Young Parent-Do you pass judgement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

Sending a child to private school does not define being a good parent. There is so much more to it than that.

[Anonymous]

Don't make age an issue.

Be yourself and be nice and nobody should care.

Nobody I know goes around telling their age. We talk about our kids.

[Anonymous]

This is DCUM, we judge everyone. Join the club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

That’s all it takes to be a good parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

Sending a child to private school does not define being a good parent. There is so much more to it than that.

Ummm, it's reply on a message board not a scholarly research paper. One element of being a good parent is kindness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

Sending a child to private school does not define being a good parent. There is so much more to it than that.

Ummm, it's reply on a message board not a scholarly research paper. One element of being a good parent is kindness.

Then why are you not showing kindness with your snark?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

Sending a child to private school does not define being a good parent. There is so much more to it than that.

Ummm, it's reply on a message board not a scholarly research paper. One element of being a good parent is kindness.

NP. There are always those on here who pretend to be better than others who hypocritically act the same way as the ones they are pointing fingers at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

That’s all it takes to be a good parent?

Same response, the reply wasn't intended to be an all-encompassing analysis on parenthood. However, there are certain aspects of obtaining a private school education (research, application, cost, transportation) that do require effort that I commend this young parent for expending. Looking for the best fit for your children when it may not be your local public school does require thought and judgment. I'm not going to go back and forth with you in judging the parenting skills of someone none of us know. There but for the grace of God...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

That’s all it takes to be a good parent?

Same response, the reply wasn't intended to be an all-encompassing analysis on parenthood. However, there are certain aspects of obtaining a private school education (research, application, cost, transportation) that do require effort that I commend this young parent for expending. Looking for the best fit for your children when it may not be your local public school does require thought and judgment. I'm not going to go back and forth with you in judging the parenting skills of someone none of us know. There but for the grace of God...

So, you don’t know them and yet you said they are doing everything they can to be a good parent. You don’t know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 15 when I had my first and 18 when I had my second. My experience has been that once people see that I'm competent and my kid is just as functional as theirs, they ignore my age.

I assume you now have at least one child in private school since you're on this board....so good for you! Job well done for figuring it out, prioritizing parenthood and doing everything you can to be a good parent.

That’s all it takes to be a good parent?

Same response, the reply wasn't intended to be an all-encompassing analysis on parenthood. However, there are certain aspects of obtaining a private school education (research, application, cost, transportation) that do require effort that I commend this young parent for expending. Looking for the best fit for your children when it may not be your local public school does require thought and judgment. I'm not going to go back and forth with you in judging the parenting skills of someone none of us know. There but for the grace of God...

I’m not the pp you replied to but I don’t think anyone who has a child at 15 and then again at 18 is not a good parent. I think that shows very, very poor parenting, in fact.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, but no, I just could not.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the private. If you are at a “cheaper” Catholic, it should be totally fine. If you are at a 50k private here in the DC area…you might get a bit of judgement. Or maybe not even judgement, but have a lot less in common with the parents. I am almost 50 with a HS kid at an expensive private. I haven’t met a young mom. And I’d say a fair amount are even older than me because their hs kid is the second or third born and has siblings in college. If you are professionally accomplished, that will go along way to mitigate any judgement. It sucks but you are DC! I would totally be your friend, but I’m also not into the whole scene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a new private school parent to an HS student and a young parent.

While I try to conceal my age, I can't help but age myself sometimes; I'm typically 10-20 years younger than most parents. In a public school setting it has generally not been an issue, mostly because parents are uninvolved and unseen.

Today I woke up with new found anxiety about my age and how my child would be perceived. The school DS was accepted to is a top school and I want nothing more than for him to be accepted by his peers. I'm worried that the parent community won't truly accept me and in turn it will affect him socially.

Any other young private school parents out there with advice?

How many other once 15 and 18 years old private school parents do you think are out there. How many public school ones?
None that I know or that any other know.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I feel the need to distinguish myself from the PP who stated they had two under 18. That's not me, I'm a quick learner.

Trust me, I'll be fully funding trips to the clinic if needed, I will not be a grandma anytime soon.

Anyways, it's refreshing to see the honest reactions, as I do look my age. I know you all think it, it's just nice to finally hear your honest thoughts.

Don't worry, I hold my own opinions too, I'm just young enough to know that its unbecoming to write mean things on the internet.

[Anonymous]

15 and 18 is just so disturbing.