It Actually Happened!

I was at a party yesterday. It was a mix of people most of whom I didn't know. People standing around doing the small talk at parties thing. I joined the group of folks that my husband was talking to. A younger man and his father were chatting, and asking my dh about computer programming stuff. I could tell from the questions they were asking that they weren't in the computer field.

Then the man turns to me and asks me what I do. "I am homeschooling my four kids." And it was like someone flipped a switch on his face, and all the polite interest just vanished. I've never seen such a reaction that obviously disdainful before. I was taken aback.

To her credit, the man's wife tried to save the situation by saying something like "ah, you are a teacher!" in a syrupy voice.

That's when I decided to get my cain and take the kids for a mile long walk to play in the fountain down town.

Comments

Anonymous said…
They missed out on your intelligent conversation. Good for you!
::Sylvia:: said…
LOL. I despise that! I used to get that all the time when I said I was a SAHM (now where we live it's more common), people always say "OOOOh, you've got plenty of time then!" I wanted to scream! I worked 50 hour work weeks prior to becoming a mother and still had more time (not that I would EVER trade these years)! If they only knew...

E-mail me at orthodoxmama@gmail.com, I've got a funny e-mail to forward you!
Anonymous said…
Some people really do take the biscuit or the canape even.

Congratulations to you anyway for being there and doing the small talk thing. I am so useless at that. I always say the wrong thing and have to struggle to find a graceful way out of talking about saints or holy wells or the fantastic cat with a face like a big sunny dandelion who spends his days on my friend’s car…

You’d think they’d be glad to talk about something different whether homeschooling or fabulously furry ginger cats though. Most parties I used to get invited to were just people droning on about work or their car. I always got buttonholed by men wanting to talk about cars and impress me with how expensive they were *Yawn* Can you imagine, as a woman, going up to a strange man at a party and launching into your opinions about how the Emma Thompson ‘Sense & Sensibility’ is so much better than the new one? “And,” you continue, stuffing your face with mini bruschettas and ignoring the fact he’s about to keel over, “who on earth cast Matthew whatsisname as Mr Darcy? I ask you? Hmmmm?”
Bohemimom said…
I would've used the cane in a slightly different manner... Hehehe. Just kidding.
Liz in Seattle said…
My goodness! And you didn't even excuse yourself, telling it was time to go home and lock the front door, so that you could keep your kids from meeting anyone while you taught them about creationism and inbreeding? Tsk tsk...

Of course, I always think of the snarky answers after the fact. Probably a good thing for my salvation :-o
Anonymous said…
I'm speechless. Just. Speechless.

What a rude mule's hind end -- and also, one who will never get a raise (unless this is a reaction that he can control in front of people whom he feels "matter.")

I hope his wife gave him a lecture on the way home. Really sorry, Alana.
Anonymous said…
That was the response I used to get back in the '80s when I would say I didn't work outside the home. Sometimes they would ask if I baked bread and then wander off, since there was nothing more to talk about. It is disheartening to encounter--but the reaction says more about "them" than about us, wouldn't you say? We know who we are and why we are here. bjm
Athanasia said…
I'm with lightfinder, I would have decked him with my cane. Or you could have responded, "I'm a Domestic Engineer in the business of crafting homosapiens into responsible and conversational adults.

Then walk away.

The idiot.
Has said…
Not so long ago, I was probably just as ignorant as he was. Lord have mercy on all of us - we're all ignorant about something, I guess!

Alana, can you share more about the kinds of music you listen to? Especially about Orthodox artists (and not just Church music)?
Anonymous said…
Alana,
Take it as a compliment that you are "uncool" by such standards, and pray for their dear souls.

Those who scoff in ignorance become fools before all eyes.