Raising children in Potomac...

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP.

There's truth to what the OP is asking. With money comes an uppity attitude, especially with the nouveau riche. I have two family members who moved to Potomac from Wheaton, and you can't even talk to them anymore b/c they've become so materialistic.

OP, do your research. Older parts of Potomac that don't have the gargantuan homes draw in a different crowd - not as pretentious.

I just don't get it. Don't you think people in Betheda, CHevy Chase and parts of NW DC have "money." Do they have uppity attitudes and are they part of the nouveau riche?

People, this is crazy. Potomac is no different from many other upper middle/upper class neighborhoods in the DC area. I mean, seriously, the neigborhoods are within 5 miles or so of each other.

I will spare you my stories of "relatives" who moved to a big house in NW DC and are now "materialistic."

[Anonymous]

OP - call each of the elementary schools and ask how many kids are in extended day. If it is a high percentage, the moms are working, but don't have nannies. If it is a low percentage, then it isn't a neighborhood for you.

Keep in mind though, working moms are always harder to find and harder to connect with because they have less flexibility and are "out and about" less than SAHMs. They are always present.

To the snarks - yeah, there are all kinds of people everywhere, but neighborhoods do attract certain types. It adds great joy and richness to my life that my neighborhood is filled with people who respect my life choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I agree with PP.

There's truth to what the OP is asking. With money comes an uppity attitude, especially with the nouveau riche. I have two family members who moved to Potomac from Wheaton, and you can't even talk to them anymore b/c they've become so materialistic.

OP, do your research. Older parts of Potomac that don't have the gargantuan homes draw in a different crowd - not as pretentious.

I just don't get it. Don't you think people in Betheda, CHevy Chase and parts of NW DC have "money." Do they have uppity attitudes and are they part of the nouveau riche?

People, this is crazy. Potomac is no different from many other upper middle/upper class neighborhoods in the DC area. I mean, seriously, the neigborhoods are within 5 miles or so of each other.

I will spare you my stories of "relatives" who moved to a big house in NW DC and are now "materialistic."

If you're not going to share, then why mention it? Don't be a tease!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - call each of the elementary schools and ask how many kids are in extended day. If it is a high percentage, the moms are working, but don't have nannies. If it is a low percentage, then it isn't a neighborhood for you.

Keep in mind though, working moms are always harder to find and harder to connect with because they have less flexibility and are "out and about" less than SAHMs. They are always present.

To the snarks - yeah, there are all kinds of people everywhere, but neighborhoods do attract certain types. It adds great joy and richness to my life that my neighborhood is filled with people who respect my life choices.

The point is that we have the same type of neighborhoods in Potomac. Again, you are stereotyping. The question is not about a particular neighborhood within Potomac, Bethesda or anywhere else. The question is whether everyone in Potomac, which covers a large area, is uppity and materialistic like the OP's SIL. Let's all agree that this question is a little crazy (trying not to be snarky here).

I also find it funny that the OP is saying she can afford more of a house in Potomac than in NW DC. Doesn't that imply that there is more "money" in NW DC. A lot of people move out of Betheda, CC, etc to Potomac precisely b/c the can't afford a nice house in those areas. My Potomac neighborhood is filled with lots of 2 income households, government employees, lawyers and doctors. The DC "elite," for the most part, do not live in Potomac.

Just curious, PP, what are your "life choices?" Genuinely curious what you mean.
wi

[Anonymous]

OP here- our price range is probably "low" for Potomac-- $800K. Any suggestions for subdivisions/neighborhoods that might work?

[Anonymous]

I think there is a difference between North Potomac and the north part of Potomac. North Potomac which is kind of wedged between Rockville, Darnestown, Gaithersburg and Potomac isn't very ritzy all which we like. We live in the Travilah elementary school area and all our neighbors are pretty down to earth. The subdivisions can have bigger lots but houses built in the 70s and 80s. There is also Dufief and Westleigh which is now running in the 600-700 price range, though I think Westleigh is not in the Wooten high school cluster. For schools out here the best are Churchill (Potomac) and Wooten (North Potomac and Rockville).

