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Babies in Bars, Strollers on Sidewalks: Urban Culture Clash
The bars and babies debate has been unresolved and ongoing ever since babies started going into bars (like around 2006 or something). Patrons who showed up with just a couple of twenties and thirst for inhabiting their urban surroundings feel certain they shouldn’t have to share the darkened room with a screechy toddler one booth over. Screechy toddler’s mom (“He was just hungry! He’s fine now!”) argues her kid isn’t any more annoying than the drunk hipster speaking too loudly into his iPhone. Anyway, she’s also a paying customer with a thirst for inhabiting her urban surroundings. Maybe she shouldn’t have to share her toddler’s space with such a jerk!
And so it goes, this culture clash between urban parents and the urban unburdened. In bars. In restaurants. And, according to the Washington Post, in parks.
In a piece about how happily child-free people are starting to feel displaced by the growing number of children they’re forced to look at Every. Single. Day., we get the story of a father who went a little nutso on a dog owner for allowing the dog to jump all over the dad’s toddler. (We’ll come back to that in a second.) And also a lot of anger at four-wheeled beasts and their chubby-thighed passengers.
If you read through the Post piece, what’s actually bugging folks are the strollers parked all over the sidewalks, blocking walkways in cafes and restaurants (and bars) and breaking the rules on buses. So if we parents made an effort to use smaller strollers and to find a more discreet place to leave them, we’d settle 90 percent of the problem right there. (Kumbaya moment — did you feel it?)
The rest is really a judgment call that some parents totally blow.
I’ve got three kids and I’m not a fan of taking them to bars because that would mean I’m with my three kids — at a bar. Bar time is me time, you know? But I get that some people just do that and it’s not all that off-putting, especially if the parents aren’t in denial about how annoying their child is. Restaurants, same thing. We’re all relying on good parental judgment, which, sure, is a roll of the dice but that’s life. Right? I take mine out to eat all the time but we go early, tip well and apologize sincerely for the mess under the table. The thing to remember is that there are very annoying adults in this world too and I run into them often, just like you do. Can we have a culture clash with them too?
Oooh, case in point and back to the Post‘s story of Wilson, a dog: Dad chewed out Linda, the dog’s owner, because she didn’t pull Wilson, an excitable puppy, off of his child. No concessions from Linda, but know what she says about kids in her city — HER CITY, you got that? She says she wished parents would keep their children inside the park’s fenced-in play area. “I find people with children to be tyrants,” she said. “As someone who doesn’t have children, I think children are fine. I don’t think they own everything.”
Linda’s got no defense; she doesn’t even have a sound understanding of basic physics. Will she fund a helipad and thrice daily helicopter runs for tyrant drop-offs at the park? Otherwise, in order to get to the fenced-in play area the children must walk through the park — or her park, I guess. And point of information, Linda: children’s bodies aren’t little Wilson’s personal dog park. Dogs are fine. I don’t think they own everything. What I think Linda really wants is for the families to move to the suburbs so Wilson can focus on annoying grown-ups.
Let me try this with a more Linda-attitude. Why don’t people who want to care for domesticated animals move to the suburbs, where their pets can frolic unencumbered? Let the kids stay in the cities and fill the schools and raise the property values and bring life back into her city — Linda’s city — and eat in restaurants that they will someday remember fondly. Let kids stay in the city where they can be less of a burden on global resources and grow up to feel at home in a place worth caring about where eventally, said children-now-adults, can be dog-walking grown-ups. Only ones without such a narrow sense of humanity and such a broad sense of what they’re entitled to.
Let’s say we try that, Linda.
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[...] so you know I’m not out to win any culture war between urban parents and their counterparts who don’t have kids — I’d prefer a truce, a mutual understanding — I’ll pass along a few links [...]
