What's the Most Obnoxious Thing You've Heard a Parent Say at Your DC's Private School?

[Anonymous]

Actually, the sword cuts both ways. I renovated a house in a part of town where few whites live. Every week I would sweep the street and pick-up the neighborhood. The neighbors, black and hispanic, would stop me and ask if I worked for the man who owned the house. ( Whites don't do menial labor.) On one other occasion, I had been away for the weekend, and one of the
neighbors had a big party which escalated into a fight. The police were called and they rounded up all of the drunk and disorderly. When I returned Sunday evening, one of the neighbors came over and thanked me for calling the police. When I told him I had been away and knew nothing of the throw down he was flummoxed. I said, "Well, I guess somebody else cares in the neighborhood too." ( Whites call the cops and the brothers don't care. They feel powerless and disenfranchised.)

[Anonymous]

Had a couple briefly talk to us when our child first joined the school. For some reason they decided we were beneath them. Anyway, they discovered that we're actually far, far above them in regard to the things they consider important. (We could give a rat's ass about externalities.) Now we ignore them and the wife cannot keep her eyes off of me whenever I walk into any school event and always tries to talk to us but we find away to keep distance between us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had a couple briefly talk to us when our child first joined the school. For some reason they decided we were beneath them. Anyway, they discovered that we're actually far, far above them in regard to the things they consider important. (We could give a rat's ass about externalities.) Now we ignore them and the wife cannot keep her eyes off of me whenever I walk into any school event and always tries to talk to us but we find away to keep distance between us.

I hope that you are real, and I hope that the fact that you are "far, far above" (which I take to be the billionaire next door) but don't give a rat's ass about "externalities" (which I take to mean that you are one of the few in a car from the last century in the car pool line) means that you befriend those (admittedly rare) private school families like ours who in all material respects are average, even by, egads, public school standards. If so, Rock On!

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by "far, far above them in regard to the things they consider important"? What types of things do they consider to be "important"?

Anonymous wrote:Had a couple briefly talk to us when our child first joined the school. For some reason they decided we were beneath them. Anyway, they discovered that we're actually far, far above them in regard to the things they consider important. (We could give a rat's ass about externalities.) Now we ignore them and the wife cannot keep her eyes off of me whenever I walk into any school event and always tries to talk to us but we find away to keep distance between us.

[Anonymous]

Can you be far, far above someone in the US?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope that the fact that you are "far, far above" (which I take to be the billionaire next door) but don't give a rat's ass about "externalities" (which I take to mean that you are one of the few in a car from the last century in the car pool line)

I thought it meant they had no qualms about maintaining a fleet of gas-guzzling SUVs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had a couple briefly talk to us when our child first joined the school. For some reason they decided we were beneath them. Anyway, they discovered that we're actually far, far above them in regard to the things they consider important. (We could give a rat's ass about externalities.) Now we ignore them and the wife cannot keep her eyes off of me whenever I walk into any school event and always tries to talk to us but we find away to keep distance between us.

And my guess is that now they think you decided they were beneath you. You win! Gag.

[Anonymous]

I don't believe this is a real post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is a real post

If you are referring to the beneath/above post, you may be right. But the sentiment rings true. I've seen it happen myself (as an observer on the sidelines).

[Anonymous]

We just moved to public school this year after years of private school. I have to say the parents are incredibly nice. Many are wealthier than those at private schools (plus of course they aren't payng tuition!) so it's not a socioeconomic difference. So for all of you who are disgusted by the parents in your private schools consider taking a leap to the other side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just moved to public school this year after years of private school. I have to say the parents are incredibly nice. Many are wealthier than those at private schools (plus of course they aren't payng tuition!) so it's not a socioeconomic difference. So for all of you who are disgusted by the parents in your private schools consider taking a leap to the other side.

Why do so many people in this town try to assess others' net worth? It's like an obsession for some people I've come across! How does anyone know who is "wealthier" than whom anyway? Unless the name is on X Magazine's "Richest People" list, how does anyone even begin to figure this stuff out? And who cares -- particularly in a school environment??

[Anonymous]

Happened twice last week. Another parent and an administrator assumed that another parent of the same ethnic group was my spouse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are a minority at our fancy Big 3 school, and there happens to be another family in the same grade who is of the same race/foreign country/ethnic background, mark my words, at one point you will be mistaken for that other family, no matter how many times you have been introduced to the one making the mistake. I always try to wear red at school events so they can at least associate my clothing with my kids (i.e., oh, she's spanish, she's wearing red, oh yes, red + spanish = so and so's mom).

Probably true, but don't assume it's just because of your racial/ethnic background. Everyone's meeting tons of new people, so names get easily confused. I'm as plain-jane white as they come, and other parents (white, AA, and otherwise) mix up my name all the time. And I am terrible at remembering names, so I get to offend everyone, regardless of heritage. I'm probably the person that some PP has complained about not remembering her name. I hope all these other parents don't take it personally and refer to me as the "most obnoxious thing" they've ever heard.

I agree, I am guilty as well and it has nothing to do with race or ethnic background.

I do not disagree. But while it is not obnoxious to forget someone's name, it is obnoxious for someone to consistently mistake you for another person, simply because you and that person are of the same race, from the same foreign country, or have the same ethnic background.

[Anonymous]

chillax on the race, ethnic issues.

[Anonymous]

Easy to say if it doesn't apply to you pp. Chillax yourself.

[Anonymous]

"Chillax"? Who knew that kids like Justin Bieber were posting on this thread?

Anonymous wrote:chillax on the race, ethnic issues.