A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a interesting individual. I don’t think she reads my blog, but if she does… well… I am outing myself here. I kind of wish I had the wit and wisdom to have handled the situation better. And being the blogger that I am, this is something I cannot NOT share.
I had met this woman before. She is one my biggest hair fans. She likes my hair and is very sweet to take the time to compliment me on the dead cells that grow at length from my scalp:
Who knew hair could be so hawt? *tilts head to right and shrugs*
Aaaaanywho. This acquaintance and admirer of mine own dead keratinized cells… commented recently that she liked that my hair is getting longer again. Actually, I was just wearing it straight that day, so it looked longer.
But the part of the convo that left me thinking, “What was that?”… Here it is in spirit. Not necessarily “verbatim”, but thankfully AFTER my children were out of ear-shot:
Hair Fan: I love your hair… yadda, yadda, yadda…
Me: *sweeping soft golden strands from mine cheeks* Why thank you… *teeth sparkle*
Hair Fan: You have lovely children.
Me: Oh. Thank you!
Hair Fan: Do you stay at home with them?
Me: Yes I do.
Hair Fan: Good for you!
Me: Oh, thanks!
Hair Fan: *smiling and putting her hand on my shoulder* Maybe in 15 years we can get together and have coffee!
Me: Sure, but we don’t have to wait 15 years. We can do it before then! 15 years is really long time. *scratches head, gives the “confused” look*
Hair Fan: Oh, but you have kids and I really don’t like kids and if we got together now you’d talk about your kids and when I say I don’t like kids I mean I REALLY. DON’T. LIKE. KIDS.
*blinking*
Now, truth be told, I am not a HUGE fan of kids either. They smell, and the young ones pee on stuff… they’re loud and want stuff and their sense of fashion can be a deal-breaker for sure.
However.
I really make an effort to steer from gossip and slander here, so I want to be careful to not attack this person’s “person”. Also, it’s not that I’ve never put my foot in my mouth… I just question why someone would see fit to tell a mother, “Let’s have coffee in 15 years becuase I don’t want to hear stupid stories about your kids.” Here follows 5 reasons I don’t understand what happened there:
- True. I am a mom. I will talk about my kids. I love them. They ARE part of my definition. And they will be in 15 years.
- I am more than a mom. I have bewbies (go #30!!!) like any other gal and what’s more…
- I am like the Scarecrow after he meets the Wizard – I have a brain!!!
- And if #3 is true, then I have the capacity to engage in conversation on subject matters beyond that which involves my spawn. But, you know what my youngest said the other day…. I digress. My kids are so cute and funny and…
- I would never ask if you have a toy dog you carry everywhere you go, and then tell you I think dogs should be kept as pets and not toys, and then say, “When your Poopsie Whoopsie dies we can get coffee.” I can THINK all that, but…
At first I was amused. I get it. Kids are work and certain folk are just not good with kids. But, there’s a point where one needs to shut it. For me, she might as well have said, “You are uninteresting and have nothing to offer me or society.” I know that is not what she meant, but that was how her words made me feel.
And honestly, I know her intent was not to hurt me. Who knows, maybe she realized her foot-in-mouth moment later that day. I really don’t care that she feels that way. I am COMPLETELY fine with her not liking kids. But she just could have left it at, “Good for you!”
Next time I see her I will be polite, even warm. However, I will have a wall or two up. Also, I will not be carrying around a 2024 calendar. I am fairly certain I’ll be pretty booked that year.
**********
Keep up on the ridiculous, the insightful, the always digressive…
Get Jenny On The Spot by RSS
Get Jenny On the Spot by Email
You can also follow me on Twitter!
Recent Comments