Gracie was a little under the weather this weekend (a little cough and sniffly nose) so we opted to take it easy. Saturday morning we skipped swim class in an effort to keep her out of the not-heated-to-bathtub-temp pool and spare the other kids in case she was contagious. However B was sailing and she and I had to run and get some groceries and refills for her “vapor” nightlight. While at Target she was dressed in a slightly mismatched way- black Toms, grey/pink sweat suit, a pink pow, and a navy and pink coat thrown over the ensemble. Match she did not, but shes not yet 2 and I think you get a pass. Anyway, as we were checking out an older lady in line behind us began chatting with her, asking about the snack she was muching on (Joe’s O’s), and generally being kind. Midway through the lady looked up at me and barked out “Wait. Is it a boy?”
There were so many things I could have (or perhaps should have done) but I just kind of shook my head no and said “Nope, girl.”
It? I try *really* hard not to get all “special snowflake” about my child (she is our special snowflake, she doesn’t have to be yours, or the world’s) and I am not one of those “children should be seen everywhere and you must love them and accept them” types either…but can you refrain from calling my child “it”? And furthermore, if the black shoes and blue snack cup holder override the pink bow, the pink jacket trim and the pink stitching on the sweats (which are admittedly a little 80’s, but whatever they are warm and cozy) just let it go. Go home and tell your friends all about the weird Mom you saw who dressed their child in a confusing manner. Let them tell you a blue snack cup holder does not a boy make. But don’t ask me what “it” is.
End rant.