3 Ground Rules for Eating Out With Kids | Strollerderby commented on May 18 10 at 4:01 pm[...] Babies in Bars, Strollers on Sidewalks: Urban Culture ClashBabble Magazine (blog) – May 18, 2010The bars and babies debate has been unresolved and ongoing ever since babies started going into bars (like around 2006 or something). Patrons who showed up Urban Culture Project Presents Community and Loneliness 5/21-22Broadway World – May 03, 2010In 2009 she curated her first exhibition "Together We Can Try" at the Base Gallery in Kansas City Mo and premiered her first solo show at the Urban Culture UrbanCulture Комментарии (0) [...]
sobriquet » UrbanCulture commented on May 25 10 at 6:54 pmBaltimore Mom commented on May 18 10 at 3:13 pmI commented on that piece when it first came out. I’m BaltimoreMom2.
Anyway, as someone who works with animals AND has kids, I’m puzzled at Linda’s attitude. Fence in the kids but let the dogs have run of the park? DC has leash laws. She’s breaking the law and should be ticketed for letting her precious pooch run free.
That said, I don’t have a problem with banning strollers from a store that sells expensive fabrics. But they should also have a ban on handheld coffee cups, which everyone seems to have these days. There are some stores at the beach that have no stroller policies, and I can see why. In a place crammed with shelves of breakable souveniors, strollers and diaper bags are a hazard. If I really want to go in that badly, I’ll find someone to stay outside with my kids, otherwise the store loses my business.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 3:19 pmAttachment Parenting saves the day again! If you have your kid in a carrier, you don’t have to worry about strollers in the city. I found that traveling in DC, NYC, Paris, Barcelona…it’s just easier to use an Ergo. Shops/cafes are too small for strollers and they don’t do well on mass transit trains, either. As far as bars/restos…control your brats and people won’t get annoyed. Seriously. We’ve been everywhere, all kinds of places with our kid and never had a problem. You don’t LET your kid stare at people, say hi to them repeatedly or otherwise annoy them. You tell them that’s annoying behavior then distract them. As far as the psycho dog lady, Linda, her chocolate lab puppy would’ve had a few less teeth if it was jumping on my kid. I have a dog. They need to be put in their place and their place is below children and humans
Baltimore Mom commented on May 18 10 at 3:30 pmBaby carriers might work for smaller kids. But the last time we traveled to DC, my younger child was 2. Far too heavy for me to carry around all day long, and far too young to be expected to walk everywhere.
As a city resident, I also depended on my stroller to get day to day errands run. You can’t fit a week’s worth of groceries into an Ergo.
alison commented on May 18 10 at 3:39 pmI call the cops when I see dogs off leash on the street or in the park (especially if it is a park with a sign that says NO DOGS). Why? Because I am tired of the Lindas of the world not following the rules.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 3:43 pmI get it, B-more…I can’t imagine what it would be like to be expected to take public transportation to do my grocery shopping. I can walk. Most of the time, I still drive. My SUV. I love my suburbs for day-to-day life! DC can keep its high taxes and crappy schools.
PlumbLucky commented on May 18 10 at 3:44 pmWe have a frame-backpack version of a carrier. No issues as of yet with the toddler in that. I think its rated to something ridiculous like 45 lbs (translation: heavier than I can carry) even though it does displace all the weight off your back and shoulders to your hips. Just have to watch for Sir Grabby Paws. We used it all over Minneapolis/St.Paul and it worked like a dream. I didn’t feel the need to haul our stroller all over the place there, thank goodness. It folds decently enough under a table in a restaurant, and the bottom of it under the child serves as a diaper bag (big ol’ zip compartment big enough for all the munchkin’s necessities and our crap too). I can’t quite fit a week’s worth of groceries in there, but it’s close…
And the dog-owner is nutsoid. Just sayin.
jenny tries too hard commented on May 18 10 at 3:48 pmYeah, slings work great for three-year-olds and twins over the age of 6months, right? ::eyeroll::
I did have to use the bus and walk a lot when my twins were little. A sling and an umbrella stroller go a long way toward keeping the peace, but so does a general attitude that you’re not entitled to go through life without being annoyed from time to time.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 3:51 pmGeesh, Jenny…3 year olds can walk for Christ sake! As far as twins or whatever, umbrella strollers are a good choice…and whenever I see people with three under 3, I just pity them anyway and don’t get mad.
jenny tries too hard commented on May 18 10 at 3:55 pmOf course they can walk…like in the park. Or they can walk short distances. But to the bus stop, across busy streets? Not so much. Toddler-pace in the intersection is not particularly safe.
