Because of a crazy schedule on Tuesday, we decided to grab some supper out as a family (my first big outing post-surgery). Our kids are great & well behaved in restaurants. The strangers are not....
I arrived a little early with our older 2 kids, ordered and collapsed into a chair. Super Lu & the younger 2 showed up 10 minutes later just as our name was called to get our food. As she left to pick up our meals, I noticed a man in his mid 30's (with 2 kids) standing up to leave. He then noticed Dude, looked around our table, stopped putting on his coat and stared at Dude for a few seconds shaking his head with a look of disgust. Before I could get into a position to get out of my chair to confront him, he was gone. Quickly.
Judging by the way things were going around the table, none of the kids noticed. I still felt bad that I didn't respond in a outward/tangible way - there's no way that I want our kids growing up with reactions like that held unaccountable. It's not acceptable or appropriate to me.
It was a tough supper in the reaction department. There was also an old couple sitting beside our table that started looking Dude's way and whispering a lot & covering their mouths when they talked. Then the man (who was sitting quite close to Dude), got up & moved to the far side of their table. And in case you are curious - Dude was very well behaved, clean, and eating well (with his oldest sister gushing over him the entire meal). This is NOT a case of a loud, obnoxious, dirty kid. I'd like to think the best of this old couple, but their actions were not helping me much....
We're quite used to having lingering stares and people watching us basically wherever we go (being a transracial family), but there's a line...
I.B.
1 comment:
That's awful. One thing I can say, is that if I was ever staring at you, it would be because I think you are such a cute family, and I think it's so awesome for you to have adopted. I really don't understand why people are so selfish and judgemental.
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