My kids are 9 and 11 and I’m so glad I found you this year. So much of the content on Instagram is kids much younger than mine. I would love to know what accounts you follow with families in our age group!
I have the same issue and don't follow a ton of influencers because I'm not interested in the baby phase. For the most part the people I follow with kids the same age as mine are the influencers I met when I first started my blog, way before they called them influencers. Most of them have long stopped posting and there aren't many that transitioned to have big platforms on Instagram, but my favorite long time follows with kids of similar ages to mine are @etst, @babysideburns, @jenniferborget, @jillkraus.e, and @jennifer.garner (famous lady obviously but also mom of big kids!).
Will you do a post or a blog explaining NYC high schools? Are they specialized high schools? Standard High schools just with different curriculum? I am so curious about why you don’t go to the assigned school in your district, and am fascinated by the whole process.
There are public schools, private schools and specialized high schools. Public high schools are not done by district and everyone has to apply. Public high schools go more by testing. Kids who get the highest scores have access to better public schools. Everyone submits a list with their preferences and then I think it's done mostly by lottery. Private schools you pretty much apply to just like college. There are student essays, parent essays, entrance exams, application forms, interviews and each school has different forms, requirements and due dates which is what makes the process complicated. It's also very time intensive because each school has different in-person and virtual events you have to attend to learn about the school, meet the admissions people, hear from the students, etc.
There are actually only 8 public high schools in NYC that rely solely on a test for admissions (the “specialized” high schools that include Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Latin, etc). All the other public high schools use a complicated admissions process — some schools are “screened” so they take into account middle school grades + a lottery algorithm; some schools do auditions for performing arts/music/etc programs; and some schools do ask students to write essays, submit videos, etc.
Mommy Shorts and now Apparently is for me The Best!I love you travel-Iceland,New Zealand a Mazzy and Harlow 🍩🍩🍩🍩(so sorry-my englisch is not very well….
OMG- Yes to the NYC guide. I feel like ever time I come to the city we do the same thing.
My oldest is a senior is high school and completed the College process. She put a lot of work into. Tours, emails and applications. Sounds similar to the NYC High school process. Very overwhelming! Now we are receiving acceptance letters and Financial Aid offers.
Your Iceland guide pretty much planned our Iceland Trip in September 2022. I told my husband about your Australia and New Zealand trip and he just smiled.
Our 12 yr son struggles with reading as well. Its hard now that he is in Middle School.
I got one of March Hare Valentine’s Day Box for myself. Can't wait to see it!
I am a bit older (61) and my only child has left the nest and is currently a grad student in NYC (she loves NYC and plans to stay after she graduates). I’ve been following you since my daughter moved to NYC two years ago and love your account!
I definitely look forward to your NYC guide, as my husband and I are spending more time visiting there now that our daughter lives there. Also welcome any discussions about aging & fitness!
And I love following your travels … Iceland, Australia, New Zealand …
Yes! Read it yesterday, talk about amazing timing. Thank you again. I love the stuff you talk about - everything NYC, and also navigating young daughter issues.
I would like to know more about the high school process in NYC. Where I live you just go to the public school where you live and then progress to the high school that goes with it. No applying anywhere. Of course we have private schools but for the most part it’s public school. Are there public school districts in NYC? Do most people go to private schools there?
👋🏻 NYC public school parent (and former student) here! The NYC public school system is the largest in the country. We have 1.1 million children! There are 32 districts for elementary/middle schools, but high school is a citywide application process. So in theory you can go to any high school in the city BUT you have to apply — you rank the schools you want in order, but there are all these different factors that go into the application like grades, essays, etc. Then there are the “specialized” high schools for which there is a test. The result is a lot of teenagers crisscrossing the city — it’s very common to go to high school in a different borough from where you live.
Wow! That’s so interesting. Thanks so much for responding. I’m a public school teacher in Pennsylvania and I had no idea! Are there top ones that are really competitive to get in to? You don’t have to pay for the public schools do you? This is so interesting to me!
No, public schools are free but the “top” schools are definitely competitive. I visited a high school last month that has something like a 3% acceptance rate 😳 Tougher than college!
As always, thanks for the great post and articles! If you haven’t already done this, I would love to know more about being a dog owner, and how you chose the right dog for your family. I’ve never owned a dog but both me and the kids would love to bring one into the family one day 😊
I’m looking forward to the conversations round the topics you’ve mentioned above. Particularly Harlow’s progress (my son is on the same path). I’m also interested to hear how the women in this community connect with their peers and prioritise time for friends. I feel the older my children get the more time I am Mum and less time I am me. Which is the opposite of how I thought would go. I’d also love to hear how y’all are balancing your kids activities and still finding time for a life! 4 kids 10 and under here and feeling it
I've did a lot of posts about community and prioritizing friendships last year if you want to go back in the archives! But that will definitely continue to be a topic, especially since this is my last year in Mazzy's school community which I am very sad about. I felt the same as you, I had less me time as the kids got older. 1. Because I want to be with them. 2. Because as they got older, they started making me feel more guilty for going out. 3. When homework started, it felt like I needed to be there to make sure they did it, give them help, etc. and I couldn't just pawn that off on a sitter. Working out with friends and buying the toy shop with another couple has helped me find ways to integrate work, self care and friendship together. Another big thing for me this year is starting to bring more of my friends together (even if they don't know each other) instead of waiting to be invited to things. And then, I can see more than one person at once! Harlow's progress will definitely be a topic very soon!
