This morning as Harrison and I were walking home after dropping Grace off at school, I struck up a conversation with one of the school's crossing guards as I was waiting to cross the street. We were chatting about Harrison, who was snoozing contentedly in his sling, when out of no where the crossing guard asked me, "Are you breastfeeding him?" When I replied that no, he's bottle fed, she looked at me for a moment and said, "Oh, so you must be going back to work then." When I told her that nope, I'm not planning to go back to work until September, she paused for another moment or two and said, "I don't understand you." And I could almost feel her head shaking at me as she walked away.
And a good morning to you, too.
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Speaking of work, yesterday there were several layoffs at Aaron's employer, and I got my first real dose of panic about being a single-income family in this economy. I found out about the layoffs when one of Aaron's co-workers posted on Facebook that he had just been laid off and I immediately tried to call Aaron to make sure he wasn't affected. I wasn't able to reach him right away, so there was a period of about twenty minutes in which I was certain that Aar was being issued his pink slip and would be on his way home to deliver the bad news.
Thankfully, Aaron's job was spared, but this is just another reminder for me that everyone is vulnerable these days. My sister, who is a teacher, also got a pink slip recently (actually, the slip was white but she colored it pink--at least she has a sense of humor about all of this). You know it's bad when the teachers, especially the good ones who really care and are doing a fabulous job (like my sister) are being cut. It just sucks and my heart goes out to those families who are now having to deal with a loss of income.
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On a happier note, I have discovered the key to getting Harrison to nap: the dishwasher. Harrison is now on a pretty predicable three-nap-a-day schedule, and if I am ever having a hard time getting him to fall asleep, all I have to do is fire up the dishwasher (as long as it's loaded with dirty dishes, naturally) and place Harrison in his bouncy chair next to it, and he's out like a light, guaranteed. Variations on this have worked as well...Harrison also falls asleep to the sounds of a hair dryer or a vacuum cleaner. Perhaps we should invest in a particularly loud fan to run during the night so our little man (finally) starts sleeping through the night??
Surprising no one
9 years ago
4 comments:
You know, women who aren't breastfeeding tell me that people act judgemental toward them, and I always have a hard time believing it. I think maybe people are being paranoid or oversensitive. And then I hear a story like this, and I have to believe that, yeah, there are some real ASSHOLES out there.
I mean, how ignorant or unimaginative do you have to be to understand that a lot of mother/baby pairs are not able to breastfeed for one reason or another? And also that it's none of their business?
I'm nearing 30 and still need to sleep with a fan running. It works wonders.
And to the crossing guard, why do people have such opinions about absolute strangers? Next time spout off something like, "it doesn't allow me to resume my cocaine habit" or something equally obnoxious. he he.
i'm breastfeeding now, but i didn't nurse my first at all, and i had to wean my third when i got pregnant for my fourth. (weird thing about bodies thoug - this time around, i have plenty of supply through pregnancy. last time, there wasn't a drop.)
Anway i can totally relate to people who belittle moms without even knowing their stories. Next time, say "well, you know what they say about assuming - it makes an ass out of you." and then when they say "and me" (to finish the saying,) say "yeah, that's what I said, it makes an ass out of YOU." its just as awkward when you say it as when i type it, but maybe it will confuse them. jerks.
oh carrie, you'd be amazed how many times i have been asked if i am nursing and how many disapproving gestures i get in return when i say, "no, i'm not." there are PLENTY of haters out there.
sometimes i think i am being overly sensitive, because yes, it's a touchy subject with me. and then things like this happen and i realize my defensive feelings are justified.
it doesn't pay to get too upset about it though...it's just like everything else with parenting...someone is always going to think you're doing it all wrong, and you just have to block out the haters and do what is best for your baby.
oh, and jenny...LOL.
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