Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 19:48     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
It's not the private that's the problem. It's your kids, for feeling so insecure. They need a lecture from you about self-worth and not tying their identities to their visible signs of wealth.

Also, research some exciting things to do in this area... There's a medical museum in Silver Spring. Want to show your teens?
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:56     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
In town but we aren't a rich private school family.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:54     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Anonymous wrote:For various reasons , DH and I decided not to travel over this holiday break.
Our high schooler and middle schooler ( who go to private schools) understood our decision but then told us they’d feel awkward going back to school and telling their friends they didn’t go anywhere!
Looks like all their friends are away on very ritzy trips.

Anyone else experiencing this?


That’s really sad and those aren’t real friends. I can understand a whole summer but a week in December? Some people with important jobs can only be away during certain periods.

I love when there are no people around during Christmas week.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:40     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
We also have kids that age in private schools and drove to see grandparents in Ohio and stayed on lumpy pullout couches, be jealous!
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:39     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Wow really? My kid is in a private middle school known for attracting an affluent crowd… and all of his friends are upstairs playing Fortnite with him right now.

Maybe it’s just the particular friend group…
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:38     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That’s the hazard of going to private school. All three of my kids have friends to hang out with this break.


It’s the same in suburban publics. In my kid’s circle so many families are taking big vacations this break…everywhere from Italy and Denmark to South Africa, UAE, Whitefish, all over Mexico, and a gazillion other places. She used Snapchat to see everyone’s location and it’s around the world


We’re in falls church and have plenty of folks around. We also have people vacationing in the Alps but we don’t care or feel inferior.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:35     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Do a day trip. We went to NYC yesterday and that was fun.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:33     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Anonymous wrote:That’s the hazard of going to private school. All three of my kids have friends to hang out with this break.


It’s the same in suburban publics. In my kid’s circle so many families are taking big vacations this break…everywhere from Italy and Denmark to South Africa, UAE, Whitefish, all over Mexico, and a gazillion other places. She used Snapchat to see everyone’s location and it’s around the world
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:31     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Anonymous wrote:For various reasons , DH and I decided not to travel over this holiday break.
Our high schooler and middle schooler ( who go to private schools) understood our decision but then told us they’d feel awkward going back to school and telling their friends they didn’t go anywhere!
Looks like all their friends are away on very ritzy trips.

Anyone else experiencing this?


WTH?!?!?!? We have gone on a couple “ritzy” vacations and we’ve also done vacations to some pretty non-ritzy place- Ocean City and Smoky Mountains. Our kids enjoyed all the trips and never considered how their friends would view/rate their trips…most don’t care.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:25     Subject: Re:Feels like we are the only ones in town!
I have a middle schooler in private. I only know of one ritzy trip among DC's friends. Lots people were visiting family for some portion of the break (FL, NY, OH, WV come to mind). We have local family so we rarely travel during the holidays. I think my kid has really enjoyed the down time. We did a few things around town but sometimes its nice to just veg at home.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:24     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Anonymous wrote:That’s the hazard of going to private school. All three of my kids have friends to hang out with this break.


That doesn't appear to be OP's problem. OP's problem is that her private school kids are embarrassed to go back to school without a story of a glamorous vacation.

OP, nip that in the bud. There is nothing wrong with "we hung out here and did some things that we normally don't have time to do." Teach your kids to rise above the envy game.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:23     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Literally no one cares where your family went on vacation. Even if they ask, they aren't actually interested; they just want an opportunity to talk about themselves and where they went.

It's like 30 seconds of small talk and then they move on.

Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:21     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
That’s the hazard of going to private school. All three of my kids have friends to hang out with this break.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:18     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
Same! It’s not that others are going to ritzy places, just that no one is around to hang out with.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2023 18:16     Subject: Feels like we are the only ones in town!
For various reasons , DH and I decided not to travel over this holiday break.
Our high schooler and middle schooler ( who go to private schools) understood our decision but then told us they’d feel awkward going back to school and telling their friends they didn’t go anywhere!
Looks like all their friends are away on very ritzy trips.

Anyone else experiencing this?