Spent a a month last December in NYC with my 6yr old and it was the best holiday I’ve ever had. We rented an apartment in the upper east, walled and played in Central Park, hit all the highly rated playgrounds in Manhattan. Would love more tips for our next visit to NYC.
Also topics on
- how to navigate friendships among 6-8yrs old girls. Sometimes my daughter feels left out when her girl friends go off together and she doesn’t really speak up.
- how to navigate screen time for 7yr olds. Is Roblux ok? Why about YouTube kids? I limit screentime to 30 mins a day on weekends. Too strict?
We just did a Big Kid Support Group discussion about Mean Girls. And it seems like the question was very similar to what you daughter is experiencing in terms of not being the leader of the group and needing to stand up for herself. There was a lot of good advice in the comments. I hope you saw it!
I'd love to hear more about transitions. I'm in my 40's now, but my two boys are much older than your girls. I'd love to hear more about this stage of life and how you/people handle these transitions :)
I love that you live in NYC! I'm in The Bronx. I'm glad you're feeling better and good luck with Mazzy's high school application.My 15yo just started high school in September and she has adjusted well despite initial fears. Happy New Year!
We will actually be in NYC this weekend, but it's our kids' first time and we are hitting up the tourist parts. We will be back, so I look forward to the guide!!
Also interested in the middle age health/fitness discussion as I turn 45 this year and my husband just walked in my office to let me know you can order caskets from Costco.
Ha! As someone who had a really unhealthy relationship with food for most of my life and only started eating like a normal person after having kids, I am struggling with how to adjust my diet as I get older without slipping back into old habits. This will be a conversation for sure!
Ooh I would love to have a NYC guide and especially for The March Hare area! A friend of mine now has a place in NYC and when I come to visit, I already have plans (in my mind!) to come visit your shop :-)
My kids are 9 and 11 and I’m so glad I found you this year. So much of the content on Instagram is kids much younger than mine. I would love to know what accounts you follow with families in our age group!
I have the same issue and don't follow a ton of influencers because I'm not interested in the baby phase. For the most part the people I follow with kids the same age as mine are the influencers I met when I first started my blog, way before they called them influencers. Most of them have long stopped posting and there aren't many that transitioned to have big platforms on Instagram, but my favorite long time follows with kids of similar ages to mine are @etst, @babysideburns, @jenniferborget, @jillkraus.e, and @jennifer.garner (famous lady obviously but also mom of big kids!).
Will you do a post or a blog explaining NYC high schools? Are they specialized high schools? Standard High schools just with different curriculum? I am so curious about why you don’t go to the assigned school in your district, and am fascinated by the whole process.
There are public schools, private schools and specialized high schools. Public high schools are not done by district and everyone has to apply. Public high schools go more by testing. Kids who get the highest scores have access to better public schools. Everyone submits a list with their preferences and then I think it's done mostly by lottery. Private schools you pretty much apply to just like college. There are student essays, parent essays, entrance exams, application forms, interviews and each school has different forms, requirements and due dates which is what makes the process complicated. It's also very time intensive because each school has different in-person and virtual events you have to attend to learn about the school, meet the admissions people, hear from the students, etc.
There are actually only 8 public high schools in NYC that rely solely on a test for admissions (the “specialized” high schools that include Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Latin, etc). All the other public high schools use a complicated admissions process — some schools are “screened” so they take into account middle school grades + a lottery algorithm; some schools do auditions for performing arts/music/etc programs; and some schools do ask students to write essays, submit videos, etc.
Mommy Shorts and now Apparently is for me The Best!I love you travel-Iceland,New Zealand a Mazzy and Harlow 🍩🍩🍩🍩(so sorry-my englisch is not very well….
I wish all the Best Wiles Family from Prague
OMG- Yes to the NYC guide. I feel like ever time I come to the city we do the same thing.
My oldest is a senior is high school and completed the College process. She put a lot of work into. Tours, emails and applications. Sounds similar to the NYC High school process. Very overwhelming! Now we are receiving acceptance letters and Financial Aid offers.
Your Iceland guide pretty much planned our Iceland Trip in September 2022. I told my husband about your Australia and New Zealand trip and he just smiled.
Our 12 yr son struggles with reading as well. Its hard now that he is in Middle School.
I got one of March Hare Valentine’s Day Box for myself. Can't wait to see it!
I am a bit older (61) and my only child has left the nest and is currently a grad student in NYC (she loves NYC and plans to stay after she graduates). I’ve been following you since my daughter moved to NYC two years ago and love your account!
