Sunday, February 07, 2010

Female sanity

I was in the shopping centre with Andre and Emma. Andre went home quickly to get the pram so I stayed behind with Emma.
She jumped on the toy car and I went to get some coffee for us just a few meters away.
When I came back there was another child sitting next to her and the father right next to his son. He looked at his son protectively and at me with a bit of reproach. That might have been my imagination. I approached and said 'Hi' in a light manner. We started a small conversation .... bad mistake.
I cannot believe how impossible arrogant such a father can be! We had a small chat and realised the kids were about the same age. So I asked if his son already started talking? Yes, bla, bla, how nice, bla bla. He had a bag full of bread with him, he tried to feed his child but the kid didn't want any bread.
Then the father pointed at the coffee shop and said: 'It's great for your female sanity to have a coffee shop next to a toy ride, isn't it?'
WTF? I couldn't believe my ears .... both of us are in the exact same situation and he has the greatness to point out that my female sanity depends on a toy ride next to a coffee shop? I should have told him how sexist this comment is. Assuming I am a full time mum with a unbelievably hard time with my child so that my sanity depends on a coffee shop next to a toy ride is just .... it made me speechless.
I should have asked him if it's good for his male sanity to be able to buy bread so he can feed his child while it takes a ride on the car. Instead I just blushed in rage and said:'Yes.'
Why can't I react more according to my feelings in public? There are a million ways I could have pointed out that his comment was really sexist. It wouldn't have been to educate him, ok maybe a little, mainly it would have been good for my female sanity.