Tag: MBTA

Lack of Diversity

Greater Boston is still quite segregated, thanks in large part to redlining policies of the recent past. For anyone who didn’t already know this, and if you want to see for yourself, take a round trip ride on the Red Line from Alewife to Ashmont and then on the Mattapan High Speed Line to it’s end. The average racial makeup of the passengers drastically changes at Downtown Crossing and Park Street. You might also recognize that the Mattapan High Speed Line trolleys are the same as an “historic” trolley on display at Boylston Station on the Green Line.

Boston is still far more diverse on average than the small town in New Hampshire where we lived when our kids were born. Most of the time in NH, wherever we went my family was the least “white” which made us the object of intrusive questions: Is your husband Asian? No. Are your children adopted? No. Are you the nanny? No. I started dyeing my hair darker just make it easier for strangers to see that my kids do have some of my features and would leave me alone.

Arriving to the diversity of Greater Boston was a breath of fresh air. Our family has a number of non-typical identifiers and we felt so much more comfortable here. I was disheartened to discover that the local homeschooling community (that I could find at that time**) did not have the diversity of the larger community. Arriving at our first homeschooling event, after coming out of public school, I felt so much like I did the day I took my young kids on a day of exploring the T and saw the segregation for the first time, I had no idea.

I have no suggestions or solutions for this social and economic dynamic. It’s important to know about, however. Maybe this post will help someone new to homeschooling understand a tiny bit more about Greater Boston’s homeschooling community. Maybe I’m trying to explore how homeschooling has been an unexpected journey of self-discovery in trying to figure out who my family is and what our relationships are with people in the wider world.

** This year I discovered a group on Facebook dedicated to Boston Homeschool Families of Color. I’m so glad to know there is diversity in the homeschool community and I hope one day everyone can more easily come together.

Transportation in the City with Kids in Tow

We’ve lived 5 years in the city without a car using the T daily, and the last couple years with a car.

Benefits of Getting Around by T and Foot

When you walk and take trains and buses everywhere, you really get to see the city and experience life in so many neighborhoods. It’s easier to just take some time in a lovely nook. Have you ever noticed how many play-ready nooks there are around the Federal Reserve Building by South Station? When the kids were younger we would pass the Federal Reserve 1-2 times a month on our way to the Children’s Museum. I have many fond memories of snacks on the lawn, helping my kids walk on the walls along the back sidewalk, and watching both kids run around and play together.

This is the thing I miss most. I hardly ever get to experience the neighborhoods I don’t live in. Whenever we go places in the car, I have to consider parking and how much it will cost, so we typically go somewhere, do our thing, and leave. We do have a T station within a mile walk from us, but I’m reluctant to spend $5, when I already have to pay for gas, parking, and car maintenance.

On the other hand, we do get out of the city a lot more often and are able to get into nature more easily. Grocery shopping by car is like a miracle – every time – after 5 years of grocery shopping by foot or bus. But both of these things mean we meet fewer people in our neighborhood.

Walking and T-ing have another major benefit: CARDIO!! When we first got to the city I thought I only needed a stroller for my toddler, but we then realized our pre-schooler needed help getting around too. I then had a stroller plus boogie board, pushing two kids, diaper bag, food for three, etc, etc, etc….I know most of you know exactly what I’m talking about! Anyway, I pushed that thing around for 3 years, getting it on and off busses, carrying it up and down stairs. It was for sure a schlep, but I got in pretty good shape just from taking the kids everywhere for fun and errands.

My stamina has suffered greatly since we became a driving family!

Lastly, fixed transportation costs are amazing!! Having a new-to-us car (i.e. used) has meant way more car repair, usually unexpected, than we can honestly afford. I worry about the money and the state of the car constantly.

How do you get around the city? Any tips for BBHS moms? Have you found lovely nooks, that you wouldn’t have found if you were driving? Please share in a comment below!