Ana's still in California, but I had the baby today.

[conuly]

It's actually a Jewish holiday, so Jenn was home, but as she was cleaning my house (again), I had the baby.

And here I am, on the bus, with a bag of clothes (very much love the superman outfits, by the way, Ana'll be over the moon with those. Thanks, mayna!) and the baby, sitting next to a very talkative woman.

Now, the "OH! THAT BABY IS SO BEAUTIFUL!" conversation has already gotten to be very old, but at seven months, they can't really chatter inanely about how brilliant, polite, or sweet she is, so I just smile and nod.

Yes, yes, she has beautiful eyes.
Yes, yes, she has beautiful eyebrows.
Yes, yes, she'll never have to pluck or wax or... wait, what?

WHAT?

Why the hell are you telling my niece about all the horrible things women do in the name of arbitrary standards of conformity and beauty?

She is SEVEN MONTHS OLD.

You need to back off. Now.

I was deeply disturbed by this conversational turn, and quite happy to leave the bus, even as it meant I had to struggle with getting the bag of clothes back on the dolly after they fell off.

Seriously, what just happened there?

Oh, and the baby is starting to figure out "no" now. I tell her no as she's going near the fan, and before I can move her (or the fan), she's turned around, cried a bit (aww...), and wandered off to a new toy. I felt bad about the crying, but I can't very well let her slice her fingers off on a plastic fan, can I? I didn't think so.

Comments

[thren0dy.livejournal.com]

That is possibly the weirdest thing I have heard someone saying about a baby. I have no idea where their priorities would be to even think about it when looking at a child.

That said, I pluck and wax, I don't think it's that heinous. :(

[conuly]

Yeah. I explained it better in Feminist Rage, actually - it's not the eyebrow modification that gets to me (although you won't catch me doing it), it's the idea that if you don't look like society wants, you *have* to pluck, wax, whatever.

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

Eh. Babies are resilient. Everyone's so worried about breaking the baby, but sooner or later it will happen. I heard about a woman who accidentally cut her baby's finger off while chopping veggies (baby was in a sling or pouch). They sewed it back on-- baby doesn't even have a scar!

[conuly]

Yes, but blood stains, and I wouldn't look forward to sewing it out of the carept :(

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

Very pragmatic.

I keep blood stain remover handy for such occassions.

[stagemanager.livejournal.com]

My first thought, reading the title:

I didn't even know you were pregnant!

[conuly]

*snickers*

Good one :)

[peaceofpie.livejournal.com]

That is creeeepy.

[conuly]

Isn't it?

[mayna.livejournal.com]

The superman outfits were on clearance at Target last year in May, for some oddball reason. They're so cute. :-)

[conuly]

That they are. And you couldn't've known it, but Ana's got this thing about Superman. I blame her dad and his comic-book ways. She'll be beyond thrilled.

[thren0dy.livejournal.com]

That is possibly the weirdest thing I have heard someone saying about a baby. I have no idea where their priorities would be to even think about it when looking at a child.

That said, I pluck and wax, I don't think it's that heinous. :(

[conuly]

Yeah. I explained it better in Feminist Rage, actually - it's not the eyebrow modification that gets to me (although you won't catch me doing it), it's the idea that if you don't look like society wants, you *have* to pluck, wax, whatever.

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

Eh. Babies are resilient. Everyone's so worried about breaking the baby, but sooner or later it will happen. I heard about a woman who accidentally cut her baby's finger off while chopping veggies (baby was in a sling or pouch). They sewed it back on-- baby doesn't even have a scar!

[conuly]

Yes, but blood stains, and I wouldn't look forward to sewing it out of the carept :(

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

Very pragmatic.

I keep blood stain remover handy for such occassions.

[stagemanager.livejournal.com]

My first thought, reading the title:

I didn't even know you were pregnant!

[conuly]

*snickers*

Good one :)

[peaceofpie.livejournal.com]

That is creeeepy.

[conuly]

Isn't it?

[mayna.livejournal.com]

The superman outfits were on clearance at Target last year in May, for some oddball reason. They're so cute. :-)

[conuly]

That they are. And you couldn't've known it, but Ana's got this thing about Superman. I blame her dad and his comic-book ways. She'll be beyond thrilled.