Thursday, April 3, 2008

The Target Episode

So there I was, innocently pushing a shopping cart with my newborn child inside. She was only a week old, and I was glad to be out of the house. My husband was somewhere in the store, probably searching for new wiper blades, which can't seem to be found anywhere in this entire state. I was turning the corner when a woman almost collided with my cart. "Oh!" She cried, then saw my little bundle sitting in the cart. "What a beautiful little girl!" she shrieked. I beamed with pride. After all, how many times do strangers see a baby and instantly ask (regardless of pink dresses or blue blankets with something like tractors all over them), "Boy or girl?" (This topic of conversation may be used for a future post). I was feeling pretty good. Not only was my baby beautiful, but she was in fact obviously a girl. Then the woman continued, looking at my belly and pointing with her pudgy finger. "So, when are you due?"
I was a little confused. Then the question sank in. I felt my face getting a little red with frustration. Was she serious? "I just had her a week ago!" I cried. The woman didn't even blink. She just looked at my belly again and then walked away. To this day I'm still confused about the whole thing. When was I due? I had a week old baby! When was I due? I probably looked like I was at least 5 months pregnant! When was I due? Do the math, lady. Do the math!

12 comments:

Dave said...

Don't feel bad. People used to ask me that all the time. And that's back in the day when I had a beard.

Marlies said...

People are so retarded sometimes. Congrats on her getting the girl thing right, but seriously this woman must have been retarded because no woman has a fabulous belly right after having a baby (unless they are my cousins or some other super skinny person we are inclined to hate after they have babies and get their instant figure back).

Kevin & Rhiannon said...

You should have asked her the same thing. Mean people suck.

Heather said...

I totally sympathize--almost the exact same thing happened to me just last week! I was at Target with our 3-week-old baby and the woman at the cash register said "You'll have to work hard to get rid of that belly" or something to that effect. It's one thing to comment on a stranger's pregnant figure, but quite another to point out her post-baby flab!

Watauga Relief Society said...

LOL, welcome to Massachusetts. i still am amazed sometimes by what is said here.

ellen said...

You've already heard what I have to say about that Target shopper. :)

Rebecca said...

Obviously this woman has never had a baby before and if she has she has had massive memory loss!

Unknown said...

What is wrong with people???

What kind of woman say's something like that to another woman?

She sounds like a crazy.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to motherhood - the part no one ever tells you about! This chapter I think should be called "Stupid People/Stupid Questions: How to deal with them and appropriate responses"! I could stand to read up on that chapter. What do you say to the people who ask you stuff like that?

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Bethany Fegles Photography said...

My eyes watered I was laughing so hard at your post! You write so well! The general public is so absent minded sometimes! I have people say all the time things like, "Oh wow, your son seems really advanced for being one" and then I say, "that's because he's TWO!" Then there's the majority that just come out and say, "wow, he's small." Thanks people! Thanks! I just want to respond, "I'm so thankful he isn't a giant like your beasty child." :) just kidding... well, maybe. :)

BunchesofBradys said...

No joke, this exact thing happened to me in a doctor's office (dermatologist). One of the receptionists asked if I wanted to feed my crying baby in one of the rooms...I said sure...not two seconds later, the other receptionist (she was sitting next to the one I was talking to), said, When are you due?
"What?" I said. "I just had a baby 8 days ago", and pointed to the car seat I was carrying on my arm. She was obviously so embarrased she didn't say another word and got up and left behind the desk.
Hello lady....I was carrying a car seat!!! What do people think are in those things....Two year olds? Come on!