I had the most pleasant (make that unpleasant) conversation with an 80 year old man today at the grocery store.
I took my kids with me in the morning, and so it was mostly older people in the store shopping, all were very nice to my kids and smiled and talked to them until I got to the self-checkout stand.
This man comes up to me and asks incredulously, "Are all of these your kids?"
I looked around to see if some school just dropped off their field trip gang behind my cart, by the way he said it, when I saw that it was just my little ones, I replied, "Yup, all three are mine."
He says, "Well I am turning 80 next week, so I know what I'm talking about-you NEED to listen to me."
"Okay."
He then went on to tell me that I needed to just put them all in front of a big TV and just walk away from them.
Crazy right?
It gets better.
Then he tells me that having children is only good for the government and for eventually paying taxes.
He told me that I needed to put a zipper on "it" (I'll spare you his language) and that I need to be done having kids.
As he was about to walk away, since I wouldn't engage in conversation with him...he asks me if they all got social security cards when they were born.
I warily answered yes.
"Well, then see, they already belong to the government and not to you anyway, so why are you even bothering with them?"
I was so livid, but I didn't want to berate him, so I let him walk away while I fumed.
Can you believe that?
Usually I just get, "You know how that happens right? Ha ha."
This was something altogether new.
Anyway just had to share the crazy with you.
Now onto more relevant news...
All you seamstress's out there, I need your help! I won this fun prize package awhile back of maternity clothes from Moody Mama's by Christian Siriano, and one of the dresses included was this fun little wrap dress...
The problem: I am TALL. I am 5'8" and for some reason dresses these days are shorter than my legs permit. I need to add some length to this dress, but I still want it to be cute.
Ideas?
I know there is a creative genius out there, that just said "duh, all you need to do is..."
What!?!
:)
A flirty little ruffle or two can add some length without much difficulty...
ReplyDeleteIf you have a simple tank top dress that's a length you like you could try putting that underneath or add a ruffle or two.
ReplyDeleteThat poor old man. That he doesn't grasp the joy, miracle, and privilege of parenthood. I hope he didn't have children, and if he did that he didn't mess them up too badly. Good job staying calm - that was a great example for your children!
ReplyDeleteSorry I don't have any good ideas on the dress, but I just had to drop in and say "CRAAAAA-zy!" wow, thats just wacky weird, yanno?!?! And he thinks OUR brains are wired wrong by the gov't?!?! hahhaa. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI would just add a hem, as long as you need, in a coordinating navy and white fabric. Super easy, especial as it's a wrap-around!
ReplyDeleteWow, that man sounds CRAZY! Good for you for holding it together in front of your kids. I would have been totally tempted to let him have it. Well....I guess that depends on if it is at the beginning of the shopping trip or at the end when I'm scrambling to get out of there before meltdowns happen. =) I just wanted to say I'm sorry that happened to you. What a jerk!
ReplyDeleteWow. Three isn't that much, in my mind. So sorry this happened to you! If it happened to me, I probably would have started bawling. Hope you're having a better day!
ReplyDeleteJenn
Awww, they lose their minds at 80, girl just keep remembering that!
ReplyDelete;)
If it were my dress I'd replace the sash with a black one, and then use it in the bottom hem with a black stripe, the navy sash for a stripe, and another black stripe.
Awww, they lose their minds at 80, girl just keep remembering that!
ReplyDelete;)
If it were my dress I'd replace the sash with a black one, and then use it in the bottom hem with a black stripe, the navy sash for a stripe, and another black stripe.
When you explained it to me Sunday I wasn't sure what kind of a dress it was, but now that I see it,(super cute by the way), I wonder how big of a hem it already has tucked under it. Can you just take the hem down? Usually nice dresses have a nice big hem hiding under there.
ReplyDelete*maybe i should borrow it from you before you do any adding on* hehehe ;)
I love crazy people, I myself have a few kids and get comments often. Although it is totally rude and inappropriate, not to mention none of his business, he did create a very good story to share!
