Older moms, tell me raising kids in DC will be fun/exciting for them?

[Anonymous]

What is it like to raise kids here long term? Do kids get a fun high school experience?

I grew up in suburban Miami. I had such a fun childhood. High school football games were epic. School spirit was off the charts. Artists/rappers repped Miami in songs. People went crazy for our sports teams. There was just so much culture, and people were so friendly and cool and chill and funny.

My husband and I both moved here straight from college. We've lived here 10-12 years. Have one kid. Just bought our first house. I love DC weather and we have great friends here, good jobs, etc., but I'm worried that raising kids here will be so dull and so unlike our childhoods (husband is from TX, same story I describe -- loved HS). Our kid is very little but we will probably go to public elementary school and then look at the NWDC private schools for middle and high school (which, again, is so different from my husband's and my big, public high school experiences, and we're coming to terms with that, too, but that's a different topic).

So tell me, how is it with kids here over the long term? Is high school a fun and exciting time? Like, is it fun and cool to "come of age" in DC? Is it fun to go to football games and school events?

[Anonymous]

Why are you posting in the private school forum? This is weird.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine making this choice based on what city is rapped about.

[Anonymous]

So far these responses are telling me everything I need to know. Cool.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

But you must realize your young child won’t necessarily want the big extrovert focus you and husband seemed to enjoy. So wait and see over time what you think is best for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far these responses are telling me everything I need to know. Cool.

So move back to the burbs in FL. That's the cool choice. Remember your disney shirt.

[Anonymous]

If you're anything like me, you will be sorry you raised kids here. It is nothing like that dreamy, suburban upbringing you (and I) had. Especially at the NWDC privates. I have two high schoolers there now and they HATE it. My DD especially wishes she had grown up the way I did, and not the way her crazy, miserable faither, who grew up in DC and also went to one of the elitist privates did. If you can go back to Miami, you should. I would in a heartbeat, but my husband got us trapped here.

[Anonymous]

You sound very immature. Basically you’re saying high school is not fun if it’s not like “Friday Night Lights?”

[Anonymous]

This may blow your mind, but you can have an awesome childhood without participating in ANY way in sports. I did. If there were football games I never knew about them. My friends and I had no idea about school spirit - if there was "homecoming" I didn't know about it.

I was busy doing my hobbies and interests with my friends. I had a great time in high school. There's more than one way to have fun, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're anything like me, you will be sorry you raised kids here. It is nothing like that dreamy, suburban upbringing you (and I) had. Especially at the NWDC privates. I have two high schoolers there now and they HATE it. My DD especially wishes she had grown up the way I did, and not the way her crazy, miserable faither, who grew up in DC and also went to one of the elitist privates did. If you can go back to Miami, you should. I would in a heartbeat, but my husband got us trapped here.

What do they hate about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound very immature. Basically you’re saying high school is not fun if it’s not like “Friday Night Lights?”

Yeah, I sort of am wondering that. Basically, what is the culture of high school here? And growing up here in general?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may blow your mind, but you can have an awesome childhood without participating in ANY way in sports. I did. If there were football games I never knew about them. My friends and I had no idea about school spirit - if there was "homecoming" I didn't know about it.

I was busy doing my hobbies and interests with my friends. I had a great time in high school. There's more than one way to have fun, OP.

My kid loves living in DC, but her life looks nothing like a sports-focused suburban high school. She's into writing, the arts, and science, and loves a lot of the cultural stuff -- museums, art, the international stuff available here -- but isn't into sports at all.

[Anonymous]

Don't stay in NW DC and definitely don't go private if you are that mom that cares about "Friday Night Lights" and romanticizes "coming of age" in suburbia at a huge public school in Texas or Florida. And I guarantee you and your DH probably won't be well received by the parents at the Big 3 type schools in DC.

Honestly, the closest thing you may get to what you want out here while still giving your kids a really good education is a big exurban public like Stone Bridge in Loudoun which has one of the best football programs in the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may blow your mind, but you can have an awesome childhood without participating in ANY way in sports. I did. If there were football games I never knew about them. My friends and I had no idea about school spirit - if there was "homecoming" I didn't know about it.

I was busy doing my hobbies and interests with my friends. I had a great time in high school. There's more than one way to have fun, OP.

My kid loves living in DC, but her life looks nothing like a sports-focused suburban high school. She's into writing, the arts, and science, and loves a lot of the cultural stuff -- museums, art, the international stuff available here -- but isn't into sports at all.

I grew up in a happy suburb and was into sports and ALL the things you mention. I know people who aren't athletes or into sports would like to think those of us who are blockheads, but most are incredibly smart, accomplished people. That's how they were able to focus on multiple interests. Unlik those who never heard of homecoming.