Out of control vacation expectations - (new to) Bethesda teens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread makes me happy that I live in a “poor” part of DCUMland. Less pressure to keep up with the Joneses.

+1

That certainly helps, because at least your DC's friends are available during school breaks, not overseas somewhere.

Same. We make $500k+ a year and almost moved to Bethesda but by a twist of fate ended up in a blue collar neighborhood. It has saved so much social pressure money. Our 10 yr old BMW is one of the nicer cars, our twice annual domestic vacations are totally normal, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK you think an week long vacation that is NOT international is a BIG deal? That's weird.

NP - I know it's shocking but some of us grew up in families where we may have vacationed together 2 times in the 18 years at home and 1 of those was like a driving vacation to the outer banks. So yeah to us -- when you are making $$ and can take a flying vacation EVERY SINGLE YEAR no matter what, that is a BIG deal. Sorry we didn't all grow up like you.

I grew up poor. Nevertheless, my family always valued experiences and travel over money. Taking only a week off per year and working the rest of the time is slavery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people on this board are very "scheduled". You will see comments like "It's President's Day, what can I do with 3 year old Larlo?" Or "It's a rainy Saturday, what can I do with the kids?" IDK if these adults really have no idea what to do with their kids or they are looking for new ideas. Apparently, staying home and engaging their children is beyond them. I agree with a pp who said that DCUMers seem desperate to leave town at every break. It is really not like this in other places.

I don't see it as a desperation, even though I despise people who don't know what to do with their kids. For me to go out of town is a must. I spend long hours in the office, kids stuck at their desks too in high school. It is just nice to get out for a thee day weekend and go skiing in West Virginia, or walking in nyc. It doesn't have to be expensive, we just Airbnb in Manhattan for $40 per night.

[Anonymous]

The affordability question is very different from the leaving town question. I can't even tell if OP is saying she can't afford more vacation or she just diesn't think she should be taking them.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PP. D.C. Is full of very interesting and educated people. Go getters. We are always on the go. We do go lots of places but sometimes it involves a couple hours drive, not eating out, and a nice but not five star hotel. Take wintergreen for example. We go there often for long weekends. It is important to me that my kids love the outdoors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Umm, having rich parents who take you on multiple international vacations a year (to swanky places, not to volunteer in Africa or something) is going to affect your application to prestigious colleges?

Are you laughing at me for saying something you think is dumb, or at the premise? Because the point is that many rich parents do think this. Not that I think it's reality.

[Anonymous]

"Different families do different things. Our plan is to stay here for spring break. Let's talk about how we want to spend our time and what we want to do together."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK you think an week long vacation that is NOT international is a BIG deal? That's weird.

NP - I know it's shocking but some of us grew up in families where we may have vacationed together 2 times in the 18 years at home and 1 of those was like a driving vacation to the outer banks. So yeah to us -- when you are making $$ and can take a flying vacation EVERY SINGLE YEAR no matter what, that is a BIG deal. Sorry we didn't all grow up like you.

I grew up poor. Nevertheless, my family always valued experiences and travel over money. Taking only a week off per year and working the rest of the time is slavery.

Is what?

Is WHAT?

You should be ashamed of yourself for posting that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK you think an week long vacation that is NOT international is a BIG deal? That's weird.

NP - I know it's shocking but some of us grew up in families where we may have vacationed together 2 times in the 18 years at home and 1 of those was like a driving vacation to the outer banks. So yeah to us -- when you are making $$ and can take a flying vacation EVERY SINGLE YEAR no matter what, that is a BIG deal. Sorry we didn't all grow up like you.

I grew up poor. Nevertheless, my family always valued experiences and travel over money. Taking only a week off per year and working the rest of the time is slavery.

Is what?

Is WHAT?

You should be ashamed of yourself for posting that.

Thank goodness someone else posted that. Between the poster taking a dump on the working poor for not being able to travel abroad, the many people who just assume everyone should be able to afford weekends away whenever (let’s not forget the people who don’t have 9-5 jobs like nurses, cops, retail employees, etc), and now the hyperbolic slavery comparison, I thought I was losing my mind.

[Anonymous]

Haven't read all the PPs, but we're in Chevy Chase and joke that there is a 3-vacation minimum -- a ski trip, a Carribean trip, a non-beach international trip -- plus a beach house for summer. My sibling in NY follows this as well even though they can't really afford it. My family is lucky to have a beach house (a shared family place) but the rest of our trips are to see family.

Fwiw I think the disparity bothers me more than them. My middle school kid's best friend routinely goes to exotic (awesome!) destinations - total lifestyles of the rich and famous stuff. Doesn't bother my kid at all that he hasn't been any of these places. I hope we can swing a few overseas trips when he's in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Or we can do both. I'm not ashamed that we have money and take our kids places. Flights are also not cheap around these holidays. Heading to Italy over spring break and I wish our flights had been $400 each!

I feel very very grateful that our kids have been to many places around thrbwoels and have been able to see how differently people live from Thailand to Peru.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Tell me where to find $400 RT tix abroad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Different families do different things. Our plan is to stay here for spring break. Let's talk about how we want to spend our time and what we want to do together."

+1. Perfect.

We don’t do big fantastic trips but every break we plan something we can do as a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love to travel! We usually ski 1-2 x a year and Caribbean or Mexico 1x, CA 1x, Europe 1x , Wyoming 1x a year intermixed with some nyc trips.

+ 1

Totally normal and common for UMC folks in this area (HHI $500k plus let's say)