ReplyDeleteIf that had been someone younger I probably would have lost it. It sounds like the poor man either had a reaalllly bad case of "government paranoia" or some other type of dementia. (which can happen at any age btw) Just have to wonder..Did you happen to see if he DROVE away??? That would be SCARY!
ReplyDeleteAs for the dress, If you want something really feminine, I'd probably go with lace(course, I have scads of it laying around:) or maybe a contrasting color. To unify the "add on" you could also add some of the lace/fabric to the sleeve ends or the decollete area.
No seamstress advice here, but about the old man. Maybe he was out of his mind. Three children is NOT a large family or anything out of the ordinary - at least as far as I can tell. ;)
ReplyDeleteI would so love to have known if that man had any children or if he ever married. He sounds very unhappy. Poor guy.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had to deal with such a rude man. What a wacko!
ReplyDeleteI agree with some of the other comments that a ruffle would be cute on the bottom of the skirt.
No advice on that really cute dress of yours. All I can say about your "old man" story is it sucks to be him. How sad to be so bitter and angry or just mad (in the crazy dept). Here's hoping a stranger does a random act of kindness for you and restores your faith in humanity. (Or makes you feel better anyway.)
ReplyDeletei think you just have to be sad for that bitter man. who knows what has happened in his life to get him to that crazy ugly place?
ReplyDeleteas for the dress, maybe just some leggings under it? i'm not a seamstress.
It sounds like that man may be unstable, maybe alzheimer's or a stroke or something. No doubt it was rude but like a previous post said, I'd feel more sorry for him then anything (after the initial shock and embarrassment wore off). It's sad that you and the kids had to experience something like that.
ReplyDeleteI'd say shorten the dress and wear it over jeans or leggings. Or add a ruffle and new sash that coordinate.
ReplyDeleteAs for the old man, laugh it off as telling yourself someday we'll all be elders and think we have the right to say whatever is on our mind!!! :)
What the....? You're going to have to e-mail me and give me more details.
ReplyDeleteI woulda clocked him.
No dress advice, Yah for winning the prize package!
Oh heavens! Bless him, Lord.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem all the time. There is a store called vintagehem.com and they make slips that go under and peek out with whatever color you want. Lace or fabric or ruffles. Then you could wear it with other dresses too.
ReplyDeleteI would have told that old guy where he could go!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you know that I gave you the Sunshine award over on my blog http://tonia-thenotsocraftycrafts.blogspot.com/2010/04/hello-sunshine.html
Sheesh - I am so impressed that you just let him blab and had such grace! Good for you. Silly old man......sad old man that he doesn't know just how joyous being a mama (or daddy) to sweet precious babes is!!!
ReplyDeleteThe dress is adorable - way adorable. I wish I was pregnant so I could buy me one! :) I so don't sew - so I have no idea about adding length - my answer is take it to a seamstress - I know so NOT resourceful. :)
Have a great day!
Holy moly! He must have ate a lot of lead paint chips as a kid!
ReplyDeleteI'm 5'8" too, so I understand.
☺ Celeste
I'm with the leggings. I think this would be adorable, a little shorter with a cute pair of capri leggings.
ReplyDeleteAs for the old guy, wow. I probably would have burst into tears and then gotten angry. Good on you for maintaining your composure, especially in front of the kidlings.
My paretns are 81 and would have NEVER said those things. So no worries. He's having a case of the crazies.............I think just the opposite - you should have a dozen you make them so well!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you and your children had to experience that. He must have been a man deprived of a loving mother and nurturing relationship that brings joy into one's world. The good news is: he is in the minority and there are a lot of beautiful people out there that are loving and giving people. May our focus be on those who love much! God bless you.
ReplyDeleteSorry that happened to you at the store, but it sounded like you handled it just right. He was looking for an argument and you were right not to give it any merit. I worked at a nursing home in high school and sometimes peoples minds go before their bodies do, or they have been cranky their whole lives and now that they have nothing but free time on their hands they want others to share their misery or they have been hardworking and in control of their whole lives and now angry that they no longer are are and blame the government and everyone else or a combination of all of the above.
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