When a woman enters that distinguished group, it appears that all the world is an adjunct member, whose opinions and advice is readily dispensed. In any venue. I saw strangers approach pregnant women and touch them, uninvited, in sensitive areas. Even men, whose consciousness of social respectability and sense of decorum would prevent them in other circumstances, were seen reaching out to touch the extended sensitive areas. I told my husband that I would wear a sign that said, "Don't touch me."But it made me wonder what about a pregnancy allowed such behavior. Pregnancy, the direct result of physical intimacies that these strangers would never broach, somehow entered the realm of public discussion. Does the universal experience of child-bearing and child-rearing bear itself to become public property, allowing for some kind of global membership? Does the whole world become a member of the Board of Trustees for your pregnancy? As offended as so many were by Hillary Clinton's It Takes a Village, I always thought, and still think, there is truth to the idea that we all affect each other and take a part in educating our children.
I've recently decided to home school my son.
tickI wanted to give you a few seconds to let that sink in. Is your response in the same realm as what others have said to me?
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"How will he get socialized?"
"Home schooled children are weird."
"You won't have any time to yourself."
[To be fair, I've had as many people say to me, "Only you know what's best for your child."]
There is something global, universal about how children are raised and I have found that the words "home school" is the equivalent of the extended belly which gives people permission to touch me in a personal spot, in public, uninvited.
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