Lake Highlands Observer Article

[aggie972]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

If you haven't been keeping tabs on American social trends, the typical family is 150% child-centered these days. The kids' wants and needs drive everything- the family schedule, budget, etc. The typical parent is hyper-protective of the kids (including irrational fears about kidnapping which is why in many neighborhoods you don't see ANY kids playing ourside), and hyper-involved in all aspects of the child's life (beyond a healthy keeping tabs attitude towards knowing their friends and how school is going). Unfortunately, this is now the norm which is why you read stories about neighbors calling CPS on parents who allow their kids to walk to the park alone.

My friend's middle schooler's entire sports team was invited to move up to a travel club level- it would have cost $4k per year, not including 8-10 out of town tournaments in-season. My friend said no, they weren't spending that kind of money on 1) a child who is good but not good enough to get a college scholarship, 2) an activity that would take away the entire family's summer vacation fund, and 3) an activity that would either split their family up for 20% of the weekends every year or cause the entire family to revolve around this travel team. Her kid was the only one on the team that didn't move up. For context, they live in a VERY middle class area (not HP, not private school world), and $4k + travel expenses is a pretty large budget item for most of these families.

This country is in trouble. A whole lot of Baby Boomers are going to retire with very little saved, and a fair number of them are going to be ones who made decent income and COULD have saved, but instead spent it all on stuff like this. We need to move toward more forced savings somehow--axe 401ks and encourage a return to pensions, up the Social Security contribution and benefit amounts, or something else.

[numbersguy100]

Originally Posted by aggie972

This country is in trouble. A whole lot of Baby Boomers are going to retire with very little saved, and a fair number of them are going to be ones who made decent income and COULD have saved, but instead spent it all on stuff like this. We need to move toward more forced savings somehow--axe 401ks and encourage a return to pensions, up the Social Security contribution and benefit amounts, or something else.

They're hoping the $4k investment in their children's soccer team pays off into a child willing to put them up when they run out of money. Or more likely, helps them navigate the system of making the government take care of them (still coming from their kids' incomes by way of taxes).

[MenardMQ]

Stepford? cliquey PTA? Upper middle class young mothers.... sounds like Park Cities wannabees right here.

Just enough money in these households to give them some sense of superiority... but just enough resentment that they haven't truly "made it" yet to fester this type of resentment to outsiders and those of "lower class"

Good stuff!

[turf3]

Oh yes, the fights are so fierce because the stakes are so small. These kids are going to be what they are going to be.