Raising kids in south Orange County (Los Angeles, San Francisco: mortgages, neighborhood, buying)

[soymabelen]

I agree with trying to avoid affluenza. The problem is, this is not something unique to OC. It is easily found in many parts not just of the US but of the world. You can find many kids afflicted with this in the Washington DC metro area too. As far as private schools, the academics might be strong but affluenza is prevalent there too.

[Charles]

It was another battle on the way to soccer practice tonight as my nine year old pressured me into getting her a cell phone because "all her friends" have one (and she rattled off about ten girls' names).

Originally Posted by Charles

Bring them out here to Huntsville so that way they can pressure you for a cell phone - at nine years old.

Originally Posted by Charles

My brother in law lives in New Albany, OH, an upscale subdivision of Columbus. Guess what? Same thing: competitive moms, shiny black SUVs, this 'n that augmentation, kids with new cars. Here in Huntsville, we see the same things in some parts of Hampton Cove and western Madison. I even saw this in the nice parts of Buffalo, NY.

Note that this article below references Durham, N.C., Montclair, N.J., Wylie, Texas, and Chandler, Arizona just like I had implied in my post above. This materialism is where the affluence is, not the zip code.


Teaching household finances to spoiled kids - Jun. 1, 2009

[ritabrad]

Ok Charles, you have your opinion, we have ours. It's a personal decision how people want to raise their children. I hope we can agree on that.

[beagledad]

we're planning moving out of oc once our kids hit school age. My wife and all her friends are teachers here and they all say how much worse it's getting in public schools.

[Raelyn28]

Originally Posted by soymabelen

I agree with trying to avoid affluenza. The problem is, this is not something unique to OC. It is easily found in many parts not just of the US but of the world. You can find many kids afflicted with this in the Washington DC metro area too. As far as private schools, the academics might be strong but affluenza is prevalent there too.

I agree

[EricJess123]

Orange Countys AWSOME!!

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by AKgirlinCA

Of course you see it in any upscale suburb across America, but the fact is, materialism and shallowness, are RAMPANT in SoCal and especially OC.

Materialism and Shallowness beat crime and poverty any day of the week.

I've lived in may metro areas across the country. South Orange County would be a top tier choice in my opinion.

Much better to be surrounded by BMW's and Mercedes than low riders and junkers.

Surround your kids with ghetto attitudes, and ghetto attitudes they will develop.

Don't know about you, but I'd rather have kids that aspire to "the good life" and realize it takes some effort and planning to get there, than believing if they shoot good hoops they might get into the NBA or worse attitudes for that matter.

Poverty sux. Wish there was a good cure for it for everyone.

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by Charles

Are these considered South Orange County?

I don't know the formal defn. of S. OC. I guess technically you could say the 50% below the geographic midpoint, LOL!

But seriously, I don't think these are considered the S. OC by locals. I'm thinking S. OC starts around Irvine and goes south from there.

I tell friends from elsewhere that the dividing line of where they want to be is Irvine and south inland and Newport and south on the coast, with the possible exception of San Juan Capistrano because the dump is there.

Seriously, from Irvine all the way down to say La Jolla in San Diego, there are very few bad parts I can think of. The nearest "hood" that comes to mind is Compton, all the way up in L.A.

S. OC is a great place if you can afford a real home with a real yard here and can tolerate the traffic or don't have to.

It is dense from a housing and population standpoint, but all in all the quality life (again, if you can afford it) is excellent.

With the prospect of having to leave the area looming (thanks econony) this come sharply into focus for me.

Trust me, better to be surrounded by folks that don't want you to ding thier fancy car than crime and poverty.

I think the message of materialism is a far better one for kids to pick up than gangsta-ism or whatever. Not ideal, but certainly the lesser of two evils.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by beagledad

we're planning moving out of oc once our kids hit school age.

Just in time for the OC market to hit bottom.

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by Charles

It was another battle on the way to soccer practice tonight as my nine year old pressured me into getting her a cell phone because "all her friends" have one (and she rattled off about ten girls' names).

Note that this article below references Durham, N.C., Montclair, N.J., Wylie, Texas, and Chandler, Arizona just like I had implied in my post above. This materialism is where the affluence is, not the zip code.


Teaching household finances to spoiled kids - Jun. 1, 2009

I do think OC is unique in its materialism and affluence. The difference v. many of the places named is the size of the zone or circle of affluence. As mentioned every major metro area has its tony precints and upscale suburbs that have many of the same issues as OC. However, in most of those other areas adults and most kids are exposed to other socio-economic spheres and people as they go about their everyday lives.

South OC is unique in that it the size of the affluent area is so big it is quite possible to live the vast majority of your life - and for school age kids, all there lives - inside this upper middle class bubble with no exposure to people in other circumstances. The kids might see a working class gardener doing the HOA lawn, but they probably won't go to school with their kid, be their friend or even play against him or her in a HS soccer tourney. Because of this, kids (and adults) begin to think that having a new car every 3 years and living in a $900k home is how everyone lives. That lots of teens drive Beemers and dress in $200 jeans. That everyone goes overseas or at least to Disneyworld or on a cruise during summer vacations & all schools have a "ski week" so everyone can go to Vail or Park City for vacation when the powder's good.

These are not the experiences of the vast amount of americans, but in South OC they are very common. With little exposure to others in different circumstances, they can become "the norm".