What are the classic components of an UMC or UC American childhood?

[Anonymous]

This thread is why I’m on DCUM. Loving it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- Nice single family home in a good school district (Fairfax County)*
- Lots of international and exotic travel
- Lots of international friends
- speak multiple languages
- intellectual discussions in the home: history, literature, politics, economics, sciences
- dinner parties where we were taught how to socialize and mingle with others
- lots of books and artistic exposure
- museums visits

* But goes to private school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- physically going to church every Sunday
- toys/electronics whenever you want them
- books and maybe clothes for Christmas and birthdays; no toys after about the age of five
- college is expected
- parents monitor grades and homework regularly/daily
- summer jobs required, but it doesn’t matter how much money you actually make

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"This is ridiculous. Very few UMC families are in elite circles with the rich and powerful. Many of us are simply dual income white collar worker bees."

Then you're not UMC. And you don't realize that many, if not most, of "the powerful" have salaries of $200K or less. You might have a nice income, but you don't belong to that elite UMC grouping. UMC people are not worker bees. Many work around the clock, but their work often involves higher level thinking and relationship building. Or they have skills and credentials that garner high salaries, like physicians or CPAs. These aren't people who punch a time clock or get paid overtime. They might only earn about the same as a DC cop with seniority who pulls lots of overtime and side gigs, but how they earn that money is very different.

I am a CPA and my spouse is a physician (since you brought those two professions up) and I echo what PP said: this is ridiculous. We don’t hang out with the rich and the powerful, we’re not inviting Congresspeople and their staff to our kids’ baptisms, and neither are most of our CPA / physician coworkers. I wouldn’t dare call our family middle class, though.

Same here. HHI around 750-1 mil. DH is in finance, I’m an editor.

We don’t know any Congress people or anyone at the WH (and with the state of the GOP, I don’t want to either).

I doubt you could call us middle class though. We both have grad degrees and BAs from top schools.

We have a $2m HHI. We live in an affluent neighborhood. A few former congressmen do live in our neighborhood. We wave hi but that is the extent of our relationship.

DH and I were high achievers. Our children are strong students and have every resource at their disposal. We know a few high powered people but not necessarily well. I’m sure one day if my kid was interested in a certain field, we would know a friend of a friend who could get my kid an internship or at least an interview. My kid would need to have the credentials and work ethic to make it though.

I find the wannabe UC to be the most obnoxious. They are constantly name dropping and just annoying to be around. They don’t really know anyone but pretend to know everyone.

What’s a wannabe UC person?

They are people who only do things that make them look rich. You will know them when you meet them. They are often not actually rich.

Oh, the wannabe UC person leases a luxury car and lives in an expensive-ish neighborhood in the home they grew up in. They live in expensive workout gear and tell you how much every expensive item cost them. They are only even UMC because their parents gifted them a home. But, they view themselves as the real deal.

[Anonymous]

The classic components:

-Allergic to everything
-adhd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been thinking about this lately. Both DH and I grew up poor/LMC but fortunately have the means to provide our future kids with better.

What would you say are the classic or traditional components of an idealic childhood?

Assume loving, attentive, supportive parents is the foundation. What are the extras or nice-to-haves?

Spiritual values that transcend illusions of class. Regular church, mosque or synagogue

Gentle but consistent Discipline which is a strong form of love

Community service so your children learn to give back

Expansive awareness of culture: Library visits, museum visits, music classes,

Healthy Physical exercise: combination of individual and group sports

Keeping a close eye on friends and peers and steering towards wise choices in friends

Acceptance and love for their true selves, which are likely to evolve quite differently to your dreams for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The classic components:

-Allergic to everything
-adhd

Not sure if this is sarcastic, but the above require a diagnosis and treatment and plans. Low FARMS = more EpiPens and inhalers and ADJD and PTC meds. High FARMS means no meds.

I’ll add an IEP and (randomly because another thread reminded me of this) extensive orthodontia - and early orthodontia, too.

Oh - and because UMC values athleticism, there’s access to physical therapies, treatments, diagnostic evaluations, surgeries, rehabilitation, more specialists and private coaches.

[Anonymous]

ADHD and OTC meds

[Anonymous]

-For kids in high school, a very rigorous program, whether it be public, private, or magnet. Kids doing hours upon hours of homework per night. Possibly includes tutoring.

-Each kid usually has an expensive hobby or multiple that they get a lot of money spent on. Competitive dance, competitive gymnastics, All star cheer (where I’m from at least), travel soccer, violin, etc


-From a different thread on here, They know that they should call their friends parents Mrs. and Mr.

