<p>You just don’t get it, p2009. It ISN’T OUR success we’re celebrating–note I did NOT say “advertising” because that is not our intent. It’s the character of our son and the happy fact that his school has survived. Others have quite different happinesses to celebrate. YOU have no idea what those might be–and yet you judge us all and seek to denigrate everyone’s happinesses, whatever they may be. THAT’S the point!</p>
<p>Well, it’s official. parent2009 gets to decide which school’s stickers are acceptable and which are not. Give us a list, parent2009. Or shall we make application to you and you can decide?</p>
<p>My S also goes to Tulane, so I know I’m allowed to slap that sticker on.
He went to Bates last term and I am thankful. May I post a Bates sticker without offending and being guilty of hubris?
My gS goes to U New Hampshire - is that school sufficiently low on the totem pole for me to use that sticker with impunity?
If my S gets accepted to Stanford for Engineering transfer, I’m pretty sure you will be nauseated by that sticker. But if he goes to Miami of Ohio, Lehigh, Santa Clara, Vanderbilt,… will I be ok? </p>
<p>Just tell me where to draw the line.</p>
<p>We simply choose not to advertise our success (which, for the record, is substantial even by CC standards)</p>
<p>Interesting
I also wonder about the phrasing our success?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The same book also says judge not that ye be not judged (maybe you did not get to that section yet)</p>
<p>I was reminded of a funny story by sjmom’s comment that a fancy car is more of a status symbol than a college decal is.</p>
<p>My kids took a vacation once with a relative and ended up near my alma mater. They decided to stop by the campus and pick up a car decal as a gift for me. </p>
<p>When they got home and gave it to me, my younger son (11 years old at the time) was eager to have me put it on the car right away. Worried about the assumptions that people like parent2009 might make about me, I hesitated. “Well, I’m not sure I’ll put it on,” I told my son, “because I don’t want people to think that I’m stuck-up or anything [I went to an Ivy].”</p>
<p>Without even blinking he said, “Mom, I don’t think anyone will think that considering the kind of car you drive [a Honda Civic].”</p>
<p>I thought that was pretty astute for an 11 year old.</p>
<p>p.s. I eventually solved the problem by finding a decal that has only the school mascot and not the school name. That way I can have fun parking lot conversations with alumni while going unnoticed by everyone else.</p>
<p>parent2009 - your serious and heartfelt answer to my question might clear some things up.</p>
<p>p2009, I don’t need your permission, and neither does anyone else. That’s the point, which you STILL don’t get.</p>
<p>Parent2009…so if a parent admits where their child goes to college…say right here in the Parent Cafe…where we are discussing colleges, is that uncool? What about if I run into you at our high school reunion and find out you have two college aged kids and ask where they go? I mean I talk about my kids here and where they go. It is not to advertise. We’re all parents sharing about colleges. </p>
<p>So, what about your kids? I have read your prior posts…so one to UVA and one to Grinnell? They love those schools? You love 'em?? Shout it out and share about what they’ve liked there so that others can gain information and perspectives. I would NEVER see that as bragging. Talking about it doesn’t have to imply “bragging” unless the person listening TAKES IT THAT WAY, which says more about the person listening than the person simply sharing about a school they know well or that their child is happy at. </p>
<p>So, let me shout out that my kids love Brown and NYU/Tisch! Anyone wanna know more about these, I can try to help. Anyone who has a a kid who also goes…we can share. Sounds good to me. I have no need to keep it a secret or hide where they go. It is a big part of their lives. </p>
<p>If I go by your reasoning, and let’s say I could afford a some real expensive car (yeah right), but if I buy it and drive it, it sorta “advertises” my wealth. Wouldn’t it be best to drive a junker, so I can keep that information about myself to myself? I mean I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong impression about me as a person or anything. Frankly, the car you drive, the job you have, the house you have, your choice of college, says something about you. Be confident in your choices and they are what they are. No need to hide them. They are a part of you. Where your child is going to school and living is part of their lives. No need to keep it private.</p>
<p>PS…kdmom, love your story!</p>
<p>“Don’t schools mail out stickers with acceptances?”
