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GSRIDER · 05-15-2003, 07:53 AM

I've never posted a long rant on here, but I was so obsessed about this subject that I had to vent and possibly get feedback.

My daughter goes to a private school, as anyone in Kansas City knows, public school is fast becoming a non-option, our public school system is flas ass crap. Private and homeschooling reign supreme here.

OK, so I go to this party last night. An "appreciation" gathering for my daughters retiring preschool teacher. We happen to send our daughter to a pretty uppity school. We knew this going in, but we figured it was just a toddler program and hopefully in a few years we will be moving out of state.

Now, I'm not poor by anymeans, have the things that make ones life comfortable, the kids are well fed and dressed. But even that is a high contrast to way I once lived my life. I've slept under bridges, stayed in squat houses, been to jail and have put a world of hurt on people (looking back for apparently no reason at all). Donated plasma for a living and bummed change to get beer.

Now granted I did this all before turning 21, I am now a 33 y/o punkrock dad. Sober, I work in cube, drive a minivan and own my house. Still in a punk band, still hang out with other aging punks ,many of which have "grown" like I have. But I lead the pack cause I had my first son when I was 21 (hence the huge change in lifestyle).

SOOOO Why am I writing this little tirade? Because I'm at this party last night and it is clearly, chrystal clear, beyond obvious that I did not belong in that house with those people. Stockbrokers, lawyers, CEOs... million dollar families... Old money new money. I couldn't cope. I couldn't talk to them, it took everything I had just to stay in there long enough as to not appear rude, hell it took everything I had not to RUN out the door with my finger in the air. Here I am, hair cropped short, sideburns, tatttoos galore (I covered up all that I could but I still have them on my hands and neck and behind my ear). But it's not like I'm some wreck. I'm a working professional. I design magazines for the second largest publisher in the nation. But I mean I couldn't get the time of day in there.

Maybe I'm paranoid, maybe it's my punkrock roots shining through but I knew that they knew I was on a different level than them. That I live and die by the paycheck and they live and die by Tee times and powerdeals.

But what really eats me up is as my daughter gets older, will she have these same feeling of class seperation. Will she be the "poor kid" amoungst the elite, when in other social circles we are well to do.

i don't know. I only plan to have her attend to more years and then hopefully I'm moving to Colorado.

Thats my rant, i had to get it off my chest.

05-15-2003, 07:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
GSRIDER spurt king Location: Out of my mind	Classism or Inferority complex I've never posted a long rant on here, but I was so obsessed about this subject that I had to vent and possibly get feedback. My daughter goes to a private school, as anyone in Kansas City knows, public school is fast becoming a non-option, our public school system is flas ass crap. Private and homeschooling reign supreme here. OK, so I go to this party last night. An "appreciation" gathering for my daughters retiring preschool teacher. We happen to send our daughter to a pretty uppity school. We knew this going in, but we figured it was just a toddler program and hopefully in a few years we will be moving out of state. Now, I'm not poor by anymeans, have the things that make ones life comfortable, the kids are well fed and dressed. But even that is a high contrast to way I once lived my life. I've slept under bridges, stayed in squat houses, been to jail and have put a world of hurt on people (looking back for apparently no reason at all). Donated plasma for a living and bummed change to get beer. Now granted I did this all before turning 21, I am now a 33 y/o punkrock dad. Sober, I work in cube, drive a minivan and own my house. Still in a punk band, still hang out with other aging punks ,many of which have "grown" like I have. But I lead the pack cause I had my first son when I was 21 (hence the huge change in lifestyle). SOOOO Why am I writing this little tirade? Because I'm at this party last night and it is clearly, chrystal clear, beyond obvious that I did not belong in that house with those people. Stockbrokers, lawyers, CEOs... million dollar families... Old money new money. I couldn't cope. I couldn't talk to them, it took everything I had just to stay in there long enough as to not appear rude, hell it took everything I had not to RUN out the door with my finger in the air. Here I am, hair cropped short, sideburns, tatttoos galore (I covered up all that I could but I still have them on my hands and neck and behind my ear). But it's not like I'm some wreck. I'm a working professional. I design magazines for the second largest publisher in the nation. But I mean I couldn't get the time of day in there. Maybe I'm paranoid, maybe it's my punkrock roots shining through but I knew that they knew I was on a different level than them. That I live and die by the paycheck and they live and die by Tee times and powerdeals. But what really eats me up is as my daughter gets older, will she have these same feeling of class seperation. Will she be the "poor kid" amoungst the elite, when in other social circles we are well to do. i don't know. I only plan to have her attend to more years and then hopefully I'm moving to Colorado. Thats my rant, i had to get it off my chest. __________________ No signature at this time.