Striver parents: why do do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The kids that turn to chemicals are usually the kids whose parents don't push them to develop their intellect or hobbies. They have tons of time on their hands and don't develop the self-esteem that comes from hard work and accomplishment. Also, the kids they hang out with are going to be the ones that don't have anything going on either. These are the kids vaping and/or smoking marijuana in the bathroom at school.

This is not universally true by a long shot. There are plenty of high-performing kids who are taking drugs because they feel the need to perform to please their parents. They start with vaping because they feel it relaxes them, then move to Adderall and Ritalin for energy, and it progresses from there. My teens and I talk about this all of the time.

[Anonymous]

You need to push your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are almost 6,000 posts on this board. Most are about how to get your kid into AAP, or TJ, the rest are about AoPS tracks and math competitions or the best way to teach your fourth grader algebra. My question is: to what end? Is it about job security? Or do you want your children to found the next FAANG and secure generational wealth? Is it about the cache of having a child in AAP/TJ/HYP? Because everyone else is doing it? Just curious.

Why are on this forum? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got my kids into AAP because the general education classes are the equivalent of a daycare center, except in rare instances usually due to an amazing teacher. The behavior in the general classes is not great. The class moves slower just because of the constant need to redirect kids that are there only to socialize. You should substitute at an elementary school and then maybe you'd understand. There is no way I would send my kids to FCPS if they were in a general class. It's daycare. Sadly, there are kids in general classes being held back because their parents don't want to push anything and get a WISC and appeal the AAP decision. It's a shame FCPS doesn't open AAP to highly motivated students that can perform at that level. I'm talking about the kids rated as 3s.

The kids that turn to chemicals are usually the kids whose parents don't push them to develop their intellect or hobbies. They have tons of time on their hands and don't develop the self-esteem that comes from hard work and accomplishment. Also, the kids they hang out with are going to be the ones that don't have anything going on either. These are the kids vaping and/or smoking marijuana in the bathroom at school.

When I worked in FCPS there were behavior issues in Aap classes too. Being gifted doesn't mean being well behaved despite the stereotypes about nerdy kids.

I do agree about highly motivated kids. I worked at a school with local AAp so some kids who didn't qualify were placed in the class because they had a good work ethic and could handle the workload

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people just blindly compete to gain more resources than the people around them, without thinking about the end goal or why they are doing it.

You are not bound to get many truly introspective comments here. Because the kind of people who obsessively push their kids to be number one in their class are not the kind of people who are thinking about why they are doing it, beyond "job security," and "challenging their kids."

It's the worst of human nature, but it's something we all have to varying degrees.

I wrote the above post and I stand corrected. There are a lot of introspective posts here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are almost 6,000 posts on this board. Most are about how to get your kid into AAP, or TJ, the rest are about AoPS tracks and math competitions or the best way to teach your fourth grader algebra. My question is: to what end? Is it about job security? Or do you want your children to found the next FAANG and secure generational wealth? Is it about the cache of having a child in AAP/TJ/HYP? Because everyone else is doing it? Just curious.

Why are on this forum? Just curious.[/quote

I found this forum after our school’s APP presentation last fall. I wanted to see what it was all about. So googled AAP found this board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are almost 6,000 posts on this board. Most are about how to get your kid into AAP, or TJ, the rest are about AoPS tracks and math competitions or the best way to teach your fourth grader algebra. My question is: to what end? Is it about job security? Or do you want your children to found the next FAANG and secure generational wealth? Is it about the cache of having a child in AAP/TJ/HYP? Because everyone else is doing it? Just curious.

It's for parents whose kids suck at sports and this is where their energy goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are almost 6,000 posts on this board. Most are about how to get your kid into AAP, or TJ, the rest are about AoPS tracks and math competitions or the best way to teach your fourth grader algebra. My question is: to what end? Is it about job security? Or do you want your children to found the next FAANG and secure generational wealth? Is it about the cache of having a child in AAP/TJ/HYP? Because everyone else is doing it? Just curious.

It's for parents whose kids suck at sports and this is where their energy goes.

My people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are almost 6,000 posts on this board. Most are about how to get your kid into AAP, or TJ, the rest are about AoPS tracks and math competitions or the best way to teach your fourth grader algebra. My question is: to what end? Is it about job security? Or do you want your children to found the next FAANG and secure generational wealth? Is it about the cache of having a child in AAP/TJ/HYP? Because everyone else is doing it? Just curious.

It's for parents whose kids suck at sports and this is where their energy goes.

It's easy to see you don't suck at sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are almost 6,000 posts on this board. Most are about how to get your kid into AAP, or TJ, the rest are about AoPS tracks and math competitions or the best way to teach your fourth grader algebra. My question is: to what end? Is it about job security? Or do you want your children to found the next FAANG and secure generational wealth? Is it about the cache of having a child in AAP/TJ/HYP? Because everyone else is doing it? Just curious.

Why are on this forum? Just curious.

I found this forum after our school’s APP presentation last fall. I wanted to see what it was all about. So googled AAP found this board.

Welcome! You're in good company here!

[Anonymous]

I was born poor. Adopted and raised middle class. Married rich. I spent my working years in education administration. One thing I know is success rarely happens organically. I'm giving my children every boost possible and unapologetically so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to push your kids.

Sure, but I do it mainly for the prestige not to mention the bumper sticker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people just blindly compete to gain more resources than the people around them, without thinking about the end goal or why they are doing it.

You are not bound to get many truly introspective comments here. Because the kind of people who obsessively push their kids to be number one in their class are not the kind of people who are thinking about why they are doing it, beyond "job security," and "challenging their kids."

It's the worst of human nature, but it's something we all have to varying degrees.

People also don't consider the consequences. There are so many anxious, stressed-out kids who turn to chemicals whose parents won't address their mental health issues.

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP is a better education with less distraction. RSM, etc are so that my kid can keep up in AAP, to be frank. They need tutoring/enrichment because the classes move fast and the math is really hard.

My kids are in math enrichment. AAP is behind what they get in these programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is a better education with less distraction. RSM, etc are so that my kid can keep up in AAP, to be frank. They need tutoring/enrichment because the classes move fast and the math is really hard.

My kids are in math enrichment. AAP is behind what they get in these programs.

Sorry that your kids got the watered down AAP.