Manjari commented on May 18 10 at 4:04 pmMadeline, I love reading your posts.
I don’t understand people like Linda. She thinks the solution to the dog/child problem is that children should be fenced in? Seriously? I also think taking toddlers to a regular bar late at night is very different from going to an arranged happy hour meant for kids and moms, especially if that happy hour is always on the same night each week. Child haters can easily say, “It’s Wednesday, so we should wait until 7 to avoid all the kids.” I have never had my kids in a bar, but I can understand how a group of moms might enjoy that at their neighborhood bar. We lived in a city neighborhood when the twins were born, and we were there until they were 18 months old. I needed a stroller to get around (I also had no car), and it was a double stroller. This was so offensive to some childless people, that I guess I should be ashamed for having twins. I never even tried to take it into stores (aside from kids’ stores), but I think I offended some people just by passing them on the side walk.
Even now that I’m a parent, I still get annoyed by kids sometimes. I get annoyed by adults too. If people can’t handle all the young and old humans outside their front doors, they should really stay home.
Manjari commented on May 18 10 at 4:05 pmWhen I say, “…take it into stores,” I mean the stroller.
Amy commented on May 18 10 at 4:14 pmYou know, I love my dog and I’m a real animal lover. But a dog has absolutely no business jumping all over a stranger’s child. None. it’s rude and it’s dangerous.
Also, I don’t understand how people can be pro-pet and anti-child. Pro-pet people should understand how it feels for a loved one to be an object of irritation to others. The big difference between pets and children, however, is that I HAVE to take my children places– not just because I’d get arrested for leaving them in the house alone even if I put them in a kennel–but because I need to teach my kids to act civilized. My children need to learn how to take care of themselves and the animals and children who are entrusted to them.
On the other hand, my dog will never have the power of speech, the ability to reason, or opposable thumbs. So if he must be on a leash or in a fenced area so that some dog doesn’t bite the face off the person who could have found the cure for cancer, OK by me.
Baltimore Mom commented on May 18 10 at 4:22 pmMy 3 year old walks so slowly, it takes forever to get anywhere. And yeah, she gets tired, so if we’re walking to the playground at the park, which is a mile away, she can’t walk there, play, and then walk home. I think city residents tend to hang onto the stroller longer than residents of the burbs for some of the reasons presented here already. Groceries, traffic, distance.
The thing about going out in public is that you might have to DEAL with the public. Loud cell phone talkers, people who let their dogs crap anywhere, and people who spit all get on my nerves. But I think the population in general should take a giant chill pill and choose their battles.
A few years ago, I took my kids to a local ice cream place. The baby was sleeping on my chest in a Bjorn and my then 2 year old was sitting quietly and drinking his milkshake when his chair abruptly COLLAPSED out from underneath him and he fell. He wasn’t hurt, but the fall scared him, plus the lid popped off his milkshake and it got all over him and he started to cry loudly, which woke up the baby, who also started to cry. And pretty much everyone was great about getting me napkins and a new milkshake, except for one bitchy girl who huffed and sighed and finally slammed her laptop shut and stomped out. And I feel like a person who is annoyed by a child who is crying because his fucking chair collapsed is a jerk. And might also need to find a place better than an ice cream store to work if she needs to concentrate.
cheri commented on May 18 10 at 4:42 pmOk, mom with toddler here, and I must say, although strollers are a must sometimes, can you moms PLLEEEAAAASE be considerate and not think you have right of way everywhere? I think that is what is annoying the annoying childless linda’s of the world. I, even with a kid of my own, am often being run over or run off the sidewalk/aisle by a mom pushing a stroller like she is God. I think mom’s should get some breaks for the extra wide load….but also need to be considerate of the inconvenience they are causing everywhere around them. There is often a sense of entitlement that comes with those kids that is not really deserved, or appreciated.