-Sometimes the kids “sensitivities” are catered to incessantly

[Anonymous]

No ''publicly visible'' pregnancies before age 24/25. Anything before that (And they happen plenty often) is taken care of via abortion or going to live with a relative during the length of the pregnancy, then adoption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The classic components:

-Allergic to everything
-adhd

😂😂😂😂 ok my kids have an idyllic childhood. Phew, I can stop worrying so much ....

Too funny! But you have a point: I.e., “#First world problems” .... In every word of jest there is a grain of truth ...

Perhaps, along these lines - the luxury of exploring gender identities (GBLT etc) at ridiculously young ages without fear of being beaten up or disowned ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The classic components:

-Allergic to everything
-adhd

😂😂😂😂 ok my kids have an idyllic childhood. Phew, I can stop worrying so much ....

Too funny! But you have a point: I.e., “#First world problems” .... In every word of jest there is a grain of truth ...

Perhaps, along these lines - the luxury of exploring gender identities (GBLT etc) at ridiculously young ages without fear of being beaten up or disowned ....

Also, anorexia and eating disorders. Anxiety and depression and again, therapies and programs and treatments and medical care to include residential programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"This is ridiculous. Very few UMC families are in elite circles with the rich and powerful. Many of us are simply dual income white collar worker bees."

Then you're not UMC. And you don't realize that many, if not most, of "the powerful" have salaries of $200K or less. You might have a nice income, but you don't belong to that elite UMC grouping. UMC people are not worker bees. Many work around the clock, but their work often involves higher level thinking and relationship building. Or they have skills and credentials that garner high salaries, like physicians or CPAs. These aren't people who punch a time clock or get paid overtime. They might only earn about the same as a DC cop with seniority who pulls lots of overtime and side gigs, but how they earn that money is very different.

I am a CPA and my spouse is a physician (since you brought those two professions up) and I echo what PP said: this is ridiculous. We don’t hang out with the rich and the powerful, we’re not inviting Congresspeople and their staff to our kids’ baptisms, and neither are most of our CPA / physician coworkers. I wouldn’t dare call our family middle class, though.

Same here. HHI around 750-1 mil. DH is in finance, I’m an editor.

We don’t know any Congress people or anyone at the WH (and with the state of the GOP, I don’t want to either).

I doubt you could call us middle class though. We both have grad degrees and BAs from top schools.

We have a $2m HHI. We live in an affluent neighborhood. A few former congressmen do live in our neighborhood. We wave hi but that is the extent of our relationship.

DH and I were high achievers. Our children are strong students and have every resource at their disposal. We know a few high powered people but not necessarily well. I’m sure one day if my kid was interested in a certain field, we would know a friend of a friend who could get my kid an internship or at least an interview. My kid would need to have the credentials and work ethic to make it though.

I find the wannabe UC to be the most obnoxious. They are constantly name dropping and just annoying to be around. They don’t really know anyone but pretend to know everyone.

What’s a wannabe UC person?

They are people who only do things that make them look rich. You will know them when you meet them. They are often not actually rich.

Oh, the wannabe UC person leases a luxury car and lives in an expensive-ish neighborhood in the home they grew up in. They live in expensive workout gear and tell you how much every expensive item cost them. They are only even UMC because their parents gifted them a home. But, they view themselves as the real deal.

Wow, aren't you being elitist

So the umc people look down on who they like. You sound like a nice bunch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The classic components:

-Allergic to everything
-adhd

Not sure if this is sarcastic, but the above require a diagnosis and treatment and plans. Low FARMS = more EpiPens and inhalers and ADJD and PTC meds. High FARMS means no meds.

I’ll add an IEP and (randomly because another thread reminded me of this) extensive orthodontia - and early orthodontia, too.

Oh - and because UMC values athleticism, there’s access to physical therapies, treatments, diagnostic evaluations, surgeries, rehabilitation, more specialists and private coaches.

Child psychiatrist here. I respectfully disagree.
UMC kids have ADHD, Adderall and psychotherapy with a PhD targeted to improving symptoms.
Poor kids have bipolar, Risperdal and a case manager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The classic components:

-Allergic to everything
-adhd

Not sure if this is sarcastic, but the above require a diagnosis and treatment and plans. Low FARMS = more EpiPens and inhalers and ADJD and PTC meds. High FARMS means no meds.

I’ll add an IEP and (randomly because another thread reminded me of this) extensive orthodontia - and early orthodontia, too.

Oh - and because UMC values athleticism, there’s access to physical therapies, treatments, diagnostic evaluations, surgeries, rehabilitation, more specialists and private coaches.

Child psychiatrist here. I respectfully disagree.
UMC kids have ADHD, Adderall and psychotherapy with a PhD targeted to improving symptoms.
Poor kids have bipolar, Risperdal and a case manager.

My decade of working in school health simply doesn't bear this out. We struggle to get poor kids immunizations, free eye exams and glasses and sadly, clothing and school supplies.