VA suburbs - being too comfortable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am fascinated by this post. I’ve lived in 9 different places in this country and Northern VA is, by far, the most transient and least likely to have neighborhoods populated entirely by folks who grew up here. In fact, our friend group is probably 80/20 transplants vs natives. Impressive work befriending every local in McLean!

Look, some kids have the desire to spread their wings and some kids don’t. Even if you are stuck with a kid who can only muster Georgetown or UVA, there’s a possibility that they’ll wander post-college.

Your options are to expose them to a lot of different people, places, and experiences OR make home life so miserable that they are forced to flee.

+ 1 million

Really, OP, what are you talking about? I grew up in NOVA - it's VERY transient. I'm now in a Chicago suburb (which I've actually grown to like very much) but nearly everyone I meet here grew up in the area, went to college fairly nearby, and then came back. Their parents, sibling, cousins, etc. live here too. Honestly, some days I'm jealous that they have all that family around. I get the appeal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you live in NOVA, your child is already exposed to far more diversity than they would be anywhere else.

Only if one takes a very narrow view of what diversity means.

IMO, class diversity, diversity of political and religious beliefs, etc. are equally important.

Very little of those types of diversity in the affluent DC burbs.

[Anonymous]

OP has to be a troll.

In any event, she could have written the same exact thing about any suburb in America. In fact, she could have written the same thing about any PLACE in America? “How can I make my kid want to leave the comfort zone where he was born and raised and go somewhere else?”

That makes zero sense to me. Why would you want to encourage your kids to move away? This is a really bizarre country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you live in NOVA, your child is already exposed to far more diversity than they would be anywhere else.

Only if one takes a very narrow view of what diversity means.

IMO, class diversity, diversity of political and religious beliefs, etc. are equally important.

Very little of those types of diversity in the affluent DC burbs.

You get class diversity in most of the public schools in NoVa unless you’re in the Langley pyramid, and there is certainly diversity of political and religious beliefs just about everywhere.

There are more UMC Black families in DC and Maryland and more UMC Asian families in NoVa.

[Anonymous]

I grew up pretty wealthy and comfortable. I think it was important that my parents didn't give me money in college or after I graduated. I learned how to budget, how to cook cheap meal and how to not spend more than I made. My parents did get me excellent internships that paid very well in the summer, so I did have some money to live off of during the year.

[Anonymous]

Having empathy is not related to how much money you have. Either you have empathy or you don’t. It can be learned. I don’t think many people teach their kids though.

Just having a discussion on current events will give you an idea of where he stands with empathy.

[Anonymous]

A lot of kids we know seem to be attracted to the big midwestern or southern football schools. I think it's nice to leave the area for college- kids can always come back, but it's good to see what other areas are like. I'd prefer my daughter to leave the area for college, personally. We're in a very wealthy school district and neighborhood, so I've always tried to do things with her to expose her to less white, less wealthy influences.

[Anonymous]

I’ve found northern Va to be very open minded compared even to other places I’ve lived (including San Francisco, LA, Boston) as we have many people here that have jobs in places like the CIA, World Bank, foreign service, Pentagon, etc. that have lived in and regularly travel to many places oversees. We also have many people in northern VA who have family overseas that travel abroad to see relatives regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am fascinated by this post. I’ve lived in 9 different places in this country and Northern VA is, by far, the most transient and least likely to have neighborhoods populated entirely by folks who grew up here. In fact, our friend group is probably 80/20 transplants vs natives. Impressive work befriending every local in McLean!

Look, some kids have the desire to spread their wings and some kids don’t. Even if you are stuck with a kid who can only muster Georgetown or UVA, there’s a possibility that they’ll wander post-college.

Your options are to expose them to a lot of different people, places, and experiences OR make home life so miserable that they are forced to flee.

+1 I'm in Bethesda but the majority of our friends and neighbors and social circle from work, kids school etc are all transplants. Us too.

I also don't think people here are insular compared to much of the country.

[Anonymous]

I’m with you OP - but I recognize that if my kids grow up complacent and thinking that this is the end all be all, it’ll be on me in a big way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am fascinated by this post. I’ve lived in 9 different places in this country and Northern VA is, by far, the most transient and least likely to have neighborhoods populated entirely by folks who grew up here. In fact, our friend group is probably 80/20 transplants vs natives. Impressive work befriending every local in McLean!

Look, some kids have the desire to spread their wings and some kids don’t. Even if you are stuck with a kid who can only muster Georgetown or UVA, there’s a possibility that they’ll wander post-college.

Your options are to expose them to a lot of different people, places, and experiences OR make home life so miserable that they are forced to flee.

+1 I'm in Bethesda but the majority of our friends and neighbors and social circle from work, kids school etc are all transplants. Us too.

I also don't think people here are insular compared to much of the country.

The only person on our street who was born and raised in Northern Virginia is my husband!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve found northern Va to be very open minded compared even to other places I’ve lived (including San Francisco, LA, Boston) as we have many people here that have jobs in places like the CIA, World Bank, foreign service, Pentagon, etc. that have lived in and regularly travel to many places oversees. We also have many people in northern VA who have family overseas that travel abroad to see relatives regularly.

+1. And most of us travel overseas. A lot. To all over the place, not just to visit family. And we also go to rehoboth

[Anonymous]

Going to a local state school wasnt a thing when I grew up on the beltway. I think this notion that most never leave is imagined or a misconception. Most leave.

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with having second gen washingtonian grandchildren either. The horror! We should prefer nowhere U.S.A., jersey shore, south park, or hanging with mike fideli on south beach as adults to be more cultured.

[Anonymous]

My DH is a 10th generation Northern Virginian. He is an oddity. Everyone else leaves and most are transplants.