I've decided I don't like the "Mother's Room" at church. This is because, in my mind, the place it most closely resembles is a middle school's girl's locker room and consequently bears a striking resemblance to hell. There are so many similarities: awkward nudity, gossiping, vicious cheerleaders/trophy wives. Yesterday I sat down to feed Reuben and found myself in the company of two other woman. One was feeding her daughter rice cereal and the other was changing her sons diaper. Some pleasantries were exchanged and introductions made. Woman A observed that Reuben had been blessed recently. I said yes and something about Reuben being my first kid.
Woman B then exclaimed Oh! He's your first?
Me- Yes.
Woman B- Realllly?
Me- Yes.
Woman B- "I don't know why (ha) but I thought you had like three other kids!"
Me- No. Just Reuben.
Woman B- "Wow. I was sure you had more! I don't know why I thought that. Ha."
Me- No. (PERIOD) Awkward silence. While I try to digest my shock.
And in my head I'm thinking is this woman insane? Does she honestly think I'm refusing to claim offspring? How old does she think I am? Why does she keep insisting I have more kids? Then I looked at her, in heels, lots of make up, jewelry, dressed to impress and I began to suspect why she thought I had more kids. My incredible mothering skills! Right? right? Okay, maybe not. Then I wanted to punch her in the face. Sadly she and the other woman had already resumed a conversation about how lovely touring Europe was. So my moment was lost and all I could do was replay the 30 Rock clip below in my head and think of alllll the things I really wish I would have said.
9 comments:
I can't believe she said that. That gal needs to get a clue and look outside herself a little. Wow, that was rude. The 30 Rock clip was dead on hilarious.
I know what you mean about the mothers room, esp when you're new in a ward... but just remember it's not their space that you're invading, it's your space too. Like Kari says, "own the gym." Own the mothers room, Katy.
I bet it was because you were such a great nursery worker and the kids just loved you, so she thought they were actually your kids.
well, i have to say i've had a similar experience...a few years ago (when i was only 24) i had a conversation with a co-worker (a woman around the age of 45). the conversation went something like this.
her: so you're older than olga (another co-worker).
me: no, actually i'm not. olga's in her mid 30s.
her: no way. i can't belive that. you're not older than olga!?
me: no, no i'm not.
her: wow. i could have sworn you were older than olga.
me: no i'm 24. she's in her mid 30s.
her: man, i can't believe that. are you kidding me?
needless to say, i was ready to hit her too. it's a good thing for her i'm a pacifist.
I remember the mothers' lounge being similar sometimes. I think part of it has to do with church being like the stay at home mom's weekly showcase. yikes.
Snarky Other Mom comments are THE WORST.
Lol. I love your commentaries. You always are able to put into words the things I've been grasping at.
What I hated about the mother's lounge was that the intercom thing would be on so you could hear Sacrament Meeting, but the women would talk over it. It's like a requirement to talk if you're sitting in there.
Oh...and I hated the comparisons. "My baby is sitting up. Is yours?"
Or the mothers who have "been there, done that" and know EVERYTHING there is to know about your baby's current stage.
Wow, I didn't realize I hated the mother's lounge so much.
I did make one really good friend in there, though. She even taught me how to sew!
First of all, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE 30 Rock. Of course Dave and I discovered it like the week before we moved to England, so we have to Netflix it after the fact. Anyway, I haven't had those types of problems with any Mother's rooms, but our ward had so many moms there was always crowd control issues. You would go in the 4 foot by 4 foot room to find 3 moms nursing and 2 changing diapers. Once, I went in the mothers room and there was a cub scout troop (or at least that is how I remember it) having a meeting in it. On Sunday. Right when Enoch was dying of hunger. Are you kidding me? I had Dave kick them all out. I love my husband.
When we visited Utah a couple months after having Donovan. I was in Gregory's parents ward in the mothers lounge, a mom in a black dress came in and as soon as the door shut from behind her, she lifted her whole dresss to feed her baby!?!
YIKES!
H-E-L-L-O???
I didn't know what to do. We'll just say that was one of my weirdest experiences ever!!!
Personally I hate feeling awkward about wanting to go back to sacrament meeting instead of yakking the whole meeting away, I'll get up and stand there for a second waiting for the conversation with me to end and the other person doesn't take the hint that I would like to go back.
And, I respect people's choices to cover up, but for those who can't or prefer not to in there it's legal and fine with me. For me I never grasped the blanket thing, and I have a cover with a strap now, but in church in the mothers' lounge I prefer to whip it out and feed my kid the good old fashioned easy way. It's like the only all female place to be able to do it! I guess I'm one who creates the awkward nudity! But if I wear a dress, I nurse in the tiny locker stall in the lounge so no one has to see.
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