About a week ago I was reading a wonderful post on Avant Garde Parenting about unsolicited parenting advice. I was immediately reminded of a terrible, awful, no good very bad experience I had before having even pushed the first baby out. Unsolicited indeed.
When I was pregnant with my firstborn, despite my advanced
age of 27 ;), I looked about 18. I was almost two weeks overdue, cranky,
uncomfortable and trying to walk that kid out of me. I passed by a patio
teeming with peeps. A lady literally stood up, pointed at me, and declared to
her audience, "Look at this young one...PREGNANT!"
I was shocked. Hurt. Embarrassed. Although I needn't have
been any of these. I thought, what if I was 16, husbandless and pregnant? What was a public
shaming going to help? When has a public shaming ever been the catalyst for a heart-warming life-altering experience for either the shamer or the shamee?!!
Well, all decorum flew out the window. My mother, having been in town for 3 weeks awaiting the imminent arrival of this grandchild (who was now without a doubt taking some sort of long distance learning course from the comfort of my uterus because he sure as shooting was NOT COMING OUT!) had to hold me
back because I wanted to physically damage this woman.
The rest is just a blur. Though I do know there was no melee. No throw down. To this day I wonder what inspires people to publicly shame others. I don't mean a roast or a well meaning albeit inebriated wedding guest, but a stranger. I don't think I'll ever get it.
Jack eventually did come out by the way, and he was well worth the wait.
Even reading it for a second time, I still can't believe it. People never cease to amaze me. Ugh. Thanks for the blog mention and I hope you never, ever have to deal with someone that unkind again.
ReplyDeleteAt least your the cutest pregnant person ever my friend!!! Probably just jealous they weren't also pregnant. I'm going out on a limb here, but the chances are they had been trying to get pregnant for a long time with out any luck and wouldn't you know it they decided public shaming may help do the trick.
ReplyDeleteI was taking a course though my company when I was about 11 weeks pregnant and because I had morning sickness I had to snack all the time to keep from throwing up. I brought along almonds, carrots, milk, an apple, etc. When we had a break in the class I had run out of snacks so I went and got another milk and thought I would treat myself to a cheese bun.
ReplyDeleteThe anorexic @#!&^ that was teaching the class came up to me and said "well you've been eating a lot this morning. Is this round just a snack or lunch?". I almost punched her in the throat but instead decided to say the following: "Actually I am expecting, and unless you would like me to puke all over you it's best you leave me to nourishing myself and my unborn child"
I was so livid I actually wrote a letter regarding this lady's behaviour to the corporate training office and I haven't seen her back in Alberta since....
PS: you were super cute when you were pregnant and are super hot when you're not! :o)
xoxox