Lately I've noticed some pot shots being taken at the homeschooling woman who wears denim jumpers.

I realize that the lowly jumper does seem to be as close to a uniform of many of us homechooling moms as we get. But in different blogs and forums and even in conversation over the last while scattered comments--I can't even remember specifically by who--have made me take a closer look at the homeschool mother's indispensible closet staple.

First let me say I don't exculsively wear dresses or skirts. I don't have an agenda to make everyone dress like me. I personally don't wear jumpers much  anymore because they make me resemble a denim blue kielbasa sausage, but my denim A line skirts with long tops are basic necessities around here--as are my dress slacks and jeans.But there are definite pluses to the denim jumper.

 For one thing, the heavier cotton wears longer and is quite comfortable. The denim color hides magic marker streaks, certain spills, and stray ink pen marks quite well. Maybe that 's why so many of us opt for jumpers and their coture cousins.

The backhanded comments about jumpers usually conceal more than fashion bias against homeschoolers, though. Such comments--and I'm ashamed to say I once made them myself--are more a jab at the faith of the woman who wears them. Denim jumpers, to some women, will always represent restriction. Such derision neatly encapsules negative feelings about homeschooling, a Christian woman living a Biblical lifestyle as she feels led, a submissive woman, the religious right and maybe even global warming all in one culturally identifiable symbol: some conservative Christian women's wardrobe choice of the lowly denim jumper.

So, while that item of clothing is admittedly  a stereotype of homeschool moms, I'm not particularly upset with it. If the diet works, I might even give them another try myself.

Lightheartedly,

Gin