Basically, could everyone just be a bit more considerate of those around them, take responsibility for yourself and your creatures….keep your hands and poop to yourself…try not to be to loud or too smelly, and maybe everyone can be in the same space at the same time.
mkay, thanks.
ps, love you madeline.
cheri commented on May 18 10 at 4:43 pmOk, mom with toddler here, and I must say, although strollers are a must sometimes, can you moms PLLEEEAAAASE be considerate and not think you have right of way everywhere? I think that is what is annoying the annoying childless linda’s of the world. I, even with a kid of my own, am often being run over or run off the sidewalk/aisle by a mom pushing a stroller like she is God. I think mom’s should get some breaks for the extra wide load….but also need to be considerate of the inconvenience they are causing everywhere around them. There is often a sense of entitlement that comes with those kids that is not really deserved, or appreciated.
Basically, could everyone just be a bit more considerate of those around them, take responsibility for yourself and your creatures….keep your hands and poop to yourself…try not to be too loud or too smelly, and maybe everyone can be in the same space at the same time.
mkay, thanks.
ps, love you madeline.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 4:51 pm“a person who is annoyed by a child who is crying because his fucking chair collapsed is a jerk”
Amen! and I agree w cheri, too…
strollers…we take them to further playgrounds and to the SUBURBAN grocery, but not in the city…it’s really a different vibe…Ergos do allow you to carry heavier kids…you just gotta be strong and in shape!
Manjari commented on May 18 10 at 4:58 pmI don’t use the stroller now, but I had to when they were younger. Cheri, I am definitely the mom who gave other people the right of way and stops to let people pass, etc. I’m talking about people who huff and sigh just SEEING the stroller.
GP, not everyone has only one child. Also, I thought you were done commenting here? It seems like you should start a Slingderby blog for really strong, perfect, sanctimonious Ergo wearers.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 5:07 pmlisten, Manjari…I can only share MY TIPS from MY EXPERINCE…and my happy experience is being a strong, fit mom with ONE kid who I carried all over the Western word in an Ergo…you have a different experience, good for you…just try to stay out of everyone’s way, mmmmkay?
Manjari commented on May 18 10 at 5:17 pmI wouldn’t call what you do here “sharing your tips.” You display no understanding that other people have different experiences, and you talk about your choices in a really insufferable way. You come off like a mean and pathetic junior high school student in the process, and you know it.
jenny tries too hard commented on May 18 10 at 5:36 pmGP, here’s a little tip: If you really do the difficult things you claim to do (cook while babywearing, walk all over the world with an ergo) you should be proud of them BECAUSE not everyone can do them.
And no, carrying a twenty-to-thirty pound weight every-freaking-where is not a particular mark of being in shape. It’s impressive, and certainly one who can do it is in shape, but not everyone who can’t is out of shape. Besides, how good is that for a kid if you’re out all day? It’s hot in much of the country this time of year!
And for pity’s sake, why would you take a stroller to a suburban grocery, if you’re driving your big SUV? There are carts, and golly gee, you have an ergo (which is damn expensive). Urban groceries know that people are walking.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 6:01 pmSOMETIMES I walk to the grocery, which is not crowded. I leave my stroller outside if its busy, if its not, nobody cares because a stroller is no bigger than a shopping cart. K?
It’s not that hot in an Ergo, get over it.
Also a friend with 2.5 yo twins and I w my just over 2 yo went on an outing in the city last year SANS stroller. That’s right. They went on the train and walked from museum to restaurant. And we all went to a regular, adult restaurant. We handled it. Nobody gave us shit. Our kids behaved. We were tired after, the moms, but it was fun. It CAN be done.
The point Jenny, is that all this stuff is NOT THAT HARD…and that’s what I am trying to illustrate. I am no superwoman, just a chick.
