Anonymous wrote: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 wrote:OP here. I am not focused literally on football, I was just using that as an example of the culture of my childhood being very into traditional teenage and school activities. School spirit, ALL sports (like, is lax big here in the same way where people get excited to go cheer for their team?), cheerleading, dance, marching band, whatever....going to the movies/mall with your friends (whatever the present version of this is), having parties, sleepovers, going to prom, even getting into a little (innocent) trouble, dating, etc.

Like, lighten up and help me understand the culture of the lives of tweens and teens here. That's all I'm asking.

For what it's worth, my big high school was EXTREMELY cut throat and competitive in ALL ways, including academics. I'm not worried about that as much as I'm worried about a culture of sheltered, boring, insecure, awkward kids who don't like to have fun at a time that should be so much fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to DCUM. Where the people are as nasty as they come. Very few people here in the DC area are from the DC area. Most of the nasty people on here come from places like NY, NJ, CT. They believe they are better than everyone else. They are rude. They are ridiculous. They hold states like Florida in contempt but vacation there and ultimately retire there to flee the consequences of their politics and weather. However, since you are here in DC, there are places you child can come of age that will be similar to Florida. Stay away from the BIG 3. The sports are terrible as are the parents. You van get that Friday Night lights experience in schools like Good Counsel, Gonzaga, SJC, DeMatha, and Bullis. There are people here who are normal. Don't be discouraged. Your child will have a great time in DC, but make sure you visit Florida often to escape this madness.

THIS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

oH my god. This is my fear. I too grew up in a very different area on the west coast. My husband went to a private school outside NYC and thinks DC is the norm. It is not. I really wanted to move when my kids were younger. Now it seems we are stuck here too. I'm feeling very depressed about it as my kids are entering HS and it seems that they will go to school here until they go to college. OP, Move now if you can.

Speaking generally, adults in DC are pretty boring and uptight as compared to other cities. It lends to a vibe that is not that much fun. I've been a parent at 3 different DC independent schools. My friends in SF and LA have a much more fun and laid back group of school parent friends than the parents at any of those schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not focused literally on football, I was just using that as an example of the culture of my childhood being very into traditional teenage and school activities. School spirit, ALL sports (like, is lax big here in the same way where people get excited to go cheer for their team?), cheerleading, dance, marching band, whatever....going to the movies/mall with your friends (whatever the present version of this is), having parties, sleepovers, going to prom, even getting into a little (innocent) trouble, dating, etc.

Like, lighten up and help me understand the culture of the lives of tweens and teens here. That's all I'm asking.

For what it's worth, my big high school was EXTREMELY cut throat and competitive in ALL ways, including academics. I'm not worried about that as much as I'm worried about a culture of sheltered, boring, insecure, awkward kids who don't like to have fun at a time that should be so much fun.

But what you're not understand is that academics were FUN for my friends and me. MetMUNC was the highlight of high school for me. Working on the Yearbook Committee was awesome. Intel Science Competitions were talked about in awe. Geeky people can have fun. You are making it seem like only things seen in movies about American high schools are fun.

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to DCUM. Where the people are as nasty as they come. Very few people here in the DC area are from the DC area. Most of the nasty people on here come from places like NY, NJ, CT. They believe they are better than everyone else. They are rude. They are ridiculous. They hold states like Florida in contempt but vacation there and ultimately retire there to flee the consequences of their politics and weather. However, since you are here in DC, there are places you child can come of age that will be similar to Florida. Stay away from the BIG 3. The sports are terrible as are the parents. You van get that Friday Night lights experience in schools like Good Counsel, Gonzaga, SJC, DeMatha, and Bullis. There are people here who are normal. Don't be discouraged. Your child will have a great time in DC, but make sure you visit Florida often to escape this madness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Very intense. Very elitist. My DH told my son the other day not to mention to anybody the back up schools he's applying to (he's a senior), because it might give people the wrong impression. My son laughed in disgust.

Good for your son. Dad needs to get his head on straight. Fun fact: most large company CEOs didn’t graduate from HYP etc.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Northwest DC and went to a big three. I did not have fun in high school. It was exhausting and stressful and not fun. I worked so hard I averaged 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night. Sorry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Very intense. Very elitist. My DH told my son the other day not to mention to anybody the back up schools he's applying to (he's a senior), because it might give people the wrong impression. My son laughed in disgust.

Anonymous wrote:We moved to DC from a "fun" city in the South where our daughters previously went to football games with their friends on Friday nights (pre-Covid). I could not get out of there fast enough. The football culture in general in horrifying and the cheerleading turned my stomach. In fact it was one of the biggest drivers for us to leave.
I agree that you will not find this in DC and I for one am grateful. There are plenty of other ways for kids to have fun, it all just depends what your definition of fun is.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

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.