Where we live, in the hills, Abbey can run pretty free. I let her wander near me, only holding hands when we cross roads.
Strangers smile and talk to her and to me.
I don't think I've ever been for a walk to our local shops without running into someone we know, stopping for a chat.
Put the two of us into the middle of the city, and we're like fish out of water.
We smile at people - and they look at the ground to avoid eye contact.
Abbey chats to another child - and mothers glare at her and move away.
And my little girl's recurring question of the day was, "Why is he/she sad, Mummy?"*
Just one reason we love being in the hills. Because a town with wizards and hippies, while not perfect or filled with happy people all the time, does teach a child that it's okay to be friendly.**
* Except when we met with some friends (Annie, Naomi, Suz, Mal and Jim - and some of their kids), who showed her that being in the city can mean smiles and happiness.
** I do love Melbourne! but I don't think I was born to be a city dweller.
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No, I must admit I like the country - and knowing my neighbours - far more than worrying about how many different black outfits I own...only in melb!! :-)
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I walk around my own suburb quite a bit and it's known for being very dodgy, but I'm always so happy when my smiles and nods hello are returned. My husband comes from the country so he waves to everyone he passes on the highway when we're driving because it's just how it's done in those parts :)
ReplyDeleteAhh Megan. I experience this such a lot, whenever I go interstate. Adelaide is like a country town. Friendly. And my little part of Adelaide (foothills) is like a village. Not without some "characters" but essentially friendly and smiley.
ReplyDeleteI am shocked afresh when I meet less than this.
I used to love the city when I was a teenager - no one looked twice or cared what we did. Now I think that is incredibly sad. Give me the hills and the country any day.
ReplyDeleteps - my kids think I know so many people, because everyone waves and says hello to everyone else here :-D
Love how perceptive your daughter is. I'm so glad you had a meet-up today (tho a tad jealous I wasn't there) I live in the heart of suburbia and people here know my kids and smile when we walk to the shops. But like you, when we go to the city it's a similar story to yours.
ReplyDeleteI love the city, but I think I would love the hills more for that community feeling! If I lived in melbourne and crossed you in the street, I know my little people would of said hi, and me too. Actually I know my daughter would have run around and played. I would of smiled at you, and become an instant friend, as we would of had no other choice! I think to smile at someone is an awesome thing to do. It is a shame when people cannot slow down for a moment, and enjoy seeing what our little people see.
ReplyDeleteRun for those hills, but know if you ever came to sydney we would smile at you!
It is a city / inner city thing. When we moved from Richmond to the burbs the kids and I were initially a little freaked out by everyone saying hello to us on the walk to school - we didn't know them.
ReplyDeleteThe City has many faces. It can be fun and confronting. Friendly and full of shadows. But there's never any place like home to make us comfortable.
ReplyDeleteThe City has many faces. It can be fun and confronting. Friendly and full of shadows. But there's never any place like home to make us comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI so love living where I live for this very fact. My little girl befriends people so easily (she's pretty outgoing - and ultra talkative!!). People are always so friendly in return. We're heading to the big smoke (Melbourne) in a month and I think it's going to be a rude shock for her.
ReplyDeletetake care ~~~ visiting here with a smile ~~~
ReplyDeletewell it seems we have another thing in common!Margaret River is def of the wizard and hippy variety, people say hello, people chat, it is all very friendly, sometimes too friendly for my Sydneysider partner!
ReplyDeleteMy little boy gets quite disappointed when he says hello and does not get a response, I love visiting the cities too, but for everyday life the country is lovely
Gill xo
Even tho it's only about 10 minutes from the city (on a good run, that is), our suburb is like a village. People say hi on the street and it's all very friendly. But yes - in the centre of the city...same.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed your catch up, hon! xxx
I remember moving to the Coast after having lived in Sydney for a long time and being taken aback by people saying hi and smiling. But it really is a great place for kids to be. Riley always seems genuinely shocked when people don't smile back.
ReplyDeleteWe have a bit of a village feel to our suburb too and I like it. I never had that as a kid cos we moved too much and I'm looking forward to getting to know the community a bit better as the Bebito grows. Though in Adelaide most people do smile at you in the CBD even! :)
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