I've been amazed by the things people feel the need to say before. Like those who comment on how you look when you're pregnant. Or if you haven't lost the baby weight. You know...THOSE people. Lately, I've realized that being 27 with 3 little kids is an anamoly here. In AZ it was the norm. So lately, I've been getting a lot of "Wow, you must be busy." "You've got your arms full." "They must keep you running."
But today, the electric guy came and said "Hi! I hear you have a problem with your lights." Then he saw the girls and he said, "Oh, I see you have a lot more problems than that!"
I should have said, "Wow, that was rude." But I didn't. But I should have.
4 comments:
WHOA! I'm shocked!!!!! Sometimes, though, giving the opportunity of an awkward silence is more polite and equally effective. I should have warned you about this, because I've had these FOREVER! and it didn't cross my mind about the difference moving from the west would have for you! Every day I get this! And I've come to always combat it with something clever to defend ourselves...Wow, you've got your hands full "It helps that he {the oldest} is so independent and can help so much"--puts a positive spin on it, leaving a good impression. And my favorite when it's truly none of their business and I have Alana in a bjorn and my hands are totally free I put my hands up and say, "Looks like we're doing ok though..." duh..my hands AREN'T FULL as you can plainly see!!!
But there was the time that I was leaving the store and each and every kid was wailing in the car b/c this, that, and the other including the whole package of their snack dumped on the parking lot, and the woman next to me tried to offer support by saying "Sounds like naptime"....First response was truly to snarl and growl...like a wild animal...Instead I quickly said, "And lunch time....but yes, for all of us".
Defending about the whole, "Wow, looks like you're going to pop" comments, I just want to ask them when THEY'RE due...thank you very much...as if I didn't already know :)
You know, though, from my perspective, someone saying you must be busy or you have your arms full sounds like they're trying to sympathize with you and not look down on you. It's like saying, "you go, girl!"
But speaking of rude comments, I was asked the other day, "So is this another one I see in your tummy?" (um, no, thank you very much)
heidi--that sounds like a comment from a 5 year old, which I got at the park, too. "Is it a boy or a girl?"
Cheri--this was funny enough, I don't know why I haven't told you yet. On Monday, I took on of Carter's friends with us on a whole slew of adventures--a small local zoo, the park, lunch, then the pet store. At the pet store, with 3 little boys and a baby strapped to me, all excited to play with a puppy, a worker said it, "Boy, it looks like you have your hands full." And for the first time EVER I had the chance to say those golden words I've been longing to say to pardon our public circus appearance--"Oh, they're not all mine!" And I'm still laughing at the relief I felt with those words.
I always loved it when people asked if they were all mine! (I had just the 3 at the time!) I just respond with, "I know! I love it! Being a Mom is the best!" They usually have no response to that cause it seems to catch them so off guard.
Post a Comment