Mom-Shamed

A few days ago, my husband and I drove an hour and a half with our 12 month old, which was like torture, just to get to a mall. He wanted to trade in his PS4 and he wanted to treat me to a new bra (the non-nursing kind) because I hate Walmart bras. Since having learned we were pregnant, all I could wear was nursing bras and it was driving me crazy.

So while he went to stand in line for a trade in, I took our son in his stroller to LaSenza. I was so welcomed by the sales staff and I was very happy to know how helpful they were. I needed to be re-measured (because we all know our old ones don't fit anymore) and the woman that greeted me was more than happy to help. She asked me what kind of bras I normally wear and what level of push up or not I liked.

She was so helpful, but while I was picking out something in my new size, my son (the curious little thing) pulled a clothing rack down on his stroller. It didn't hit him and I thought it was kind of funny, until I heard another customer whisper under her breath close by, "Thats why you dont bring kids in here."

From being amused at my son to feeling utterly shamed in public...two seconds. It took two seconds for me to feel like I wasn't welcome in a store, any store where my son might pull something out. I can't control what he finds fascinating. He's a baby and I cant just leave him outside the store, like "Here Richard, You take care of yourself. Don't let a stranger wheel you away."

All I wanted was something to feel pretty in, and I deserve it. I incubated a baby for nine months went through 24 hours of labour only to have an emergency c-section. I keep him fed, clothed, clean, and happy. I slave over a hot oven cooking him vegatables and pre-packaging them in the freezer so we don't spend extra money on baby food.

And because of that one calous woman, its spoiled.

I later thought up everything I wanted to say to her, my anger getting the better of me. But I had to realize that people without children don't understand how that feels. What if she couldn't have kids? What if she didnt want them? What if shes that way with everyone? I decided to turn the other cheek in that instance, and I know that making a scene in LaSenza would be petty of me. Sometimes you just have to be the bigger person, even when you are being shamed for even having a child. I will never be ashamed of my son. He is my light, my joy, and my reason for getting up in the morning.

(Because his giggling over the monitor is the best way to wake up.)