December 18, 2021 Issue, Page 5 of 12

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5 December 18, 2021 Activities Educator feels homeschool past carries stigma today but I cringe when they mis- fortable discussing our salaries Dear Abby takenly announce my name as with others, while he thinks an alumna in a public forum, it’s something for all to know. DEAR ABBY: I was home- not knowing how to handle it. We’re a middle-class family, schooled K-12. I now have Please advise. -- EDUCATION and I’m by no means embar- multiple master’s degrees and LOVER IN ARIZONA rassed by our finances, but I work for a public school. I re- think it’s preferable to abstain turned to my hometown and, DEAR EDUCATION LOVER: from discussing these matters with hard work and dedication, I think it is time for you to stop with others. He thinks it’s rude have moved up the career lad- being self-conscious about the not to tell people what we pay der in my district. While I love kind of education your mother for things and how much we my job, I also value and respect gave you, which equipped you make and save. Is it common the fact that my mom chose to to attain not one, but multiple practice to discuss personal homeschool me. I can’t change graduate degrees. Rather than finances with others? -- PRI- my childhood, so I embrace all “cringe” and hide the fact that VATE LADY IN NEW MEXICO of those who are part of a vil- you are not an alumna from lage to raise and educate chil- the district, discuss this with DEAR PRIVATE LADY: dren. the administrators, so the er- Rude?! Nowhere is it writ- My challenge comes when ror can be corrected. ten that people “have” to dis- I am asked what year I gradu- cuss their finances with any- ated, or other questions about DEAR ABBY: My husband one other than one’s spouse, my schooling. (They assume and I have been married for immediate family or CPA. that since this is my home- seven years. He provides fi- Keeping quiet about finan- town, I attended school in nancially for our family, while I cial matters is not a breach of the same district in which I work part-time. My husband is etiquette; it’s good judgment. work.) If I reply with, “I was an “open book” when it comes What your husband is doing homeschooled,” I get shocked to discussing our personal fi- could be perceived as bragging, silence, and feel I must some- nances with others, while I am which creates resentment and how justify my mom’s choice extremely private about this jealousy rather than impresses to homeschool me (something type of information. others, and anyone who reads over which I had no control). Recently, our neighbors my column knows it can drive This isn’t just from col- stopped by, and he told them people away. leagues, but also parents and what we paid for some work we Dear Abby is written by Abigail staff. In addition, our dis- had done on our house, which Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Crossword trict likes to feature alumni they did not ask to know. I was Phillips, and was founded by her who work at the district and appalled that he did it, and mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact who chose to return to their asked him after they were gone Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com hometown to give back. Well, not to tell people such private or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, Current puzzle answers I meet one of those criteria, information. I’m very uncom- CA 90069. Get Fuzzy Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield Dilbert