What's the Most Obnoxious Thing You've Heard a Parent Say at Your DC's Private School?

[Anonymous]

2 comments -

1. lots of times, it is not so much what they say as the look they give you while saying it OR the tone of voice

2. I've also been amazed at how some parents seem to feel they can psychoanalyze my kid - make very personal comments about stuff that is really none of their business and doesn't affect them (meanwhile I keep my mouth shut about all their kids' little quirks).

Oh well - folks is funny!!

[Anonymous]

A supposed good friend once told me, when I was pretty overweight, a tidbit about her best friend in high school. She said that this friend was overweight, so the only reason guys wanted her was because she would sleep with them. When this woman told me the story, she was in her 40's!

[Anonymous]

Who knew you had to be rich to be bitchy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband was pretty classy about it. He said, "Actually, I own this house. But if I ever hear of anyone who does good yard work, I'll be sure to let you know..." The man's face turned bright red and then he sped off without so much as a word.

Four of the White neighborhood fathers who had been working in their own yards came over to my husband afterward. They called the guy in the car an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a jerk! We are one of the few AA families in a predominately White neighborhood. One afternoon, my husband and several of the fathers on our street were in their respective yards raking their leaves and mowing their grass. A man drove by, stopped his car and yelled out the window to my husband, "We're looking to have some yard work done! How much do you charge?"

Even the other neighborhood fathers cringed at that one.

Goodness, how frightful! What did your husband answer?

The journalist Carl Rowan used to tell a story that one day, when he was mowing the lawn in his upper NW neighborhood, someone stopped and asked him how much the owner of the house paid him for doing yard work. His answer was priceless: "Actually, I don't get paid for this, but the lady of the house lets me sleep with her."

[Anonymous]

I was at a class potluck several years ago talking to a very wealthy mom (who I do like and respect) about going back to work with three kids. I was saying that I was a little nervous about juggling work and family. She said, "well, you just have to staff up." Unfortunatley, in my family this is not remotely possible.

[Anonymous]

This week they are having power struggles over a school sports banquet. Meanwhile NOTHING has been accomplished- no food, no invite. One is even bitching about another hitting the send button for emails.

Most don't give 2 shits about the team - just who gets to be Queen bee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at a class potluck several years ago talking to a very wealthy mom (who I do like and respect) about going back to work with three kids. I was saying that I was a little nervous about juggling work and family. She said, "well, you just have to staff up." Unfortunatley, in my family this is not remotely possible.

Apart from presumably a nanny, what other staff are included in a typical Bg 3 family?

[Anonymous]

driver, housekeeper, chef, gardener

[Anonymous]

Certainly possible, but not the least bit typical.

[Anonymous]

From the "Which School Supports Academically Advanced Kids" thread, this sour grapes post about public magnet kids:

To the poster who asked about the MoCo magnet/CTY connection. The CTYers are probably a small (and certainly not random)* sample of kids who go to MoCo magnets, but my DC said she was surprised how similar they were and how different from her school friends (also not a random sample), because they were really into the black and white fact stuff (map quiz) which she found somewhat tedious and not into the sociological/economic/philosophical issues that really grabbed her (and that her friends would have been eager to discuss). A number of the kids claimed their parents had made them go to CTY and they didn't want to be there. She said they seemed stressed and competitive and their idea of fun was to do mindless stuff which was the last thing she expected at CTY. One example she mentioned was that when the class went to the college bookstore each week, she was the only one who wanted to look at the books -- the rest just wanted to buy snacks. Her comment was "if this is what smart's supposed to be, I want no part of it."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at a class potluck several years ago talking to a very wealthy mom (who I do like and respect) about going back to work with three kids. I was saying that I was a little nervous about juggling work and family. She said, "well, you just have to staff up." Unfortunatley, in my family this is not remotely possible.

Apart from presumably a nanny, what other staff are included in a typical Bg 3 family?

Housekeeper. Some might have a cleaning service in 1/month but call it a housekeeper. There are many nice families of all income brackets but a few really spoil the experience and force normal people into non-participation. It did not use to be this way at DS's school. It affects kids and needs to be brought to the attention of staff and the governing board.

[Anonymous]

I am a current Beauvoir parent and this is our last year too. I have to say I have no idea what the naysayers are referring to. They really should enlighten us the uninformed rather than alluding to things about which they refuse to elaborate. It makes me think they have nothing really to substantiate their views. Our son has had a great experience at Beauvoir.

No I am not a member of staff, just a happy parent. We hope to send our twins there in the future too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP who has been very happy with Beauvoir so far. To those who posted that their views changed, or that they are glad their kids have graduated, was there something particular that happened? A gradual change in vibe? A change in treatment of or interactions among the kids? Did it just feel like too much in some way? Somehow different from experiences of friends at other schools? Also, could I ask where your kids went after Beauvoir and whether your experiences there have been different? Thanks

To the PP who suggested that I post on another forum, I posted here intentionally because I had visited this thread before school started and I had a very different view of what I would encounter at the school than what I've experienced in our brief time there so far. I thought it might be useful for people considering these schools to hear from someone with (albeit very limited) experience who has been very happy with the school and the community, and who hasn't heard even a whiff of any obnoxious comments. I've heard the normal type of conversation about things that parents care about, such as relief about the introduction of Singapore math and questions as to when the outdoor play areas will be reconfigured. But absolutely nothing like anything I read on this thread. I realize this thread is intended to provide a bit of comic relief, but I think these things can morph and take on more meaning than is intended when read by prospective parents trying to get even a glimpse into the community their kids will be immersed in.

Another former BVR parent here, you'll see what the previous posters and I are referring to in a couple years. Until then, cherish these memories and glorious experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:driver, housekeeper, chef, gardener

House Manager is my personal favorite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the "Which School Supports Academically Advanced Kids" thread, this sour grapes post about public magnet kids:

To the poster who asked about the MoCo magnet/CTY connection. The CTYers are probably a small (and certainly not random)* sample of kids who go to MoCo magnets, but my DC said she was surprised how similar they were and how different from her school friends (also not a random sample), because they were really into the black and white fact stuff (map quiz) which she found somewhat tedious and not into the sociological/economic/philosophical issues that really grabbed her (and that her friends would have been eager to discuss). A number of the kids claimed their parents had made them go to CTY and they didn't want to be there. She said they seemed stressed and competitive and their idea of fun was to do mindless stuff which was the last thing she expected at CTY. One example she mentioned was that when the class went to the college bookstore each week, she was the only one who wanted to look at the books -- the rest just wanted to buy snacks. Her comment was "if this is what smart's supposed to be, I want no part of it."

This quote has nothing to do with what's the most obnoxious thing a parent said at their DC's private school.....

[Anonymous]

Touche