Young Parent-Do you pass judgement?

[Anonymous]

I'm a new private school parent to an HS student and a young parent.

While I try to conceal my age, I can't help but age myself sometimes; I'm typically 10-20 years younger than most parents. In a public school setting it has generally not been an issue, mostly because parents are uninvolved and unseen.

Today I woke up with new found anxiety about my age and how my child would be perceived. The school DS was accepted to is a top school and I want nothing more than for him to be accepted by his peers. I'm worried that the parent community won't truly accept me and in turn it will affect him socially.

Any other young private school parents out there with advice?

[Anonymous]

How old were you when you had your child(ren)?

[Anonymous]

Honestly no one cares.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry, when they see how old and rich the dad is, they'll understand your situation. (jk)

[Anonymous]

His peers won’t care but the parents would. You’re in a different time of your life than other parents. I also question your judgment for having children at a very young age so I would not engage with you if I didn’t have to.

[Anonymous]

I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

[Anonymous]

If you’re over, say, 30 you’ll be fine. There isn’t a ton of HS parent socializing, IME.

I was a young parent in a private K-8 and there were a number of others who’d had our kids in our 20s. But as everywhere, you make friends based on interests and outlook and opportunities rather than age.

[Anonymous]

Get a Facebook account and you'll seem like you're in your early 40s.

[Anonymous]

You won't be a regular mom, you'll be a cool mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly no one cares.

Well, they do care to the extent that she generally would not connect with people who are decades older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You won't be a regular mom, you'll be a cool mom.

This is not what she should be striving for nor do I think she is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

What?! 15!!! And again at 18?! Holy shit! You didn’t learn a lesson at 15!
No, no way would I ever let my son or daughter go to your home or anything outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

Is that a typo? Please tell me you mean 25 and 28.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

Competent? In what, apart from multiple teenage pregnancies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

Um, no.