Home in the Suburbs

My Parents: Lorilea and Othmar

My parent's chose to build a home on the edge of suburban sprawl Rosemount, MN when I was just graduating the third grade. I was so excited to move. We were moving into a house that was twice the size of the one we had, bigger than any of my friends houses at the time. We would have a wooded backyard, and our driveway was a hill, meaning it would be great to ride my bike and rollerblade down.

I was happy leading the typical life of a white, suburban, middleclass kid. I was “successful” in school, having all of the opportunities that the schools of well-to-do neighborhoods have. I was in sports and student council and all of the expected activities. As I grew older, I had a car and it sat outside our garage just like all of the other kids in my grade. I drove to and from school, to and from my friend's houses and to and from the mall.

Friends and I at a Track Meet

It wasn't until my sophomore year in college that I realized at full, the implications of such a lifestyle, and how I had been living. I became angry and bitter. I was an only child, what on earth did we (my family) need such a excessive house for? Why did my dad have to mow our scrawny little lawn with a gas-powered mower?

Returning home from college one day, I was so frustrated with all that my family had that I deemed unnecessary, that I went into a yelling rampage, explaining to my parents in quite harsh words, why what we had was outrageously excessive, and that we should be inviting at least ten other people to live with us.

This is when I began to realize how much I hurt my parents with my stinging words. They had worked very hard to give me all of the opportunities that other children had, they worked very hard to pay for such a nice house, and they had to work constantly to provide me with a car.

I then started to understand what I have learned from my experience in the suburbs, and what I have loved. It is true; I was able to go to the Zoo School (The School of Environmental Studies) for high school. I also had my own room and I enjoyed the space it gave for independence. And I have many memories invested in the elementary, middle, and high school, both at my home and within the town. This home has become for me a constant reminder of my growth.

My Parent's Backyard

I recognize that from the experience of living in the suburbs, I have learned what I need and don't need in the future when I have a place of my own. I need more of a cohesive community, a walking community, an outdoor community, and an ecological community. But I can continue to appreciate what I learn from this home, and I can continue to enjoy my visits with my parents at home.

This place has holds many memories, but I have realized that it is the people that make my visits regular, or even at all. I could do without the suburbs, but not without my parents. My parent's hold some of the main influences on my life, and I would visit them anywhere, making this place, where I grew up, also a place of mine and at the moment, my home.

My Pup, Baylie and I