Thu 12 Oct 2006
I’ve been noticing some small differences in Seattle children versus Fort Collins children. Some of them are fairly obvious, I saw more rural kids in CO, children who don’t sit in traffic, schedule playdates, and easily attend public school. Colorado kids always came with their mothers in tow, siblings right behind…Seattle children are more saavy, more privy to adult conversation and ideas. There is a sophistication in children here that seems almost odd, they use big words and say rehearsed babble like, “Well, it’s nice to meet you Mara”–which sounds ridiculous when a child is only two. I recently learned that one in four Seattle children attend private school. I’m sure the fact that I’m exposed largely to upper-class white kids plays a huge part of my seattle kid impression. Therefore, I see a lot of nannies, organic baby food, and well-scheduled children.
Still, the difference between the two populations is so subtle that I’ve been trying to pinpoint it for some time. The above paragraph is only a start…
October 13th, 2006 at 9:33 am
Reading that really makes me wonder which type of parents Amy and I will be closer to… I don’t see private school or nannies in our future…
October 28th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Kids around and about Seattle are probably surrounded by so many more options than Colorado kids (I am guessing). Parents around here seem to be strong advocates for their children in general. While working at the homeschool resource center, it was really interesting to see the two extremes: the stereotypical homeschooling family who does it for religious reasons for all eight kids, and then the modern homeschooling family, who homeschools because they believe that traditional public education is in the toilet and that they can do better. It created an interesting mix of kids; girls who had never had their hair cut and had to wear long skirts every day paired up with kids with green spiked hair listening to the white album (and they’re the same age).
As for our kids, Henry does eat organic baby food, but Hazel can say “Happy Meal” at the drop of a hat. We’ve just joined a playgroup and they’re having a Halloween party on Monday, but we will most likely try out regular public school rather than private school. I think that what is most important is being a parent who is aware and takes a stake in bringing up their kids rather than simply entrusting them to the government to fill their little heads.