Ok, I had an experience last night that can only be described as "comically frustrating." We have had a pharamacy intern helping out in our store because we have been short-handed. Last night we got on the subject of where we're from and the number of kids we have. It turns out that this lady just moved here from West Jordan, Utah. Her husband and kids are still there while her husband tries to sell their house. She is not LDS, but she is from some middle-eastern country, not sure where. But, she REALLY likes LDS people. She is very nice herself, but you can't talk to her!
It goes like this: She asks me, "Are you LDS?" I tell her that I am. She says, "Oh! So that's why you have a large family." I say, "Well, no we didn't plan it that way, it just happened." She says, "But, you're LDS, all LDS families have alot of kids." "Uh, no they don't, not necessarily." "Yes they do! Everyone in Utah does. You're supposed to have a big family!" "No really, they don't. It may seem-" "Oh! But I know these things, that's what LDS people do!"
Finally I knew I wasn't going to get a word in edgewise and almost immediately she asks me, "Why don't you still live in Utah?" (Cuz we lived there while Cat went to BYU) "Because, we didn't have any reason to stay. We're not from around there." "But you're LDS, you're supposed to want to live there." "No not really we-" "But why don't you want to live there? "Because we don't want to!" "Why not?" "Because we-" "Oh LDS people are the nicest people. My best friend is LDS. She watches my kids every day after school until my husband gets off of work after 9:00. She loves it." By this time I was thinking, "AAAARRRGH!"
This is just a very brief synopse of the entire mostly one-sided conversation. She kept cutting me off and it was exasperating and exhausting. It was like talking to a wall. She finally left and the pharmacist who was watching the whole exchange started laughing and said, "I thought you were going to have a cat fight with her there for awhile!" "It was getting good!"
Trouble is she was SOOO sickening sweet about it. She meant well, but she was completely clueless. The trouble also was she behaves like this with her work as well, you can't tell her anything. The pharmacist has been ready to throw her away for a couple of weeks now. The pharmacist looked at me and said, "Welcome to my world." I came home and said to Cat, "By the way, we're supposed to have more kids and move to Utah. Just so you know." These are the looks he gave me...
By the way, this sort of conversation happens at least once every few months when you are out and about with your homeschooled kids.
LM
Yay for homeschooling! We're just lucky that we don't get many questions about it at church. The Bishop is a homeschooler. The person who was recently released as HP group leader is a homeschooler, and their family is very active in leadership of the local homeschool group. We only have two kids so far, though.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Last night I met with my daughter's fifth grade teacher yesterday. She explained that they were going to study history up to the Civil War. They did do a unit on westward expansion, and then in an almost apologetic tone she said, "And we do talk about the Mormons." She then tried to allay the fears of everyone that she doesn't explain the religion, only the reasons the mormons went west... which was... and she paused, "Persecution." I screwed up my face in this almost horrified expression. It just seemed so funny... after I left, I wondered if she thought I was some kind of mormon hating whacko for my expression... anyhow I thought it was a funny moment... I probably ought to tell her at some point that my daughter's mormon, but then, now judging from the way she kinda almost felt like she was walking on eggshells, I'm not sure I want her to know.
very weird vibe...
--Ray
PS> Arbi: it's not Yay for Homeschooling, it's Yay for Sin!! Unless, of course you equate the two...
-- Edited by rayb at 13:17, 2007-09-21
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I think that would be everyone who homeschools, because every person who has ever lived on this Earth, with one exception (just one hint: it's not Ray) was a sinner. Some just sin more than others.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
It's a good thing you've got that 4th on the way then, isn't it?
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
