A NANNY FOR A COLLEGE FRESHMAN.

That was sort of my reaction, too. Also, if she wants someone young and pretty, which she seems to, wouldn't they be very close in age.

I'm not sure if "middle class" is a useful term.

As one social scientist noted, 85% of Americans consider themselves "middle class" but it means very different things to them. From well paid union labor to middle management to small business owners etc.

I think that's due to the "American's don't HAVE social class" notion -- we almost all want to consider ourselves middle class.

It's only going to be useful if you give it an actual definition.

A NANNY FOR A COLLEGE FRESHMAN.

I'm sorry, I couldn't get past that part.

Dude. I know. And then there's the part where she says it's a full-time job, but the person really only reliably gets one day off a month.

I'm not sure if "middle class" is a useful term.

Yes, I was pondering it in my own blog and I realized I don't know what the hell middle class actually is, let alone middle class values.

Therefore my pondering mostly focused on money rather than class.

And is the cousin greeted with open arms by Lord Such-and-such's family if she wants to marry him?

She's Labour. Of course not. Not to mention black. But it it common for old American money to marry kids whose parents were dirt poor?

But it it common for old American money to marry kids whose parents were dirt poor?

Common, no. But if your daughter is marrying an investment banker who grew up poor but makes bank and has the right manners it probably isn't that much of an issue with anyone but Bunny McDougal.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say the British have more of a rigid class system in place than the US. For example, one has actual inheritable titles and one does not.

They are 14 (son), 12 (daughter), and 9 (daughter). They are extremely particular and each have their own set of demands and little "isms" about them, but, I assure you they are entertaining, charming, and delightful most of the time.

AUGH. *smite*

well, they seem will to pay for it. But why are cats and dog 'the family'.We have a cat,he is important ,but we are a family of two, not three

I think that's due to the "American's don't HAVE social class" notion -- we almost all want to consider ourselves middle class.

Exactly. Though the "academic" class mentioned upthread would be a more useful sub-category of the too-broad middle class.

More useful to whom?

It sounds like the system works as intended for the people she wrote it for.