After Having Kids, You Realize How Important the Neighborhood Community Really Is

When I was single, I just needed a place close to work. I never thought about the community or property management.

Then we had a child and the grandparents moved in. We moved to a suburban development with better facilities. What struck me most wasn't the greenery — it was the people. The security guards, cleaners, property managers — everyone greets you with a smile. The guard knows your child's name. Neighbors chat at the mailboxes.

When you're childless, a neighborhood is just a location. When you have kids, it's the difference between raising them in a community or in isolation.