Woman Says Local Moms Have ‘Totally Isolated’ Her Ever Since She Sent Her Kid to Private School

A woman has shared that she feels “low” and “isolated” from other parents in her small town after choosing to send her child to a private school outside the local community.

In a post on Mumsnet, the mother explained that she and her family had recently moved to a rural area near where she grew up. While she and her partner “love living more rurally” and have no desire to return to city life, she admitted the experience has been lonelier than she expected — especially since her child doesn’t attend the nearby public school.

“We want our child to go to the private school, as the local one is basically two rooms ranging from ages 3 to 11, and our child is very happy at the current school,” she wrote.

However, she said that the decision has taken a toll on her social life.

“I feel completely left out of the [small town activities] now [that] my child has started private school,” she shared. “We are not invited to parties … there were three Halloween ones last week and [I saw] all the photos up [on social media].”

The mom added that she has tried to be friendly and connect with other parents in town, but the topic of schooling often creates awkwardness. “I do socialize in [town] and have made efforts to chat to the other moms and meet up with them, but [I’m] often asked if my child will move back to the local school,” she said. “I’ve always said I’m not sure and tried to be vague, but it feels like a wedge between us.”

She admitted that the exclusion has left her feeling sad and disconnected: “Feeling really low as I love my friendships and would have loved to have been part of the fun and events in [town]. Is this just my life now? Feeling totally isolated?”

Many commenters offered advice, encouraging her to find new ways to connect with the community beyond school networks.

One user suggested, “If you really want to be more part of the town, I would get involved volunteering at local events. But in all honesty, I found so much more peace when I made friends with people outside of my children/local parents.”

Another added, “Part of the issue I imagine is that you have rejected the school where they send their children. That can feel quite personal, and maybe the parents feel rejected too. My own child had friends who went to private school, and they never had time for them anymore.”

They advised her to “find another way into village life, maybe through organizing things yourself, volunteering or getting involved with whatever is going on.”