If you have time you may want to hang out in the different areas and see what you think. Pick a subdivision and go to the closest park with your kids, try to start a conversation with some of the people there, visit some preschools, see what is in driving distance etc. Potomac Village is on my commute home and the Giant is better than safeway for food. The Starbucks is always crazy and you do see some of the more materialistic types there.

If you buy in around the 800K range in Potomac you would either be in an older more normal neighborhood or a townhouse. The craziness is in the multi million plus houses. One thing nice out here in the older neighborhoods is that you don't see the weird mix of older homes and then a big mansion renovation or rebuild right door. A few years ago we looked at some houses off of seven locks road which we liked but there were many people who had tore them down and built huge strange looking McMansions. It may be happening colser into Potomac Village and I've seen it on River Road but not in North Potomac. I will say that driving down River Road is a good 'what not do' if you win the lottery and decide to build a mansion, many of them look really tacky and ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I'm in Potomac. Plenty of moms work, plenty are SAHMs. Some of those have varying degrees of help. some don't. I'm am SAHM with a bi-weekly cleaning service and no nanny. You can search homes online - when you find a house for $800K (and there are plenty), the other houses in the neighborhood will be similar. There are no guarantees your neighbors won't have more money than you, but that's the case anywhere.

I've met some wonderful, down-to-earth, warm moms out here - personality-wise, Potomac is pretty diverse.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but even here, there is Potomac, and there is PAH - TOE - Mack....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - call each of the elementary schools and ask how many kids are in extended day. If it is a high percentage, the moms are working, but don't have nannies. If it is a low percentage, then it isn't a neighborhood for you.

Keep in mind though, working moms are always harder to find and harder to connect with because they have less flexibility and are "out and about" less than SAHMs. They are always present.

To the snarks - yeah, there are all kinds of people everywhere, but neighborhoods do attract certain types. It adds great joy and richness to my life that my neighborhood is filled with people who respect my life choices.

The point is that we have the same type of neighborhoods in Potomac. Again, you are stereotyping. The question is not about a particular neighborhood within Potomac, Bethesda or anywhere else. The question is whether everyone in Potomac, which covers a large area, is uppity and materialistic like the OP's SIL. Let's all agree that this question is a little crazy (trying not to be snarky here).

I also find it funny that the OP is saying she can afford more of a house in Potomac than in NW DC. Doesn't that imply that there is more "money" in NW DC. A lot of people move out of Betheda, CC, etc to Potomac precisely b/c the can't afford a nice house in those areas. My Potomac neighborhood is filled with lots of 2 income households, government employees, lawyers and doctors. The DC "elite," for the most part, do not live in Potomac.

Just curious, PP, what are your "life choices?" Genuinely curious what you mean.
wi

I think she means she'll get a bigger house, a driveway, garage and yard! (I live in Georgetown and feel this way anyhow.)

[Anonymous]

I live in D.C. and we, too, are contemplating a move to the 'burbs. My perception of Potomac is that, yes, of course there are many areas w/ families of mixed-income (meaning not in the millions per year).

However, I have heard, from friends who are child psychologists and counselors, that the school politics at Church Hill between "rich kids" and "upper middle class kids" is a nightmare. Lots of girls w/ eating disorders and cutting issues, lot of high-end drugs, drinking and other f*ed up behavior. Granted all schools have drugs, drinking other stuff, but Church Hill is above and beyond in attitude and entitlement. When kids are driving BMWs, Lexus' and Bends to school it's a tell tale sign that it's majorly f-ed up, imo. fwiw. GL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in D.C. and we, too, are contemplating a move to the 'burbs. My perception of Potomac is that, yes, of course there are many areas w/ families of mixed-income (meaning not in the millions per year).

