Is this possibly the most insulting thing a HE'er could hear?

[mikkamakkamoo]

Whilst passing through a park we met an old acquaintance of mine from my schooldays. She asked if I was looking forward to the kids going back to which I jokingly replied "Yes everywhere is just too crowded with all the schools on holiday" and explained that my kids were HE. She replied "Oh yes I've read about it a bit recently in the papers, it seems to be becoming quite fashionable. Well done for doing it before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon!"
I walked away mouth agape! (not often I'm speechless I'll tell you)

Well, it's a dumb comment but I wouldn't say it was the most insulting. I can think of far worse things she may have said

She could have looked at you strangely, asked lots of rude questions, rolled her eyes.She was just trying to be nice.

I thinkit was a compliment of sorts , ie well done for not just following the crowd

I don't think that's insulting. Sounds like she was just unaware of how long you'd been doing it/reasons for it etc. I think there are far worse things to say to home edders if someone wants to insult them!

are you quite sensitive about what people think about HE?
Don't think that sounds insulting really,she was probably just trying to think of something to say.

I don't know if any of the OP are HE'rs but as one myself I would feel insulted if someone thought I was doing it because it was 'fashionable'.
My reasons were very serious ones like every other HE I know. That kind of comment kind of belittles us.
It's great however, that people are reading and becoming aware of HE.

My husband says HE is like 'organic food and vegetarianism and being eco-friendly' it seems wierd at first but then everyones doing it and it is fashionable.
I don't think your friend meant to be insulting but we HE are particulary sensitive because of constant critisism.

At least your friend thinks you are quite a 'trendsetter' now!

Last week I mentioned to an aquaintance that my ds was being "observed" to see if he has AS. She said, "well it's quite fashinable now, just like dislexia was a few years ago"

So I can understand how you might be feeling.

Nah, I think the most insulting is when you say you're home educating, and the response is 'They let you do that?'

Our most offensive comment so far was from a woman working in a mobile fish and chip van, who called out to us as we walked past "no school today, kids?". When my children told them that they are home educated, she looked at me with a disgusted expression and said "you're a bloody idiot, don't you give a toss about their job prospects?"

agree this is not insulting

for insulting comments, see my MIL.

PMSL about that comment from somebody working in a fish and chip van (Not that there's anything wrong with it of course)

The Woman, someone who works in a chip van said that to you?! That would have been a brilliant opportunity for a witty riposte, if only you hadn't been so annoyed