Chicago mother says raising her children in the city built independence and cultural fluency

A Chicago mother says she chose to raise her son and daughter in the city rather than move to the suburbs, according to Businessinsider. She wrote that living in Chicago gave her children ready access to parks, museums, and learning opportunities — from classes at the Art Institute and visits to the Museum of Science and Industry to afternoons at the Garfield Park Conservatory and time along Lake Michigan.

She noted their childhood included playing soccer at their public school playground, shooting hoops in an alley, ice skating on the Maggie Daley Park loop, and swimming at Foster Avenue Beach, even though their backyard was smaller than suburban lots. The author said city life also forced her to foster independence: she worried about safety but could not be a helicopter parent, so her kids learned to ride buses and trains, navigate chaotic streets on scooters and bikes, read transit maps, manage schedules, and stay alert in public spaces.

She also emphasized the cultural diversity around them — her children hold dual citizenship, relatives live overseas, neighbors shared food, and classmates explained Ramadan traditions — which she said helped build empathy and open-mindedness.

Key Topics

Culture, Chicago, Art Institute, Garfield Park Conservatory, Lake Michigan, Maggie Daley Park