“If my S gets accepted to Stanford . . .”</p>
<p>Be very careful with this. The Stanford admission packet does contain a red S decal. But, it’s too big, maybe 3" tall. If they had only sent a smaller one, say 1" or less, it would have gone on the corner of some window right away.</p>
<p>Just to clarify my position - I’m fine with college stickers. In fact, I like them regardless of the school. I just worry too much about what other people might think :-)</p>
<p>Most people who know me in our community know what a difficult path our son (Wild Child) has taken through high school. They would all join my in slapping Penn stickers everywhere in town! I guess I don’t agree that pride is such a bad thing. It’s all about celebration and pride. I’ve been on the other side and I’m going to enjoy those t-shirt, sweatshirts and decals!</p>
<p>Good heavens! I posted back on page 2 and two days later…!!! It has made for enjoyable reading though. I haven’t laughed this much in days and am currently stuck in a blizzard so this is good…</p>
<p>I previously stated it was difficult for my hubby to take off the old high school decal and it was. A “moment” if you will in accepting that a phase of our lives was over forever. But placing that college cling in the window was a lifelong goal and dream of ours. Our two girls will be the first FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FAMILY to attend and graduate from college. Since the day they were born, we have hoped and planned for them to go. There is an appreciation and respect for this process that is difficult to describe to those of you who did attend.</p>
<p>No it’s not a “name” school…but it is a wonderful women’s LAC that we love. We also want to promote this school (which most people have never heard of). And we enjoy driving to pick up/drop off our girls and seeing other cars, in other cities, with the same name on their window. Instant connecting point with someone you’ve never met.</p>
<p>I’ve certainly met some people in my life that seem to brag until I too, am nauseated. But I think most parents are like me. Passionate in their support of their kids. And I don’t think placing a college sticker on a car = advertising success. The sticker is a small thing. A community thing, similar to the high school one, but we’re branching out now. And the next time you are nauseated by one…please think of me. Just a parent working my butt off to help them pay tuition and grateful every day for the opportunities they have and that they are attending college. For the first time. Ever. In our family.</p>
<p>I think we would all be better off if we stopped responding to parent2009 or even acknowledging the existance of these posts. There just aren’t any more points to be made from that direction. Besides, I am beginning to get a queasy stomach myself.</p>
<p>That’s too bad. It’s an example I really hope never to feel an obligation to follow (no offense, kddmom). Life’s too short to measure self worth by the reactions of others. Suppressing a certain aspect of one’s personality often results in unbalance/disparity/uncharacteristic behavior elsewhere. For example, a person may exhibit unnaturally aggressive behavior online (protected by anonymity) if one is particularly self-conscious in person. Interacting with other people is definitely crucial in life, but I mean, they’re humans, just like you, their opinions are not worth any more than yours.</p>
<p>EDIT: oh yeah and you should answer the question posed multiple times to you. I’m really quite curious as to where you draw the line between “acceptable” and “unacceptable” colleges to advertise.</p>
<p>Anyone who wants to put a college sticker on their car, fine. I never have and never would. T-shirts, sweatshirts, fine. I don’t really want the public to know exactly where my kids are - I don’t give out that kind of information to strangers (like plastering it on my car). I would, however, reconsider and put a college sticker on if the school pays me to advertise.</p>
<p>EmeraldKity: Have a good trip to Portland. Did you see my PM?</p>
<p>smcmom</p>
<p>( in california or maryland?)
a friend is an alum, said she had never even visited it- just was accepted and she went. She loved it. 
Our kids are also first generation college- I understand where you are coming from</p>
<p>Yes - me also (college decal on the rear window)</p>
<p>…and my favorite thing to wear: an XL hoodie with the college name on it.</p>
<p>Amen to eulenspielgel! (re: ignoring further p2009 posts–responses come so fast they get separated!)</p>
<p>And God bless smcmom and her daughters! </p>
<p>(If I may be so bold as to invoke a deity w/o starting something else entirely!)</p>
<p>Holy hell!</p>
<p>How in God’s name did I end up here?! I must have taken a wrong turn or something god this is sooo embarrassing… could one of you knowledgeable and worldly adults point me toward the kiddie pool? Sorry to be such a bother 
save the whales.</p>