Yesterday I took my thirteen year old daughter to her Ultimate Frisbee group.
It was a beautiful day. Warm in the sun, but cool when the breeze came by. And although I had enough assignments due to keep a person busy for several weeks and not just one, I put my work back into my portfolio, unfolded my lawn chair, and sat with the rest of the homeschool moms.
An acquaintance turned and asked, "Aren't you done with your classes yet?"
In my head I was responding 'Done Yet?! What do you mean by that?'
I calmly replied. "What do you mean?"
"Weren’t you taking some classes?"
So politely gave my responses to numerous questions;
 "Yes, I am going to Judson College."
 "No, that was when I went to the community college."
 "No, it's a Human Service Degree."
 "Yes, I finished that."
After a full drilling of questions there came silence. Everyone turned to watch the swarm of teens heading across the field. My daughter made the scoring catch. Everyone cheered. My daughter turned, smiled, waved, and ran the other direction.
And there I sat - in silence. No one said congratulations. No one wished me luck.  No one said anything.
I could watch them thinking. Were they wondering how I could work, go to college, and homeschool? Were they jealous because I could work it all out? Were they judging my ability to be there for my kids? Condemning me for having a life outside of my children and home?
I wondered; had any of them went to college? I didn't ask.
Eight different heads were just moving with the game in silence. Whatever their thoughts were, it was obvious that my life connected something within them they weren’t willing to voice.

As we left last night I couldn't help but feel for those moms. It has been two summers since I received my first college degree and no time had passed for them.

I didn't get the feeling they were feeling for me. All I felt was alone.

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Posted by OreoSouza

I am *so* sorry. I have no other words. It's no wonder people make jokes about homeschoolers and public school moms get defensive when we enter the room. I'm embarassed for all of us.

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Posted by

I'm sorry you felt alone.


Edited by MuckFootMom on Aug. 28, 2006 at 10:35 AM

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