Dear Annie: My kids are embarrassed by what our family can’t afford
Parents chose top schools and community but are surrounded by wealthier families; their kids feel ashamed about not having certain luxuries.
Dear Annie: My spouse and I chose to raise our kids in a neighborhood with excellent schools and a strong sense of community. The downside is that it’s also a very affluent area, and many of the families around us are far wealthier than we are. We work hard and live comfortably enough, but we can’t provide the kinds of luxuries that some of our children’s friends take for granted — brand-name clothes, international vacations, new cars at 16 and the latest electronics.