Friday, February 8, 2008

An Open letter to the lady who sighs too much...

I heard you today.

I heard the first sigh, the second sigh, the third sigh, the 10,000th sigh.

We were stuck in a medium sized waiting room. Our doctor was running late. The same doctor that your husband was seeing. Because my daughter had this appointment, my son had to miss his nap and only caught a short 30 minute one on the drive over. He was tired. My daughter did not sleep last night and was tired. I was tired.

There was enough room for my daughter to push my son in the stroller around in a square pattern. It wasn't hurting anyone. I could have let them sit in the chair next to you and scream instead. Trust me, I was tempted.

Each time as they passed you (remember you chose to sit next to me out of all the seats that were vacant), my son would say "Beep, "Beep". You would sigh. The next time you would sigh louder. I was glad to hear him repeating words since he hadn't said much before the last two weeks. Abs would say "Hi Mommy!" and that would also cause you to sigh. I know she can be kind of loud, and I did remind her each time to use her inside voice. I bet you didn't know that when she was born she didn't respond to any sounds at all. We took her to the pediatrician and they got no response. We had extensive tests run on her ears and brain to finally learn that she was okay. I'm glad she can talk. (Well most days)

When we sang twinkle twinkle 3 dozen times, including hand motions, your sighs could have at least kept time with the beat of the music. It's my son's favorite song and before my husband leaves for 15 months I plan on taping him singing that song with his son. It will be a memory for both of them.

When I brought out the snack of Scooby Doo graham crackers in the shapes of bones, I thought your "sigher" was going to overload and break. No such luck. Yes, my daughter did give a little bark each time she put a bone into her mouth. Yes, my son copied her. They are lucky that they have a sibling with which to go through life. Not to mention they could have been screaming if I had forgotten to take a snack.

When Junior threw his binky down on the floor and it landed near your feet you really started sighing again. That binky was a lifesaver for me when my husband was gone and my son had colic and would scream. It would help calm him down. That binky is my best friend.

So my kids talked, they sang, they played, they ate and they tried to determine if the lady sitting on the other end was a lunch lady at Ab's school. They were children. They were pretty well behaved. I wasn't a horrible mother.

You were only next to us for about 30 minutes. Next time move or keep your sighs to yourself.

11 comments:

Old Cowboy Dan said...

Attaway girl, give her H--L. We had some friends that we would see at a restaurant every so often who now don't come as they couldn't stand children being children, it happened only once. We don't miss them and the soccer teams don't come around anymore, anyway.

Gypsy at heart said...

I am sure there will plenty of people wondering if you are referring to them.....well said.....sigh.....

Aliciaq said...

You go girl! I could go on a major rant - but I think you covered it really nice.

Alicia

Anonymous said...

Sing it, sister!

The Teacup Cottage said...

I love the stories of your little angels. This is our only connection and yet I feel like they have grabbed a little piece of my heart. My nieces are allowed to be a little "free" in our home because they hold back so much because their mom has MD and they feel like they have to be quiet for her. When I am faced with people who are irritated by the laughter of children, I feel sorry for them. They don't know what a joy those sounds are. 30 years ago I was born nearly 3 months early and the doctors thried to have me put in a home for diabled children. They told may parents I would never be "normal". My parents took me home and I've never been any different than my other 11 siblings. No one believes me other than being nearly 5 foot when the rest are taller than 6 feet. Laughter was our music!

Susan said...

The sigh lady must be related to the eye-roll lady and the head-shake lady.

Kasey said...

I hate people like that. I encounter it often having two small children.

jellissc said...

You demonstrated great restraint for not hunting down a huge cork with which to plug her sigher! Although in the future I a bet a rolled up diaper may do the trick!

Anonymous said...

I suppose in a pinch you could have "accidentally" sneezed everytime she sighed;) Maybe she would have at least moved thinking you were sick:)

Just be glad you don't have to go home to someone like that!

Erin said...

Being a new mom, I still remember thinking, "oh my God, children are everywhere!" But the only time it ever irritated me when the parents were on their cell phones and the children were plunging off the office furniture and clocking each other in the head with building blocks.

But hey, that still bothers me now.

I can honestly say, though, that happy children with attentive parents have never bothered me one bit (there is a vast difference, in my opinion).

I don't have to tell you that the snooty lady was in need of a swift kick somewhere south of her waistline.

Brandi said...

I love this post!! I have come across that very same woman a time or two ... then again, I'm sure I have been that woman once or twice as well. It was right on for me as a mother, remembering times when people have been exasperated with my adhd child who is energetic to say the least ... but it is perspective for me when I am exasperated with her ... I am thankful every day that she was born mostly healthy instead of being miscarried like my first pregnancy, thankful that she speaks though it took her so very VERY long to start, thankful just to have her alive after her heart surgery worked it's wonder and gave her health that we hadn't even realized we'd been missing.

Thank you.