Aibu to think some parents are really desperate to appear progressive & cool but it's having a detrimental effect on their kids?

[Primroseoil]

We have plenty of acquaintances that appear to be extremely left wing & it appears to be an attempt to fit in with who they seem "cool" families.. Media types, Boho types.. But it appears to have had a detrimental effect on their children's education, behaviour & attitude? Aibu to blame the parents?

To be perfectly honest, it really just sounds like you don’t like these specific people and you’ve got pretty worked up in your own head about them. I mean, teenagers find most things their parents do cringe. You don’t let that control your life!

what you’ve described doesn’t sound like “champagne socialism” also you say they are doing it to fit in…fit in with who?

Why does it bother you?

you sound v judgemental and snobby which aren’t traits I want to pass on to my children.

I know plenty of people who can afford private but don’t want their children growing up around entitled people or to be pushed into a nervous breakdown by the time they get to Oxbridge. I also know plenty who went to state schools, didn’t have pushy parents and still went to Oxbridge or gone on to be extremely successful in less academic careers.

I want my children to have a childhood, and be happy. I keep a close eye on what the homework is that is set but am definitely one of those who won’t force my child, rather I’ll find other ways they can develop or utilise those skills as part of our day to day. We are constantly talking and teaching as part of our time together but based on their interests and what comes up rather than a formal homework sheet. They’re still learning but in a happy way that suits their style and not losing any of the joy and curiosity that comes with true learning.
but it does mean that the work he turns in at school probably looks terrible compared to those who have had a ruler wrapped on their knuckles or who enjoy sitting and drawing a perfect poster etc. Everyone is different and different kids need different things and parents can be trusted to decide how best to manage their own children’s education.

I know a few who have never sent their children to school and teach them at home, and they call it unschooled.

I don't think I've seen the actual teaching, though. it just seems that the kids are playing on their screens all day.

They are prone to extreme leftist political rants.

I thought this thread was going to be about parents who use their children as extensions of their own identity. All at the expense of their privacy and free will.

So the parent uses the child to ‘show’ the world something about who they are as people. for instance, I will be so happy if my children be whoever they want to be, wear whatever they want etc etc but I don’t feel the need to show everyone ‘look how good I am being about the fact my son chose the dress!’

Why post pictures bragging about how much your boy child likes to wear dresses and pink? If you were really totally accepting and relaxed about it, I don’t believe you’d feel the need to make it performative in this way.

Same with taking your kids on political marches and posting pics of them online holding controversial flags or banners. I’ve seen so many kids with ‘from the river to the sea’ etc written on their faces in face paint or on marches next to Hamas flags etc, it makes me want to cry seeing their parents force hateful or controversial ideology on a baby. They are too young to understand the cause or any nuance and you’re essentially indoctrinating them before giving them an opportunity to be able to challenge or listen to other viewpoints. But again, the worst and most dangerous bit is the plastering it all online forever.

you’re creating an identity for your child rather than them discovering who they are going to be and causing potentially horrible issues for them in the future.

These are the parents I can’t stand. Vanity parenting by adults with their own frail identities.

get your children’s images offline and if you want to make a political statement don’t do it at their expense.

I ageee with about 50% of your friends beliefs and 50% of yours

So are my kids just 50% fucked up?

You have worded it perfectly. It's virtue signalling to a point & I think with all the leftie political stuff thrown in these people are also trying to raise their social status.