Baby Wars Forum
Posts with category ‘Battleground: Shops’
BATTLEGROUND: SHOPS
Posted on May 7, 2008 by Baby Wars
I don’t see the point in owning a $1,200 stroller, but I do want to spend time with my child hanging out in an “urban oasis.” Who buys a $5 coffee at 3 p.m. on a Thursday in February? Ask one of the eight new coffee shop owners in my east-end neighbourhood and I bet the answer would be “a stroller pusher.” And yet, I can’t even get my stroller up the stairs. I don’t feel entitled to cart my (rather adorable) child with me to Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, but I do feel that local business owners should be more accommodating to the local residents whose purchases pay the shop’s rent. The list of inaccessible coffee shops is not only unwelcoming, but it is short-sighted. I don’t drive my SUV to big box stores; I would prefer to get a little fresh air, a little exercise and support my local merchants. My Leslieville neighbours are balking at a Wal-Mart, yet at least companies such as that realize the importance of a change table. I will continue to change my child on a dirty restaurant bathroom floor in my neighbourhood rather than go to a chain restaurant that values families. At some point, however, I will stop apologizing for bringing my child with me to eat my $15 sandwich and drink my $8 beer. Continue...
Baby Wars
In the May issue of Toronto Life, Katrina Onstad’s in-depth feature “Baby Wars” examined the growing tension between the city’s hipster parents and its childless masses. The wars are being fought on a number of battlegrounds, some of which are listed on the left. In this forum, we invite you to read some of the letters we received in reaction to this piece and to share your own opinions, ideas, experiences and advice.
Discussion is welcome, but please keep comments respectful and on-point. Toronto Life reserves the right to edit or delete comments entirely. If you feel a comment is inappropriate, please inform the editors at online@torontolife.com. Featured letters may have been edited for length and clarity. All photographs by Nigel Dickson.
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