Longbridge L O N G B R I D G E

Child Rearing

Children tend to float freely around the households of their friends and neighbours and are generally cared for by whoever happens to be around. Children living and being raised in commonhouses happens relatively frequently, either because their parents are deceased, are unable or not interested in caring for the child, or occasionally just because the child prefers it. This obviates the need for specific child-rearing institutions like orphanages and creches.

Although there is no longer any kind of mandate to limit the number of children, the cultural history of carefully limiting reproduction contributes to a relatively low replacement rate. Citizens are typically very careful about having unnecessary children. It is regarded as considerate and responsible to have as few children as possible.

Tending

Citizens who are raising children that they are not the biological parent of - either as part of a commonhouse, or otherwise - are assuming a cultural role known as ‘tender’. Tenders are functionally the child’s parent and caregiver, and assume responsibility for raising them while they are within their care.

Children will use the title auxiliary ‘Tender’ in the same way as they would call their biological parent ‘Mother’ or ‘Father’.

Further Reading