"Normal social interaction"

[pomes]

I teach my children
The little things of please and thank you
Spending money, making change,
"This is my name, who are you?"

I teach my children
Not to nag and not to whine
That "How are you?" is answered "Fine,"
I teach my children

I teach my children
To modulate their tone of voice
To choose and live with their own choice
And I teach them to apologise

Some people learn this stuff with ease
But for me it has always been impossible
Desperately confusing, frightening, alienating
All impenetrable forest, no trees -

So I teach my children,
Though perhaps they don't need to be taught
Perhaps they'd absorb all the rules they ought
If I did not teach my children?