Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by PearlJamChick

Barnes and Noble, RIP

I work with someone from LI who thinks my upbringing was insane. They just accompanied their TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD SON on job interviews in NYC. (Waited downstairs lol, didn't go in the buildings but still...geez...cut the fkn cord)

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I grew up in queens and took city buses to school at that age. I also did the Summer Youth program at that age. Two summers at Elmhurst Hospital and I always took the bus. I grew up in Richmond Hill so that was a pretty decent bus ride with a transfer in between.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I grew up in Brooklyn and was taking the city bus to school from the time I was in 6th grade (so 11 years old) and then the subway to school from 9th grade on.

I think it's a bit extreme how overprotected kids are nowadays, my own included. My kids aren't half as independent as I was at their age.

If you grew up in Queens

I started taking the bus and train by myself since i was 13. City buses are better than LI buses (and quicker). If anything have someone take the bus within them the first couple times if its a new thing for them.

If you grew up in Queens

I grew up in queens and we always took the bus and trains in Junior High/HS. We went to the mall, other parts of queens, to visit friends and into the city. I still live in Queens and my DD is only 7, but if we're still here when she's that age, I will most likely allow it. A lot of kids in my neighborhood take the subway into the city for JH/HS. I think the bus is safer than subway and it's always going to be daylight, she has a phone (I'm assuming?), so I would think it's fine.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Yes, I took the bus to piano lessons at 11 and took the train into the city around 13. In high school, I took the bus every day to and from.

I think that sounds like a great experience for your daughter. Maybe you can do a dry run with her before she starts?

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I took the subway to high school every day and 2 buses to get to the mall all the time. It's just the way it is in Queens, very different from Long Island. Then again that was also 25ish years ago so what do I know?!

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I have nothing to add to the conversation and I completely understand your worries, but in Europe I seriously clutch my pearls while watching the 6-7 year olds alone on the public bus to school.

It has been something that I just cannot get used to. It's just so strange to me. But the kindergarten is completely different here. It's all about finding your independence starting at age 3.

I also have no kids and I just cannot get used to this fact.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

.its a photo I took of a 6? Year old boy in Tokyo taking the train alone. of course pic won't load

Message edited 4/12/2017 7:27:46 PM.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by gina409

Posted by Momma2015

I was taking the bus/train regularly at that age.

Yes

Taking the q53 to rockaway beach

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by PearlJamChick

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

All this. And the bus to Austin st to go to Barnes and noble and LuLus.

So yes, definitely. I took the bus to the subway to get to hs at that age. I wouldn't think twice.

I'm told this is NOT the case on LI and no parent would EVER let their child take any sort of public transportation alone. Better to skateboard along sunrise highway to get where you need to go like the kids I see every day. So much safer

Barnes and Noble, RIP

I work with someone from LI who thinks my upbringing was insane. They just accompanied their TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD SON on job interviews in NYC. (Waited downstairs lol, didn't go in the buildings but still...geez...cut the fkn cord)

If you grew up in Queens

I took a public bus to school when I was ten in fifth grade. It was only a few blocks and sometimes I would walk it alone. That was Staten Island. I took buses everywhere when I was 13 and lived in Queens.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I took with train in JHS from Jamaica to Forest Hills which was age 13 I think. Took the bus for 4 years in high school.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

All this. And the bus to Austin st to go to Barnes and noble and LuLus.

So yes, definitely. I took the bus to the subway to get to hs at that age. I wouldn't think twice.

I'm told this is NOT the case on LI and no parent would EVER let their child take any sort of public transportation alone. Better to skateboard along sunrise highway to get where you need to go like the kids I see every day. So much safer

Barnes and Noble, RIP

I work with someone from LI who thinks my upbringing was insane. They just accompanied their TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD SON on job interviews in NYC. (Waited downstairs lol, didn't go in the buildings but still...geez...cut the fkn cord)

Only on LI......

If you grew up in Queens

I lived in Brooklyn but took the bus starting in 5th grade. My commute was about 45 minutes.

If you grew up in Queens

I lived in Queens Village and took the bus to the train since I went to HS in the city. I also had a job at 14 and would sometimes not get home till 11PM on school nights. I am actually kinda sad that my DS wont be able to have the same independence that my DH and I had since we both grew up in NYC. It was amazing to just be able to take the bus and/or train everywhere. In LI you need to drive or be driven.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

If you grew up in Queens

I took a train and a bus to get to HS at that age in the early 2000s. I would be comfortable letting her take the bus alone. Both neighborhoods are good neighborhoods as well.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I took the bus from Little Neck to Jamaica every day starting at 14.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by alli3131

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

All this. And the bus to Austin st to go to Barnes and noble and LuLus.

So yes, definitely. I took the bus to the subway to get to hs at that age. I wouldn't think twice.

I'm told this is NOT the case on LI and no parent would EVER let their child take any sort of public transportation alone. Better to skateboard along sunrise highway to get where you need to go like the kids I see every day. So much safer

Barnes and Noble, RIP

I work with someone from LI who thinks my upbringing was insane. They just accompanied their TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD SON on job interviews in NYC. (Waited downstairs lol, didn't go in the buildings but still...geez...cut the fkn cord)

Only on LI......

Def not a LI thing...More of a parent thing. I was taking the bus to the mall/flea market when I was in Jr high. It was the norm for us when your parents both worked. So I think its more of just crazy protective parents who think you can't walk out of the house alone without being abducted into human trafficking.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by alli3131

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

All this. And the bus to Austin st to go to Barnes and noble and LuLus.

So yes, definitely. I took the bus to the subway to get to hs at that age. I wouldn't think twice.

I'm told this is NOT the case on LI and no parent would EVER let their child take any sort of public transportation alone. Better to skateboard along sunrise highway to get where you need to go like the kids I see every day. So much safer

Barnes and Noble, RIP

I work with someone from LI who thinks my upbringing was insane. They just accompanied their TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD SON on job interviews in NYC. (Waited downstairs lol, didn't go in the buildings but still...geez...cut the fkn cord)

Only on LI......

Def not a LI thing...More of a parent thing. I was taking the bus to the mall/flea market when I was in Jr high. It was the norm for us when your parents both worked. So I think its more of just crazy protective parents who think you can't walk out of the house alone without being abducted into human trafficking.

Maybe not, but I find parents on LI (really people in general, not just parents) significantly more fearful of the most ridiculous things- public transportation, malls, movie theaters.

You know what my DD will never do on LI? Drive. She's far less likely to be hurt on the train than she will driving among these maniacs.