CULTURE

I Struggle With Suburban Imposter Syndrome

I feel like my kids will never get ahead because I’m too far behind

These are not my ancestors. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I’m not someone who is typically troubled by imposter syndrome.

According to Psychology Today, people with imposter syndrome feel “they aren’t as competent or intelligent as others might think — and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them.”

I once had a career in which I was respected and I’ve always been confident in my ability to read and learn what I need to know.

But then I had kids and began to pay more attention to the world of families around me in the suburb where I live, and I began to realize something.

I’ve got Suburban Imposter Syndrome.

I don’t come from educated people

My spouse’s father left school after the eighth grade to work in his dad’s service station. My aunts — my dad’s sisters — wanted to go to high school, but weren’t allowed to.

This should give you a bit of an idea about where we come from. My husband grew up in a city and I grew up in the country, but we are similar in that we are the first generation in our families to go to college.