We’re taking off this week, because it’s almost Easter. I like to pretend I’m a really good Catholic. So during these past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed peppering my conversations with various vaguely serious references to Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, and all that. But the truth is, Easter’s snuck up on me this year, since it’s so early. I have to run out tomorrow for egg dye. And later on, I have to run out again and shop for the Easter Bunny. I’m his personal assistant you know.
So anyway, we’re just taking the week off, and I thought I’d enjoy running a few errands during regular school hours, because the district is off this week too, and I felt safe from the usual stares and questions. All the kids were off, so I figured we’d blend right in. I wouldn’t have to remind my 7-year-old that she’s in first grade or jump in to save her from a particularly difficult impromptu physics exam delivered by the idiot running the automatic scanner at the grocery store. But…no.
I forgot about the Little Old Lady Factor. Twice this week, sweet little old ladies have looked at my daughter and said (all condescending and jovial) “No school today, huh?”
And then I’d say, with a little smile: “Spring break, you know.”
And then my 7-year-old would say: “Yeah, and we homeschool anyway.”
And then she’d give me a big smile and a hug and watch the little old ladies wander quickly away with worried backwards glances, like we had some sort of contagion. Or perhaps a bunch of tracts.
It seems, if you’re 7, homeschooling is super-cool when you’re out telling people about it, rather than sitting at the table at home actually doing it.
So, we’re off this week. I’ve read a novel or two. And vaccuumed here and there. And tried a few new recipes, one of which I actually would make again. And then we went to the library today and hung out with our club and checked out some books. Pretty mellow stuff. And I’m just exhausted. I’d better get us back to those books. Just so I can feel rested again.
My eight year old likes to tell people how the kids on the bus grabbed her brother’s crotch. And about bullies and bad stuff, because she gets all that from her brother’s awful little 2 year public school experience. People give us the weirdest glances, and we have lots of talks about appropriate stranger conversation.
Wait until they get a little older. Baby Boy looks at them directly in the eye and says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It’s the most Steve Carell like uncomfortable situation ever.
I’ve had to discuss how to politely answer the little old ladies who ask nosy questions.
Ah, it seems that the little old ladies who were in my neighborhood during my pregnancies have headed over your way. You know the ones — they would reach out and fondle my stomach (hello? if this is inappropriate when NOT pregnant, how is it ok now?) and loudly ask if I planned to breastfeed.
Just starting to homeschool here and having fun getting insights from your blog. Happy Easter to ya!
Ah, yes…I never did get that whole “rubbing the tummy” thing. How rude! It almost happened to me once, and it wasn’t an old lady either. This young woman, the wife of someone in my department at work, literally ran across the room, arms stretched out towards my belly, all ready to CHECK ME OUT. But right at the last moment, she stopped. She came to a sudden halt not two inches from me and dropped her arms abruptly and simply said: “So, how are you feeling?”
I don’t know what it was that stopped her. Maybe she saw something in my face. Something that said, loud and clear: TOUCH ME AND YOU DIE. I’M PREGNANT, AND I’M FROM JERSEY. TRY ME.
i LOVE to rub pregnant bellies!! Okay, only with permission. I’m sorry pregnant women..you’ve given your body over to something else. You are now PUBLIC PROPERTY.
My daughter is fond of telling people “We haven’t homeschooled for MONTHS!” heh, heh, heh…right…we’ve had a long talk about unschooling and what defines it…she doesn’t say it quite so much.
M
My son, now in our second year of hsling, still enjoys telling anyone who asks (or doesn’t) that he homeschools. And like yours, it’s a whole ‘nother story when I pull out anything schoolish.