April 20, 2010

Young ‘uns.

This morning while I was at the grocery store, the very sweet elderly woman at the cash register commented on how darling my little sister is.

I don’t have a little sister.

I have a daughter. (although I’m not going to argue with you over her being darling.)

 

I know, I get it.  Brian and I are young.  And I look like I’m quite a bit younger than I actually am.  But just give me the benefit of the doubt.  Please? 

When we go out to dinner, the wine glasses are automatically removed from the tables, “Coke? Lemonade?" we’re asked?  When we have children placed with us who are over the age of 2 it really throws people for a loop.  We went and got the boys registered for school last week and the art teacher came in to introduce herself.  (A very nice woman I might add.)  She asked the boys what grades they were in and who their teachers would be.  I’m filling out paperwork when I hear her ask someone if they’ll be registering at the middle school.  She asks again, and out of the corner of her eye I notice….no, there’s NO way, seriously?  She’s looking at ME.  I politely let her know that I am the boys foster mother, and while I’m not really old enough to have birthed them, I am NOT a middle schooler.

 

You should have seen it when X-man was first placed with us.  I was 9 (going on fifteen) months pregnant, carrying around a little boy on my hip who looked to be about 7 months old, and I look like I’m 15.  Add the fact that I was using WIC vouchers to buy his pediasure (before he was on any solids) and I got all kinds of nasty looks from the old women in the check out line.  Whispers.  Glares.  I could almost hear them thinking, “Teen mom, got herself pregnant again as soon as she popped out the first one, and I’M paying for her baby’s food.  Hmph.”  (Very rude old ladies.)

 

The one that took the cake was when Brian and I were leaving for our honeymoon.  Our HONEYMOON.  As we were boarding the plane Brian had his ticket scanned and boarded, but as I started to hand over my ticket, the sweet stewardess bends over to look me in the eye and in a very sugary tone asks, “Now honey, do you want someone to help you board the plane?”  no.  “Oh, well I was just checking, because normally we have someone accompany children 11 and under.”   !!!!!!!!!  11?  Ok, I can maybe understand 18.  11.  ugh.

 

They say I’ll appreciate this someday.  They say that I should soak it up now.  But really.

Maybe I’ll start wearing a shirt around that says, ‘If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you my stretch marks.’  That would get ‘em.

10 comments:

  1. Don't feel bad! I look young as well and get comments like that all the time too. When I was pregnant with our daughter, I was also a nanny for 3 little girls under the age of 5. One day this old man came up and started talking about how I got started early and how i can them all right in a row. I didn't even get a chance to explain myself, but that's alright we'll just let them think what they want ;)

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  2. I feel your pain. I get comments like that all the time! Well, minus the kids. At the beginning of the school year I get "Oh YOU'RE the teacher??" a lot. I'm still waiting for that "someday" when I'll be grateful...

    BTW - Thanks for the clothes!! I love them - so comfortable!! Can't wait to see you guys again!

    Cari

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  3. The t-shirt idea is hilarious! And totally play up the young card - I agree, you'll appreciate it some day when all your friends are in their 40s and you still look 21!

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  4. I used to get things like that all the time - now that I'm 30, I'm finally getting it less and less! It was so annoying though! Hang in there!

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  5. You're only mistaken for a middle schooler because middle schoolers look so old these days. :) Somewhere between child 1 and child 2 people stopped thinking I was younger than I am. I don't know what happened.

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  6. This is hilarious! I'm 4'8" so I'm mistaken for a child all the time! When I was a teacher I got stopped in the halls EVERY DAY.

    What saved me was my super womanly curves and wrinkles. Now I look more oompa loompa like than I do juvenile.

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  7. So sorry, that is frustrating. Just carry around an empty beer can ;)

    We live near a large urban center with many welfare/out of work parents. Because I am a stay at home mom of 4, when I take my kids out during the summer break I get some nasty looks. People assume I'm an unemployed over-breeder. Those same people will be thrilled when we add one or two foster kids to the ranks and I start using WIC. (A special kind of humbling will happen for me!)

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  8. Wow that's impressive..I think the youngest guesstimate I've ever gotten is high school.

    What will really be funny is when Brian gets grayer and people start thinking he's your dad...on second thought let's hope that never happens.

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  9. That has to be frustrating!! I get that sometimes as well when I'm watching my nieces and nephews. Hubs and I were buying diapers and the checkout lady looked and said, "Are these for YOU?" I said, no, they are for my nephew, and she said, "Thank God!" Umm.... what?!?!

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  10. Oh I would get asked all the time if I was the nanny. Umm, no!!!

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