Saturday, April 18, 2009

What is With People???

I took the baby to Walmart today to pick up a few things. She was great through most of the trip despite hating the car seat, especially when it's not in the car moving at at least 65 mph. But it all went down hill when we got to check-out. She might have been a bit hungry (although she shouldn't have been but babies rarely do what they should). She also realized she was in a car seat that wasn't in the car and started screaming her little pink head off. Seriously, the child has a good set of lungs and she knows how to use them. She's also a bit of a drama queen. So I finished up as quick as I could while swinging her car seat around trying to mimic the motion of a car on the freeway. There wasn't much I could do at that point but we were leaving soon and I knew she would fall asleep on the way home.

But everybody and their mother (especially old ladies) for some reason thought it was their business that my baby was crying. I have never seen such nasty looks in all my life. You would've thought I was abusing my kid the way these ladies were looking at me. One lady actually stood in front of me for, like, two minutes and stared back and forth from me to the baby with a look of disgust.

Have you never seen a baby cry? Last I checked babies don't die from crying so unless you want to whip out your nipple and feed her, move along please!

I was so shaken, pissed, and embarrassed by the experience that I am hesitant to ever take the baby out in public again. Oh, and I should mention, when I take Mateo out and he cries, everyone either tries to help or assumes he's tired and needs a nap. Why is this any different?

Has anyone else experienced this reaction?

5 comments:

janiece said...

Oh God yes. Heaven forbide I discipline my child in public (no I don't spank). Someone said something to me once about can't you keep your child quiet and I believe my response was something to the effect of keep your opinions to yourself or kiss my big white ass. I've also had people say that I shouldn't do this or that with my child while in the grocery store. I've gotten "the look" down that says mind your own business. I love it when my mom is along and someone throws their opinion out. Mind you she's almost 77 and is just as mouthy as me. She usually tells the person "you old biddy--mind your own family". Gotta love it.

Crystal P said...

I've definitely had my share of "the look" from other people at the store, especially when my twins were younger. Once, Cierra was going full force at the check-out when she was about 2 1/2. I was just trying to get out of there. An old man came walking up and informed me that "the checkers were all getting annoyed and you could hear that child screaming clear on the other side of the store." I just told him that I was doing the best that I could. Just as he was saying that, the nice older lady that was the greeter came up and started trying to help and reassured me that everything was fine and people should understand, and if they didn't that was their problem. I was so grateful for a nice person at that time, but as it was, I still started bawling once I got into my car. It is just amazing to me how rude people can be when you are just trying to get through the day.

los cazadores said...

Ack, I'm so sorry I'm late - Congrats on picking up baby girl!!!! Whoa! I need to go back and find the blog url, are you still doing the private one. So happy for, sorry I've been caught up in my own excitement of an impending court date. I'll be back soon!

Cindy

linde and josh said...

oh yes, I've seen that look. The look that says "Well...aren't you going to DO something??" When Sydney was a newborn there was a moment like that that I seriously wanted to scream at someone and say "Don't you think I would make it stop if I could??" But instead I hung my head and cried to myself later. Ignore the looks if you can and DO take her out again! It gets easier and they'll get over it :)

JonesEthiopia said...

Yeah, some people are SO judgemental. I have had similiar experiences with R in public. Just ignore them and do what you need to do!!