I just finished reading this blog post on Elastic Waist, and I think it totally follows Leslie's recent unpleasant moment with her landlady. How are we supposed to respond when others (intentionally or otherwise) make rude comments about about our physical appearance? And furthermore, how can we react when these comments come from someone under three feet tall who still sleeps in footy pajamas?
I haven't had an excessive amount of traumatizing events, but I can recall a few moments vividly. On two occasions I've been watching little toddler girls, and they've deemed it necessary to pet my tummy and congratulate me on the upcoming arrival of the fruit of my womb. Well, maybe in not so many words, but they did point at my stomach and say, "Baby?" These girls mothers were pregnant at the time, so that was quite possibly why they assumed that belly equals baby. Still, I can't blame children for an honest mistake, and this was more of a cold splash of a wake up call for change that I'd like to create in myself.
Another more horrifying event occurred when I was pushing a friend's daughter around WalMart in a shopping cart, and she chose to loudly announce to me and everyone within earshot that I am fat. "You're fat," she repeated several times as she stared into my eyes, and I scanned the aisles for a distraction from her new mantra. "Do you like granola bars?" I asked when my eyes fell upon the boxes. She replied that she did, and I said, "Oh, that's nice" as I continued without giving her any, and searched frantically to return her to her mother. Should I have let my feelings be as hurt as they were by a four year old? What's worse is that I love this kid, and I don't like having this unpleasant moment pop into my head when I think about her. And is she a bully to other little fat girls at preschool?
Children's words are too darn powerful for my liking.
Monday, October 20, 2008
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2 comments:
So if that's the same child I'm thinking of, she recently announced to me that my hair is "poofy." That's one very outspoken child...
It's really too bad children don't have a filter. Also, you are not fat.
Leslie did the "Baby?" thing to our aunt Cora when she was little. I doubt she remembers it, as I was only about 6 when it happened.
I think aunt Cora's reaction was pretty good. She just said something like, "Nope, no baby. I'm just fat. You shouldn't ask ladies if they're having a baby, it's not very nice."
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