I definitely look forward to your NYC guide, as my husband and I are spending more time visiting there now that our daughter lives there. Also welcome any discussions about aging & fitness!
And I love following your travels … Iceland, Australia, New Zealand …
Yes! Read it yesterday, talk about amazing timing. Thank you again. I love the stuff you talk about - everything NYC, and also navigating young daughter issues.
I would like to know more about the high school process in NYC. Where I live you just go to the public school where you live and then progress to the high school that goes with it. No applying anywhere. Of course we have private schools but for the most part it’s public school. Are there public school districts in NYC? Do most people go to private schools there?
What does Mike do for a living?
👋🏻 NYC public school parent (and former student) here! The NYC public school system is the largest in the country. We have 1.1 million children! There are 32 districts for elementary/middle schools, but high school is a citywide application process. So in theory you can go to any high school in the city BUT you have to apply — you rank the schools you want in order, but there are all these different factors that go into the application like grades, essays, etc. Then there are the “specialized” high schools for which there is a test. The result is a lot of teenagers crisscrossing the city — it’s very common to go to high school in a different borough from where you live.
Wow! That’s so interesting. Thanks so much for responding. I’m a public school teacher in Pennsylvania and I had no idea! Are there top ones that are really competitive to get in to? You don’t have to pay for the public schools do you? This is so interesting to me!
No, public schools are free but the “top” schools are definitely competitive. I visited a high school last month that has something like a 3% acceptance rate 😳 Tougher than college!
As always, thanks for the great post and articles! If you haven’t already done this, I would love to know more about being a dog owner, and how you chose the right dog for your family. I’ve never owned a dog but both me and the kids would love to bring one into the family one day 😊
Ah! This is a good topic! I was never a dog person before Frankie!
Love your game plan!
My plan is to find out what brand of jeans you were wearing in NZ.
You know the ones! Soft and baggy looking. Love them.
They are from Madewell! The label says wide leg crop. I got them about five years ago though. I was early to the trend!
I’m looking forward to the conversations round the topics you’ve mentioned above. Particularly Harlow’s progress (my son is on the same path). I’m also interested to hear how the women in this community connect with their peers and prioritise time for friends. I feel the older my children get the more time I am Mum and less time I am me. Which is the opposite of how I thought would go. I’d also love to hear how y’all are balancing your kids activities and still finding time for a life! 4 kids 10 and under here and feeling it
I've did a lot of posts about community and prioritizing friendships last year if you want to go back in the archives! But that will definitely continue to be a topic, especially since this is my last year in Mazzy's school community which I am very sad about. I felt the same as you, I had less me time as the kids got older. 1. Because I want to be with them. 2. Because as they got older, they started making me feel more guilty for going out. 3. When homework started, it felt like I needed to be there to make sure they did it, give them help, etc. and I couldn't just pawn that off on a sitter. Working out with friends and buying the toy shop with another couple has helped me find ways to integrate work, self care and friendship together. Another big thing for me this year is starting to bring more of my friends together (even if they don't know each other) instead of waiting to be invited to things. And then, I can see more than one person at once! Harlow's progress will definitely be a topic very soon!
Spent a a month last December in NYC with my 6yr old and it was the best holiday I’ve ever had. We rented an apartment in the upper east, walled and played in Central Park, hit all the highly rated playgrounds in Manhattan. Would love more tips for our next visit to NYC.
Also topics on
- how to navigate friendships among 6-8yrs old girls. Sometimes my daughter feels left out when her girl friends go off together and she doesn’t really speak up.
- how to navigate screen time for 7yr olds. Is Roblux ok? Why about YouTube kids? I limit screentime to 30 mins a day on weekends. Too strict?
- love reading anything about your life in NYC !
We just did a Big Kid Support Group discussion about Mean Girls. And it seems like the question was very similar to what you daughter is experiencing in terms of not being the leader of the group and needing to stand up for herself. There was a lot of good advice in the comments. I hope you saw it!
I'd love to hear more about transitions. I'm in my 40's now, but my two boys are much older than your girls. I'd love to hear more about this stage of life and how you/people handle these transitions :)
I love that you live in NYC! I'm in The Bronx. I'm glad you're feeling better and good luck with Mazzy's high school application.My 15yo just started high school in September and she has adjusted well despite initial fears. Happy New Year!
We will actually be in NYC this weekend, but it's our kids' first time and we are hitting up the tourist parts. We will be back, so I look forward to the guide!!
Also interested in the middle age health/fitness discussion as I turn 45 this year and my husband just walked in my office to let me know you can order caskets from Costco.
:-)
Ha! As someone who had a really unhealthy relationship with food for most of my life and only started eating like a normal person after having kids, I am struggling with how to adjust my diet as I get older without slipping back into old habits. This will be a conversation for sure!
Ooh I would love to have a NYC guide and especially for The March Hare area! A friend of mine now has a place in NYC and when I come to visit, I already have plans (in my mind!) to come visit your shop :-)
I’m very excited about the year to come at Apparently! A lot of those potential topics really pique my interest!