My post for the book club went up early and I decided I want to tweak it, so I took it down. The revised version will be up tomorrow.
I'd like to take this moment to rant. (Yes,this might also have something to do with taking the other post down. Hey, it's my space.) Yesterday S and I took off for the hills with Baby X in tow. We enjoyed a quiet lunch (read: practically empty) at a favorite brewery during which S noticed that many of the kids in tow with their families appeared to be adopted (transracial). That was an interesting observation for sure and made me think perhaps we weren't the only ones seeking shelter from the M-day madness. More likely it was a weird coincidence. Anyway, after lunch we went shopping at the outlet mall and while I popped into a jeans store with Baby X, S went looking for the restroom. A very young sales girl came up to me while I was browsing the clearance rack and attempted to strike up a conversation that went a little something like this:
Her: Oh are you out for a day by yourself? Well, sort of? Is there something I can help you find?
Me: Uh, just looking thanks.
She comes over a couple minutes later (the store was dead)
Her: Oh he's so cute!
Me: Thanks.
Her: He has such long eyelashes! Who did he get those from? (Peers at me shuffling through the rack). They came from you!
Me: They came from his birthmother. (I'm annoyed at this point, I like to shop in peace)
Her: Uh, are you his aunt or something?
Me: No, we adopted him. (By now S is back, and I'm looking for the damn dressing room.)
Her: Oh, well, that's different. (Stares at X again). He kind of looks like you in a weird way.
Me: Um, ok.
I tried on the jeans, actually liked them and they were a smoking deal but I was so fucking annoyed at the exchange with the salesgirl that I didn't buy them. Granted, I could have murmured something non commital at the eyes comment and hoped that she would leave me the fuck alone, but it didn't feel like that would work. I guess part of me wanted to put her in her place for interrupting my deal hunting (which, by the way is kind of difficult with a kid who is getting antsy), and part of me was extra-sensitive and looking for a fight. Poor girl. Probably didn't know what hit her.
I'd like to take this moment to rant. (Yes,this might also have something to do with taking the other post down. Hey, it's my space.) Yesterday S and I took off for the hills with Baby X in tow. We enjoyed a quiet lunch (read: practically empty) at a favorite brewery during which S noticed that many of the kids in tow with their families appeared to be adopted (transracial). That was an interesting observation for sure and made me think perhaps we weren't the only ones seeking shelter from the M-day madness. More likely it was a weird coincidence. Anyway, after lunch we went shopping at the outlet mall and while I popped into a jeans store with Baby X, S went looking for the restroom. A very young sales girl came up to me while I was browsing the clearance rack and attempted to strike up a conversation that went a little something like this:
Her: Oh are you out for a day by yourself? Well, sort of? Is there something I can help you find?
Me: Uh, just looking thanks.
She comes over a couple minutes later (the store was dead)
Her: Oh he's so cute!
Me: Thanks.
Her: He has such long eyelashes! Who did he get those from? (Peers at me shuffling through the rack). They came from you!
Me: They came from his birthmother. (I'm annoyed at this point, I like to shop in peace)
Her: Uh, are you his aunt or something?
Me: No, we adopted him. (By now S is back, and I'm looking for the damn dressing room.)
Her: Oh, well, that's different. (Stares at X again). He kind of looks like you in a weird way.
Me: Um, ok.
I tried on the jeans, actually liked them and they were a smoking deal but I was so fucking annoyed at the exchange with the salesgirl that I didn't buy them. Granted, I could have murmured something non commital at the eyes comment and hoped that she would leave me the fuck alone, but it didn't feel like that would work. I guess part of me wanted to put her in her place for interrupting my deal hunting (which, by the way is kind of difficult with a kid who is getting antsy), and part of me was extra-sensitive and looking for a fight. Poor girl. Probably didn't know what hit her.
Bleh. Those are icky encounters. I sad that it cost you a pair of jeans, but I'm glad it cost her a commission.
ReplyDeleteHere from the Roundup:
ReplyDeleteUgh! I have a tendency to simply tell people what's what - you want to give me your advice on how to get pregnant? Let me tell you why that's not going to work - but it can be hard. I can see how it might be extra hard when the child is adopted, since people seem to like pointing out which parts of the child look like which parent...and I swear by all that is holy sometimes they make stuff up. My son looks EXACTLY like his father - nothing of me about him, yet, but people will say "oh and he has your X". *hugs* I'm sorry she was so insensitive and...insistent? eager? clueless?
Oh, dear, she just didn't know what to say, did she when she heard the response was his birthmother and that he was adopted. My husband has had people ask him "where did you get him from?". He just says, "my wife." Hah!
ReplyDeleteFound you on the Round Up - love this post. Where DO these random strangers and their inappropriate comments about our lives come from? Never ceases to amaze me how these rude people seem to always be crossing our paths. Good times. I hope you still got to find some good deals, despite annoying sales girls and an antsy baby!
ReplyDelete