Elegant comeback ideas for public school parents who

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would give the other person a little grace - perhaps you are too sensitive, perhaps they don't mean anything by it, they just phrased it awkwardly. Or perhaps you will have to be the bigger person.
Either way, respond graciously, congratulate the other parent.

It is on brand passive aggressiveness we’ve experience for years, sometimes from extended family too. People truly believe the only point of a K-12 school system is where it sends your kids to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any elegant comeback ideas for when a parent highlights their public school child got into the same college(s) as our private school daughter? The passive-aggressive point they are trying to make is that we wasted our money on private school tuition and we should have just stayed in the public system and would have ended up at the same place. So far, I've been using variations of "Good for you/them!"

You're projecting a lot into a little comment. Don't be so insecure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need a "come back"? Do you need a "gotcha" to feel better about your choices?

So the OP should just sit with the insult in the face of rudeness?

Exactly. They know what they’re doing and the insulting point they’re trying to make. You can regularly find similar on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

I would say, wow they both have had COMPLETELY different journeys and experiences and now they get to go to the same school and learn from one another. And then follow up with a question that shows your kid has a better educational experience, like, “Jenny was thrilled when her Building, Engineering and Design group went to visit the Tesla engineering plant and saw them demonstrate blah blah blah - did Buddy Bud at The Worst Public School ever get a chance to do that too?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any elegant comeback ideas for when a parent highlights their public school child got into the same college(s) as our private school daughter? The passive-aggressive point they are trying to make is that we wasted our money on private school tuition and we should have just stayed in the public system and would have ended up at the same place. So far, I've been using variations of "Good for you/them!"

I’m a public school educated person that went to a fancy private college and I can tell you there’s a big difference between the private school kids and the public school kids. Just knowing that should be enough for you - the culture, the education, the writing style, etc…

There is a reason all of my friends that went to public schools now send their kids to private schools…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any elegant comeback ideas for when a parent highlights their public school child got into the same college(s) as our private school daughter? The passive-aggressive point they are trying to make is that we wasted our money on private school tuition and we should have just stayed in the public system and would have ended up at the same place. So far, I've been using variations of "Good for you/them!"

Your kid was well educated in a community with facilities and access to so many things - with that is no comparison to public schools. That is what you can tell them.

[Anonymous]

You sound insecure OP - and you don't have to be. What's done is done and hopefully you got the outcome you wanted, same as the parent that chose public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any elegant comeback ideas for when a parent highlights their public school child got into the same college(s) as our private school daughter? The passive-aggressive point they are trying to make is that we wasted our money on private school tuition and we should have just stayed in the public system and would have ended up at the same place. So far, I've been using variations of "Good for you/them!"

They don’t get it and that’s probably a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need a "come back"? Do you need a "gotcha" to feel better about your choices?

So the OP should just sit with the insult in the face of rudeness?

Yes. The best reaction to a snide parenting comment is to completely misunderstand it because you are such a good and genuine person.

What else are you going to do, put down their kid?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think what they want to hear ... and it doesn't mean you need to give it to them is, "you have done a wonderful job parenting, and you have a great kid."

They mean, you had is easier. Not saying that's truth. Not saying you should agree. They are probably feeling like more has been on their shoulders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope "elegant comeback" catches on in DCUMland! It's perfectly ridiculous

Nice try, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need a "come back"? Do you need a "gotcha" to feel better about your choices?

So the OP should just sit with the insult in the face of rudeness?

Yes. The best reaction to a snide parenting comment is to completely misunderstand it because you are such a good and genuine person.

What else are you going to do, put down their kid?

What insult? OP doesn't say

[Anonymous]

I'd say, "Great, maybe they'll get to hang out together!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any elegant comeback ideas for when a parent highlights their public school child got into the same college(s) as our private school daughter? The passive-aggressive point they are trying to make is that we wasted our money on private school tuition and we should have just stayed in the public system and would have ended up at the same place. So far, I've been using variations of "Good for you/them!"

The fact that you are looking for a comeback to this (and you are projecting something the other person didn’t say) means you are actually a wee bit insecure about this and the inference hit a nerve. It’s super weird when private school parents pretend they don’t hope their investment in tuition produces success and good college admission outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Oh man OP, you have issues.