If you have known me long, you know that ever since I've had my third child, my first daughter, I have dreaded going to the store. Not because my kids misbehave. They do at times misbehave, but only when I ask for it. You know, like taking them at lunch time, nap time, or really any time after 10AM. The reason I dislike going to the store is because of the other people I have to shop with. You know, the strangers whose eyes bug out of their heads and start practicing their counting skills or start inquiring about my reproductive practices.
Today topped them all, I believe. Well, I hope, because I really can't imagine what it would be like worse than today. I made it to the store at 9, a little later than my goal but if everything went well I'd still be out by 10 (my kids' personal limit). I WALKED IN THE DOOR and was placing the baby in the seat when it began. I didn't even have to get to the raisin and prune isle....
Rude lady (RL) to my two year old daughter: Awe you're cute. Did you bring your baby to the store? [She had her toy doll.]
2 yo smiles sweetly.
RL: [noticing the rest of us] Oh, wow, look. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5!! Please tell me you're babysitting?
Me: [still smiling] No, they are all mine.
[she said more but I don't remember]
RL: That's enough right? Don't you have anymore.
I had stopped smiling. She still was. She probably doesn't realize how rude she had just been. Why did she not realize? I faked a final smile and walked away.
Then, I almost made it out of the store without another comment. That first was about to be long forgotten when a bread delivery man walked past me, a little too close for comfort if you ask me, and said, "I feel for you!" Are you kidding me? My dear kids were not misbehaving. But even if they were, the comment was uncalled for. BUT THEY WEREN'T. He just felt the right to "feel for me" because obviously I have issues since I'm over the sane limit of children.
Really.
So, let me take this time to offer YOU, rude lady and others like you, unsolicited help and advice. You've heard it before:
- IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
- Think before you speak.
- If you think that someone wants to hear your personal opinion of birth control, child raising, or nutrition at Walmart, just don't. A nice smile is good enough if you can't muster anything else decent.
You might disagree with how many children I have. Whatever. I really don't care, really. Just don't tell me. And please, please don't say it IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN. They aren't idiots, they can understand what you say.
RudeLady: I'm sad for you though that you don't know the joy of having several children. Yes, there are challenges. I'm often tired, I can't use the bathroom without an audience, I can't nurse the baby without a play-by-play to salesmen :). But I love them. You obviously don't know the joy of adding yet another child and having the love increase tenfold in your home just because of this one addition. That is sad. And it saddens me that you are so upset about it that you want me to be upset too. You might wear me down, but you won't take away the joy I have with my children.
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