Dh, our dd's, and me were all at the grocery store yesterday -- and while we were checking out, the clerk, sounding very "lecturey," popped this question to our 7yo.
I said, "She homechools, so this is part of her learning. You get to be one of her teachers. Isn't that exciting?" The clerk just kinda mumbled, "Yeah," and got busy checking us out.
Dh later told me that I sounded sarcastic when I said what I did -- but that he also thought the clerk was being rather nosey. I honestly did feel put out that this complete stranger was interrogating our dd when we were right there -- and yes, she was interrogating, with a disapproving tone of voice, and not just asking out of open-minded curiosity.
It seemed strange to me that she'd act all disapproving, when dd was clearly with her parents -- she obviously hadn't just ditched school and gone out to roam the neighborhood on her own ... there was absolutely no need for any adult to feel concerned or put out about dd's presence in the store.
And dd later asked me, "Why did you say she was my teacher?" -- and I explained that I'd just meant she was another person for dd to learn from, since she's always learning wherever she goes.
Of course, I guess that means dd's also learning sarcasm from me, huh? I hadn't intended to come across that way when I responded -- but I guess my genuine irritation at the way this person was treating my child, who wasn't doing anything wrong, seeped out.
I said, "She homechools, so this is part of her learning. You get to be one of her teachers. Isn't that exciting?" The clerk just kinda mumbled, "Yeah," and got busy checking us out.
Dh later told me that I sounded sarcastic when I said what I did -- but that he also thought the clerk was being rather nosey. I honestly did feel put out that this complete stranger was interrogating our dd when we were right there -- and yes, she was interrogating, with a disapproving tone of voice, and not just asking out of open-minded curiosity.
It seemed strange to me that she'd act all disapproving, when dd was clearly with her parents -- she obviously hadn't just ditched school and gone out to roam the neighborhood on her own ... there was absolutely no need for any adult to feel concerned or put out about dd's presence in the store.
And dd later asked me, "Why did you say she was my teacher?" -- and I explained that I'd just meant she was another person for dd to learn from, since she's always learning wherever she goes.
Of course, I guess that means dd's also learning sarcasm from me, huh? I hadn't intended to come across that way when I responded -- but I guess my genuine irritation at the way this person was treating my child, who wasn't doing anything wrong, seeped out.
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