Do independent school families live in condos?

[Anonymous]

Which neighborhoods tend to have the highest concentration of private school students?

[Anonymous]

Yes, some ds' and dd's classmates live in condos. No one cares where anyone lives--Gaithersburg or a condo in DuPont. It just isn't a conversation and that's nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And, I'm sorry, but I have to laugh at the idea that anywhere in DC is particularly cool or hip...

Me, too!

[Anonymous]

The only advice I would give with condos is they are usually smaller-coming up with a good retrievable/put-awayable bedding system for sleepovers. There are lots of nice condos in DC by the way. We loved living in our Cathedral Heights condo. Easier to decorate too. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Now that you mention it, I have seen suite numbers in the addresses in our (Big 3) school directory. Not a big deal. I don't think anyone cares.

[Anonymous]

We live in a townhouse/condo in Georgetown. Some of the kids in my DC's private school class lived in gated mansions way out in the burbs. They loved coming to our place in the city and often said they were jealous of DC's city life --- especially before they were all old enough to drive.

[Anonymous]

We ( 2 parents + 3 children) moved from Europe and we just rented a 2 rooms appt in Woodley Park. They thought we were crazy but we think it is so cool to live downtown DC and kids love it. The square footage should not have an effect on your family happiness. Do not forget: Good parfumes come into small bottles!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too, love 9:47's post. And to OP, here's a thought: start thinking of yourself and your family as much cooler/ hipper than families that live in the 'burbs, because you will be! Remember that the broad yards of McLean and Potomac generally equate with narrow minds. If you position this correctly, your child could be the envy of all of his/ her classmates by truly living "in the city." (My DH loves to correct "suburban" types when they say that they are from DC, and aren't. Being from Springfield or Bethesda is not being "from DC.")

Besides, your condo building may have an elevator, or a pool, or be near the metro, or walking distance to great restaurants! Very exciting for kids.

Wow. Your DH sounds like a real treat. What a fun couple.

[Anonymous]

A house is no panacea, OP. One little girl from DC's class came over in Kindergarten for a playdate and was aghast that we didn't have a third above-ground floor or an attic.

Bottom line: Be at peace and help your kids be at peace with who they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too, love 9:47's post. And to OP, here's a thought: start thinking of yourself and your family as much cooler/ hipper than families that live in the 'burbs, because you will be! Remember that the broad yards of McLean and Potomac generally equate with narrow minds. If you position this correctly, your child could be the envy of all of his/ her classmates by truly living "in the city." (My DH loves to correct "suburban" types when they say that they are from DC, and aren't. Being from Springfield or Bethesda is not being "from DC.")

Besides, your condo building may have an elevator, or a pool, or be near the metro, or walking distance to great restaurants! Very exciting for kids.

So do senior-living buildings . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP- OP here, and really, yes I am serious. I grew up as the poor kid who did not fit in in a "great" public school in Montgomery County. I was teased mercilessly for having ratty used clothes and living in a "scary" part of town. My husband had a similar experience as a low income immigrant in suburban Baltimore. We want more social and emotional security for our kids.

If you have a problem with that, no need to respond to my sincere question. I am just a parent doing the best I can for my kids and my community and the word. I give to charity. I volunteer. I pay my taxes. I recycle. I use good manners. I don't cut people off when driving. I help old ladies cross the street. I am a human being. And you purposefully tried to hurt my feelings, although I'm not really sure why.

I mean this as gently as possible-- but OP, you are going to have to grow some thicker skin. If you are this defensive and hurt by a comment by a random, anonymous stranger on an message board, I can see how you would be worried about appearing "less than" at your kid's school. It sounds like you are projecting your childhood baggage on to your own child.

Be confident in your choices and your child will follow your lead. If you are defensive all the time ("I volunteer", "I pay my taxes") your child will pick up on that, too.

This really isn't about the other kids at all.

[Anonymous]

Talk to your child about how to handle comments from friends if she finds the comments offensive.

[Anonymous]

If the school is more of a "city" school, more kids will live in apts/condos, for what that's worth. One of my kids is a "dread" Landonian (although he is awfully nice and kind as are his friends) but a downside is I hate having him drive out to Potomac for parties--where too many of his friends live in houses the size of churches where having a parent present for a party is irrelevant the house is so damn big. A stepbrother went to STA--most of the parties were in the city--the houses tend to be smaller (sometimes apts/condos) and the city streets are safer for driving according to D.O.T. officials--you have to go slow. Sort of off-point, but connected (I hope!)