Private school parent small talk in December: EVERYONE bragging about upcoming ritzy trips

[Anonymous]

Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The preoccupation with expensive, international vacations has always been an UMC thing that feels very trashy.

I feel like it's gotten way worse in recent years. Maybe fueled by viral shows like White Lotus? And certainly social media plays a part.

Very gaudy and tasteless.

It is hard for me to comprehend how many so-called adults are obsessed with social media and status. WTF? Grow up.

Boasting and self-absorption has been normalized. Everyone young and old scrolls on their phones all day looking at glamorous celebs, random pretty people, and pseudo friends sharing every detail about their day.

Uh, no. But this says a lot about you. I have no social media and DGAF what the Joneses are doing. I may ask in passing where they're headed for travel making polite conversation though. I may even ask again as I probably forget the answer 5 min later. It's like asking me what the weather was like 2 weeks ago on Tuesday - I have no idea...

Not the PP you are responding to. The PP is correct. Tons of people of all ages who are phone addicts who look at vapid BS all day. If that is not you, that's cool, and it means the PP wasn't talking about you and, therefore, your weirdly self-absorbed response makes no sense.

I suspect from your response, you are not as nonchalant as you protest. Otherwise, why would you make a post that is clearly not meant to refer to you all about you? Self absorption all the way.

Sure, Jan. You pegged it. Hope it made your day.

You are an odd bird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

Funny. When I hear people are going on trips instead of seeing cousins or grandparents or family I think they are oddly selfish. We have more money and access to trips than most and we choose to spend the holidays with extended family. Anyone that thinks we could not travel to Europe or to Caribbean is silly. We have no interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

Funny. When I hear people are going on trips instead of seeing cousins or grandparents or family I think they are oddly selfish. We have more money and access to trips than most and we choose to spend the holidays with extended family. Anyone that thinks we could not travel to Europe or to Caribbean is silly. We have no interest.

Same here. It’s just a given we would travel to see cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. I feel sorry for kids that don’t have those networks because instead their parents want to go party with their friends elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Different cultures prioritize different things. Plus with deaths, estrangements, etc. not all families (especially those coming from smaller ones with fewer siblings/cousins) have the option to celebrate the holidays with relatives.

Luckily, we are fairly close with our families and choose to spend our holidays with them, but I'm not going to judge those who take a different path based on superficial small talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

Funny. When I hear people are going on trips instead of seeing cousins or grandparents or family I think they are oddly selfish. We have more money and access to trips than most and we choose to spend the holidays with extended family. Anyone that thinks we could not travel to Europe or to Caribbean is silly. We have no interest.

Well, since we actually prioritized living near grandparents, aunts and uncles, I guess it's morally okay that we like to travel for fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

Funny. When I hear people are going on trips instead of seeing cousins or grandparents or family I think they are oddly selfish. We have more money and access to trips than most and we choose to spend the holidays with extended family. Anyone that thinks we could not travel to Europe or to Caribbean is silly. We have no interest.

Same here. It’s just a given we would travel to see cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. I feel sorry for kids that don’t have those networks because instead their parents want to go party with their friends elsewhere.

How about if I host my extended family at my ski and/or Caribbean beach house for part of the vacation? And I promise not to ask about your plans as a form of small talk. I will just respond if someone asks me about plans.

Do I escape your judgement or do you still feel sorry for my kids and think I'm showing off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

Funny. When I hear people are going on trips instead of seeing cousins or grandparents or family I think they are oddly selfish. We have more money and access to trips than most and we choose to spend the holidays with extended family. Anyone that thinks we could not travel to Europe or to Caribbean is silly. We have no interest.

Same here. It’s just a given we would travel to see cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. I feel sorry for kids that don’t have those networks because instead their parents want to go party with their friends elsewhere.

Ah, I'm so glad some of you are such better people than we are.

(1) Some of us have lost all our family, but it's always welcome to have people rub that in.

(2) Some people actually travel WITH their families (I know, I know, what an insane concept!)

I feel sorry for kids who have parents as judgmental and unkind as you.

[Anonymous]

Every and I mean every rich classmate of my daughter’s has ALREADY posted detailed photos on instagram of their ski chalet or Caribbean trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every and I mean every rich classmate of my daughter’s has ALREADY posted detailed photos on instagram of their ski chalet or Caribbean trip.

Yes, many well-off people are shallow, insecure, and buy into the idea that wealth somehow makes them more special or better people.

But you don’t have to buy into that. Your daughter doesn’t have to be on social media, neither do you.

Funny how so many of the tech bros that created the social media nightmare have their kids attend Waldorf schools and keep them off tech. Why do you think that is? Because they have access to the data that shows how bad it is for kids’ brain development and mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

Funny. When I hear people are going on trips instead of seeing cousins or grandparents or family I think they are oddly selfish. We have more money and access to trips than most and we choose to spend the holidays with extended family. Anyone that thinks we could not travel to Europe or to Caribbean is silly. We have no interest.

Same here. It’s just a given we would travel to see cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. I feel sorry for kids that don’t have those networks because instead their parents want to go party with their friends elsewhere.

How about if I host my extended family at my ski and/or Caribbean beach house for part of the vacation? And I promise not to ask about your plans as a form of small talk. I will just respond if someone asks me about plans.

Do I escape your judgement or do you still feel sorry for my kids and think I'm showing off?

You get the prize for the most DCUM post of the year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every and I mean every rich classmate of my daughter’s has ALREADY posted detailed photos on instagram of their ski chalet or Caribbean trip.

Yes, many well-off people are shallow, insecure, and buy into the idea that wealth somehow makes them more special or better people.

But you don’t have to buy into that. Your daughter doesn’t have to be on social media, neither do you.

Funny how so many of the tech bros that created the social media nightmare have their kids attend Waldorf schools and keep them off tech. Why do you think that is? Because they have access to the data that shows how bad it is for kids’ brain development and mental health.

I don’t know if teen kids are all of those things. They simply all share these photos like it’s as natural as breathing. This is a tough time of year for families who can’t afford to keep up.

[Anonymous]

One of the main reasons I didn't want my kids to attend a private school like I did.

Back then, pre social media, they would all come back with their lift tickets from skiing still attached to their coats or tropical themed jewelry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the main reasons I didn't want my kids to attend a private school like I did.

Back then, pre social media, they would all come back with their lift tickets from skiing still attached to their coats or tropical themed jewelry.

The public school families in wealthy areas do this too…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Status signaling. It’s a way to dance around how rich you are and how decadent and exciting your life is. Are you doing well, rich, or rich rich and spending money like water.

Funny. When I hear people are going on trips instead of seeing cousins or grandparents or family I think they are oddly selfish. We have more money and access to trips than most and we choose to spend the holidays with extended family. Anyone that thinks we could not travel to Europe or to Caribbean is silly. We have no interest.

Same here. It’s just a given we would travel to see cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. I feel sorry for kids that don’t have those networks because instead their parents want to go party with their friends elsewhere.

My family is in Europe. My brother and his family are in Paris.