Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 17:09     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:Oh yay, the thinkpiece questioner is back.


“I am wondering..”

“How is it at your school?”

OP, how is it at your school?
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 16:44     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:What are your grievances OP? You seem pretty disgruntled. Not sure who in the community you represent, but are you able to leave and go get happy somewhere else? The people you assume to be Stepford wives may just be counting down the clock and playing the game just like you and everyone else. What is really on your mind?


No grievances. Just describing what I observe.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 16:25     Subject: Stepford Parents
What are your grievances OP? You seem pretty disgruntled. Not sure who in the community you represent, but are you able to leave and go get happy somewhere else? The people you assume to be Stepford wives may just be counting down the clock and playing the game just like you and everyone else. What is really on your mind?
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 15:34     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Schools are for kids. Not parents. That's the weirdest part of the private school thing.


Agree. But parents get soooo involved.

Probably because they are spending $$$$ and see it as an investment in not just their kids, but themselves, as well, for connections.


At our school, I find most parents incredibly checked out and too busy with their own superstar careers. Half of them don’t know anything that goes on at school. I find it somewhat frustrating. I do feel like since I’m spending $$$$$ I want to know what actually goes on at school and make sure they’re actually delivering the incredible curriculum they claim (spoiler: they usually aren’t).


Not surprised. I recently visited my local public school and their classes seemed more advanced than in our top private school.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 15:31     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Schools are for kids. Not parents. That's the weirdest part of the private school thing.


Agree. But parents get soooo involved.

Probably because they are spending $$$$ and see it as an investment in not just their kids, but themselves, as well, for connections.


At our school, I find most parents incredibly checked out and too busy with their own superstar careers. Half of them don’t know anything that goes on at school. I find it somewhat frustrating. I do feel like since I’m spending $$$$$ I want to know what actually goes on at school and make sure they’re actually delivering the incredible curriculum they claim (spoiler: they usually aren’t).
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 15:18     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:They are like this about everything. I went on a Caribbean weekend with a bunch of moms and I thought they’d finally loosen up and speak honestly about a few things. Nope. As we are sitting poolside with drinks they conversed about how: The school is perfect, their husbands are perfect, their children are all perfect (brilliant, athletic, popular, well behaved), their neighborhood is perfect, their entire extended families are perfect. Another lady and I had to escape because we couldn’t believe what we were hearing.


Sounds like a stepford wives vacation.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 14:50     Subject: Stepford Parents
They are like this about everything. I went on a Caribbean weekend with a bunch of moms and I thought they’d finally loosen up and speak honestly about a few things. Nope. As we are sitting poolside with drinks they conversed about how: The school is perfect, their husbands are perfect, their children are all perfect (brilliant, athletic, popular, well behaved), their neighborhood is perfect, their entire extended families are perfect. Another lady and I had to escape because we couldn’t believe what we were hearing.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 14:25     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1. this can happen at any school, not just private schools (speaking as a parent who has had kids in both)
2. as a reformed complainer, people don't like a complainer. If you have a concern, raise it with the person/people who can actually do something about it. Raising concerns with fellow parents will likely serve to alienate you.


It’s also just annoying. There is real stuff going on in the world and many private school complaints are champagne problems

The complaints that surfaced at GDS a few months back seemed like a lot more than champagne problems!
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 14:22     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:1. this can happen at any school, not just private schools (speaking as a parent who has had kids in both)
2. as a reformed complainer, people don't like a complainer. If you have a concern, raise it with the person/people who can actually do something about it. Raising concerns with fellow parents will likely serve to alienate you.


It’s also just annoying. There is real stuff going on in the world and many private school complaints are champagne problems
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 14:22     Subject: Stepford Parents
The parents have the same attitudes regardless of whether the ROI is high or low.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 14:17     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:How is that any different from parents who see their kids as ROI vehicles after spending money on sports, music lessons, academic supplementation, camps, etc.?

The ROI on a private school education is laughably low.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 12:29     Subject: Stepford Parents
How is that any different from parents who see their kids as ROI vehicles after spending money on sports, music lessons, academic supplementation, camps, etc.?
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 12:19     Subject: Stepford Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Schools are for kids. Not parents. That's the weirdest part of the private school thing.


Agree. But parents get soooo involved.

Probably because they are spending $$$$ and see it as an investment in not just their kids, but themselves, as well, for connections.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 12:17     Subject: Stepford Parents
I think it’s a wealth/class thing in that it’s tacky to complain. In smaller spaces with people you know well, sure. But a large social event? It’s bad manners.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 12:04     Subject: Stepford Parents
Also some of these "stepford parents" that look perfect are actually not. Do any parents at your private schools do things like marijuana, mushrooms, etc? We were recently at a party a couple weeks ago, and we saw this and were shocked.