Reply to Raising kids in a competitive UMC community? Would you do it all over again?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are currently raising our kids in a very competitive UMC community. There’s some racial diversity but next to no socioeconomic diversity. Top 1 percent ranked public school in the national, starting price for a modest house is 1.5-2n… it’s very much a bubble. Kids are extremely involved in extracurriculars across the board and it’s a very strong community. In many ways we are happy with it but I also have this nagging feeling maybe it’s not the answer for my family and my kids. I grew up in a small middle class town where everyone made the team in HS and college was expected but community college was okay too. It wasn’t a pressure cooker environment. We were just kids and had a lot of leisure time. [b]I went on to private school in college and experienced the uber wealthy and those from much lower incomes in my social circle as well as a lot of diversity. I think I personally benefitted from it and do well with all kinds of people. [/b]We own a second home in a rural area. My kids are 6,8 and 9. I’m considering moving there where it’s a much simpler lifestyle and not so competitive. I would love to hear what people have to say about their own experiences.  [/quote]

But this is an UMC experience (private school). Or are you talking about the first part of your childhood as being more simple/less representative of the UMC lifestyle? Maybe this is already in the thread, but I'm curious about how/why you transitioned to a more competitive UMC lifestyle/community. Imho it's easy to idealize childhood experiences but it's no accident you have ended up where you are.

On a different note, I sense that some really thrive on defining themselves through being better than others (the competitive aspect) because they enjoy that and it can be easy to see where you rank (and for others to see it). I am in higher ed and would, for example, love for my child to do well, be curious, creative and intelligent, and accomplish things of value to society. There's some status associated with such a path but it's less "rankable" than going to top school, achieving high status career, earning $$ dollars, etc.

I don't think there's a right answer--it's more about what your values are and what makes you/your family happy.[/quote]

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