However, I have heard, from friends who are child psychologists and counselors, that the school politics at Church Hill between "rich kids" and "upper middle class kids" is a nightmare. Lots of girls w/ eating disorders and cutting issues, lot of high-end drugs, drinking and other f*ed up behavior. Granted all schools have drugs, drinking other stuff, but Church Hill is above and beyond in attitude and entitlement. When kids are driving BMWs, Lexus' and Bends to school it's a tell tale sign that it's majorly f-ed up, imo. fwiw. GL.

It's Churchill as in Winston Churchill http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/churchillhs/

and Wootton as in Thomas Wootton http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/SCHOOLS/WOOTTONHS/

Check out the links for more info on demographics and location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in D.C. and we, too, are contemplating a move to the 'burbs. My perception of Potomac is that, yes, of course there are many areas w/ families of mixed-income (meaning not in the millions per year).

However, I have heard, from friends who are child psychologists and counselors, that the school politics at Church Hill between "rich kids" and "upper middle class kids" is a nightmare. Lots of girls w/ eating disorders and cutting issues, lot of high-end drugs, drinking and other f*ed up behavior. Granted all schools have drugs, drinking other stuff, but Church Hill is above and beyond in attitude and entitlement. When kids are driving BMWs, Lexus' and Bends to school it's a tell tale sign that it's majorly f-ed up, imo. fwiw. GL.

1. Why would people with this kind of money (that let a child drive a Bends to school, for goodness sake) sent their kids to a public school?

2. Don't any kids at Whitman, Sidwell, GDS, St Albans, drive BMWs, Mercedes, etc?

It is fun to stereotype, isn't it? And the Bends story is pretty comical.

[Anonymous]

PP, here. I realize now that I thought the poster reference to Bends meant a Bentley. I have see only one Bentley in Potomac in the last 10 years and couple driving were in their 80s!

Don't think it changes my main point though. There is a lot of class warfare on this site, but I guess I am surprised that obviously upper middle/upper class families in DC and other areas closer to the city could have such silly stereotypes about Potomac. Haven't you learned anything from the class warfare stuff heaved your way on this site from others?

[Anonymous]

2134 here. ok, i really could care less about this b/c i would never move there, however what i've heard about churchill is that a lot of kids are really messed up (coke, cutting, bulimia) and mean girls. I heard this from two friends who are child psychologists and one friend who attended. That's the basis of that.

and i've also heard about the ostentatious display of wealth by students w/ cars (mercedes, bmw, etc.) from other people who live there. i went to school w/ kids like that it sucked. I had my small group of friends and we did our own thing, so we were fine. there were some kids for whom the experience was horrible. most families i know from whitman are very happy. kids get burnt out academically but there is a different vibe.

if OP wants to get bang for her buck in potomac, go for it--you can always move, right?. there are also lovely, average-sized homes in woodacres, pyle, whitman for 800, 000 (one on mass ave in glen echo height right now.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2134 here. ok, i really could care less about this b/c i would never move there, however what i've heard about churchill is that a lot of kids are really messed up (coke, cutting, bulimia) and mean girls. I heard this from two friends who are child psychologists and one friend who attended. That's the basis of that.

and i've also heard about the ostentatious display of wealth by students w/ cars (mercedes, bmw, etc.) from other people who live there. i went to school w/ kids like that it sucked. I had my small group of friends and we did our own thing, so we were fine. there were some kids for whom the experience was horrible. most families i know from whitman are very happy. kids get burnt out academically but there is a different vibe.

if OP wants to get bang for her buck in potomac, go for it--you can always move, right?. there are also lovely, average-sized homes in woodacres, pyle, whitman for 800, 000 (one on mass ave in glen echo height right now.)

A teacher at Wootton was recently arrested and charged with selling cocaine to students. I think this is probably a problem at any school, not just the wealthier. Definately an issue at private schools. My friends daughter was caught with cocaine at Sidwell. Not by the school but her parents found it. She didn't get it from a teacher but none the less she ratted out four friends. I wouldn't place the blame on the wealthy crowd as cutting, drugs, eating disorders can happen anywhere.