I'm babysitting the wee one today, and this morning we walked down to the grocery store to pick up something for lunch. Mind you I'm in my nanny-wear, which looks like mommy-wear, that is, a t-shirt, track pants, sneakers, hair in ponytail, no makeup, and I'm pushing a stroller.
Checker: "That's three eighty-three."
Me: "Okay, I have three pennies."
Checker: (peering at baby, then at me): "Is that your baby?"
Me: "No."
Checker: "Oh, because I was going to say, wow, that was fast!"
Me: (Oh, no she did not...where the fuck are those pennies?)
Checker: "How far along are you?"
Me: (Oh, for crying out loud.) "Four months."
Checker: "Congratulations."
Me: "Yeah."
Uh, hello? Yeah, I'm not pregnant. I have some curves, one of which happens to be on my belly. But come on. This woman is officially on my shit list. So my message to the public is: Within reason, what a woman does with her ovaries is between her, her sperm donor and her doctor. If a woman wants to walk around with a baby and no ring, it's none of your business. If a woman wants to have children in rapid succession, it's none of your business. And do not, under any circumstances, ever assume a woman is pregnant unless she's wearing a neon t-shirt with "There's a fetus in here! I'm making it your business! Please comment on this fact!!" splashed across the front.
Women: has this ever happened to you?
cross-posted.



Shakesville is run as a safe space. First-time commenters: Please read Shakesville's Commenting Policy and Feminism 101 Section before commenting. We also do lots of in-thread moderation, so we ask that everyone read the entirety of any thread before commenting, to ensure compliance with any in-thread moderation. Thank you.
blog comments powered by Disqus