The Great Daddy Project

Trying to be a great daddy...one success or failure at a time

24 notes

"Just So Rude."

(Setting:
47 degrees (I checked before I left the house), Queens New York. I'm walking down a busy street with Dylan in his stroller. He is wearing a thick snowsuit, a wool hat, and has a thick blanket covering his body.)
Suddenly an old woman walking toward us, looks at us, stops and says...
Old Woman:
Oh, that baby must be freezing.
Me:
(Looking at my son) Nah, I don't think so. He's covered pretty well. I think he might even be too hot. (polite chuckle)
Old Woman:
Oh no. It's too cold for a baby to be outside now. You should bring him back home.
Me:
(A little annoyed) It's a little chilly, but definitely not too cold to be outside.
Old Woman:
(very annoyed) Well, I really think it's too cold and you should bring that poor freezing child back home. I raised 3 children, I know when...
Me:
(Gone are the polite chuckles and sunny disposition) He's fine. Thanks for your concern for our well being. (I start to walk away.)
Old Women:
I'm not concerned for you, but for your baby.
Me:
(There may have been steam coming from my ears now.) I'll tell you what, give me your phone number so I can call you when I want to take my son outside, and you can tell me if it's too cold out for him. Would you like that?
Old Woman:
(Starting to walk away) Just so rude...
Me:
You're right, I should take parenting criticism from some nosy battleaxe who pokes her nose in my business with a smile.
Suddenly an Old Man approaches me coming from a bar no less, as the Old Woman continues to walk away.
Old Man:
Why are you harassing that poor woman? You have a baby with you, just leave her alone.
Me:
(About to lose my cool) No, at this point, I think you're going to want leave me alone.
(Old Man walks away)
(I'm left standing on the sidewalk dumbfounded at the last 45 seconds.)
What started a nice morning walk ended with me being viewed as the Scourge of Queens' Geriatrics. I maintain I acted appropriately while my parental judgement was criticized by some strange woman. Add to the fact that 80 year old man emerged from a bar at 1045 in the morning, stinking of flat beer to "regulate" the situation.
This is why I hate this neighborhood. I don't take any shit from the morons I live around, lest of all when you drag my son into it.

Filed under baby mom dad parenting parenthood fatherhood stay at home dad unwanted advice

  1. electradaddy said: Similar conversation on several occasions. So annoying.
  2. lovealwaysrm said: A+ for handling the situation very well! Not sure I could have done the same.
  3. arborescent said: not sure why anyone thinks that anyone else’s child is their business! and jesus christ, 47 degrees is far from cold. i used to take the baby i nannied outside as long as it was above 25 and he had a great time.
  4. mom2adelae said: Good for you! I’m all about respecting my elders but I think some old people forget that being old doesn’t entitle them to say things, and do (and drive) however they want.
  5. tdgb said: It isn’t only your neighborhood. This has happened to me and the wife a few times already. I think it is just an old people thing.
  6. seulery said: I brought my son out at 3 weeks on a warm spring day and a random old lady yelled at me saying I can’t leave my house for at least 6 wks. I just walked away, but man I really wanted to tear her apart. When you have kids people tell you crazy stuff.
  7. ohhappymiracle said: That is NOT OKAY! I would have lost my shit!
  8. lmbandgcb said: I was getting mad reading this post and I wasn’t even there. You handled it well. I’m fairly sure I would have cursed her out and kicked the old man in the old balls.
  9. thegreatdaddyproject posted this