestyle & Family editor, explains her experience living in Manhattan with children. Courter explains, “One of the best things about raising kids in the City is the sense of community that Lower Manhattan is developing. And, part of that is tapping into families in the neighborhood to help with pick up or drop off at school, playdates in the building and pj parties with the local kids.” She further explains the idea of kidpooling, “I love the fact that we do not have to load up a car with kids, car seats and gear. Being able to have kids get into a stroller and roll, is one of the best things about raising kids in Lower Manhattan.”

Courter explains the perks and convenience of Lower Manhattan in addition to the sense of community this lifestyle offers, “Living in the City allows mobility…taking the kids to great restaurants, going to local parks and when they are out of the stroller, its easy to get around on the subways. Most places in the City are kids friendly and accommodating.” Lower Manhattan allows for parents seem to be able to do it all, while keeping the best interest of their children in mind.

-Deirdre McAndrew

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Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Reynaud

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Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Reynaud

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Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Reynaud

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