Difference between Simpsons and capital cotillion?

[Anonymous]

I am so glad that my kids had too much other stuff going on to even consider this pile of nonsense. This is the most anachronistic exchange I have ever seen. Take your kids to swimming practice, robotics, or church instead. Much more helpful to their development and welcoming of all.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the kind of place George Hugely would be "educated".

[Anonymous]

More like a well disguised "Gay Conversion Camp".

[Anonymous]

I’ve read this entire thread and actually don’t know what this is about. I’ve never met a person involved in “cotillion” or “being presented” to my knowledge. It all sounds like some 19th century ritual of exclusivity or Downtown Abbey nonsense. Was I spared knowledge of this for 56 years because I grew up in New Jersey?

I literally thought the thread was about The Simpsons (the TV show) when I clicked on it.

Or is the whole thing a long inside joke that you’re all in on? In that case: HILARIOUS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve read this entire thread and actually don’t know what this is about. I’ve never met a person involved in “cotillion” or “being presented” to my knowledge. It all sounds like some 19th century ritual of exclusivity or Downtown Abbey nonsense. Was I spared knowledge of this for 56 years because I grew up in New Jersey?

I literally thought the thread was about The Simpsons (the TV show) when I clicked on it.

Or is the whole thing a long inside joke that you’re all in on? In that case: HILARIOUS!

Well you obviously don't run in the right circles!!

[Anonymous]

To the contrary, my good lady. I ran in the most exclusive of Jersayan circles. I ate in the most exclusive diners. The ones in which the word “cotillion” dare not be uttered.

[Anonymous]

I consider it a normal and standard rite of childhood. My grandmother did it, my mother did it, both DH and I did it and both DD and DS went to Mrs Simpsons from 4th-8th. For some people its just what you do.

[Anonymous]

My public school child did not get an invite to Capital Cotillion until she went to a Bethesda Middle School. Apparently our Silver Spring ES was not good enough for them. By then it seemed too late as most girls tend to do it in fourth and fifth grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so glad that my kids had too much other stuff going on to even consider this pile of nonsense. This is the most anachronistic exchange I have ever seen. Take your kids to swimming practice, robotics, or church instead. Much more helpful to their development and welcoming of all.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I consider it a normal and standard rite of childhood. My grandmother did it, my mother did it, both DH and I did it and both DD and DS went to Mrs Simpsons from 4th-8th. For some people its just what you do.

Agree! My daughter loves it

[Anonymous]

Before you make any decisions about it, find out if your kids have friends are doing it, and see if your children can get invited as a guest for one of the dances. Then, you get to observe first hand if you think it's worth the price tag. IMHO, Cap Cotillion is fine, and, frankly, opportunities to refine DS's manners and to expose him to different social settings with kids from different schools are welcome on my part.

[Anonymous]

So, what happens at these dances? Kids learn "manners"? They dance the minuet? The cha-cha? Then the girls are "presented"? (To whom?) But not the boys? They all eat petit fours and sip . . . tea? They wear blue blazers and gingham dresses?

[Anonymous]

Simpsons has an ugly history of discrimination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, what happens at these dances? Kids learn "manners"? They dance the minuet? The cha-cha? Then the girls are "presented"? (To whom?) But not the boys? They all eat petit fours and sip . . . tea? They wear blue blazers and gingham dresses?

That's pretty much the drill, except no, Cotillion does not have anything to do with whether or not the girls will eventually be "presented" as debutantes. And of course boys are not "presented" - who would even ask a question like that?!

[Anonymous]

The first one of the year was two weeks ago. I stayed for the entire time so I observed what was taught. They discussed how to properly shake hands and how to greet someone. They discussed how to ask a partner to dance. The boys had to ask a girl and then vice versa (my 5th grader danced with 3 girls if I recall). At the end they escort their partner to get a cookie and drink and then they sat down.

There was nothing stuck up or debutant about it. Kids seemed to enjoy themselves.