FakeGP commented on May 18 10 at 6:05 pmI’m just sharing my EXPERINCE, people! Your just jealous and lazy because you can’t homebirth and cook over the stove while breastfeedning like I can! I can share my opinions too because it’s a free country! Stop trying to censure me!
jenny tries too hard commented on May 18 10 at 6:10 pmright, she walked you walked, your experience. Great. I’m telling you from much experience, that once in a while, walking with toddler twins is fine. When I knew exactly where I was going, wasn’t in a hurry (and on an outing to a museum, you’re generally not) and the traffic/terrain wasn’t bad (remember I lived in San Francisco for a while—steep streets, crazy drivers, and plenty of entitled child-free) I let the twins walk. But, yeah—the point isn’t OMG I NEED a stroller everywhere, anymore than most sane child-free people’s is “Kids should be locked up or tied to their mother’s bodies at all times” it’s about being considerate. And you may need some help there, if you have to jump all over someone with a different set of experiences.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 6:19 pmhow am I jumping all over anyone…my first post was this:
Attachment Parenting saves the day again! If you have your kid in a carrier, you don’t have to worry about strollers in the city. I found that traveling in DC, NYC, Paris, Barcelona…it’s just easier to use an Ergo. Shops/cafes are too small for strollers and they don’t do well on mass transit trains, either. As far as bars/restos…control your brats and people won’t get annoyed. Seriously. We’ve been everywhere, all kinds of places with our kid and never had a problem. You don’t LET your kid stare at people, say hi to them repeatedly or otherwise annoy them. You tell them that’s annoying behavior then distract them. As far as the psycho dog lady, Linda, her chocolate lab puppy would’ve had a few less teeth if it was jumping on my kid. I have a dog. They need to be put in their place and their place is below children and humansyou’ll notice, I stated my experience, but yes, admonished those with annoying kids…which I stand by…you need to use a stroller…knock yourself out…my experience is that often in the city it is easier not to
jenny tries too hard commented on May 18 10 at 6:46 pmYou stated that anyone can carry a kid if they’re strong and in shape, then got defensive when someone who actually lives/lived in a city pointed out that, no, that’s not always possible. But honestly, I think you know exactly what you’re doing, and I guess I’m about done with babble now.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on May 18 10 at 6:46 pmYou know what? I’m done. Jenny, Baltimore Mom, JBoogie, Manjari, PlumbLucky and others… best of luck. This site has become a time-waster, with the exception of Madeline, the writing has tanked and I get less and less pleasure debating actual ideas with intelligent moms and spend more and more time being driven to actions and words beneath me in an effort to combat the thoroughly despicable posters. I’m sick of my own behavior at this point and the best thing for me to do is just leave. GP, the floor is yours. You’ve earned it.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 7:25 pmTell me how I got defensive, jenny? I told Baltimore mom that I could see where she was coming from, that it would be hard to shop in the city…
“I get it, B-more…I can’t imagine what it would be like to be expected to take public transportation to do my grocery shopping.”
there are serious over-sensitivity and under-reading comprehension issues with you readers…any time ANYTHING is said that is different from lame commiserating, the same group of whinies pile on me…why is MY experience any less valid than YOURS…why is every special needs/twin/c-section/crisis story portrayed as the norm and when someone just talks about how they do something with strength and ease its taken as a threat or an insult? I suspect that many people don’t even consider NOT using a stroller…or NOT sleep training or NOT using formula…whatever the case may be…many people just swallow the plastic HARDER way of doing things…and my input is to show that is doesn’t have to be that way and that maybe if you just TRY to do it differently you might see that its not what you expect
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 7:26 pmafter all, you can’t change others (the grumblers that don’t want your big ass stroller or bratty kids in their face) but you CAN change YOURSELF
jenny tries too hard commented on May 18 10 at 8:06 pmargh…you jumped all over manjari about how you were sharing your experience… as a suburban mom of ONE. Fine. Nothing wrong with being a suburban mom of ONE. Then when some moms, myself included with actual urban living experience and multiple children experience pointed out the problems with walking three-year-olds, you went into your spiel about how “anyone” can do what you do, and trotted out a one-day experience with a friend who just so happens to have twins (convenient little anectdote) as your bona fide urban experience.
And y’know, oddly, I didn’t complain about people rolling their eyes or huffing at me and mine. The attitude that we’re not entitled to go through life without being annoyed does go both ways. The point of talking about the challenges of walking across a busy intersection with a three year old and others is for people who don’t have that experience (like women who take great pains to mention their suburban SUV lifestyle) to hear about and gosh darn it maybe consider the perspectives of the people they share the planet, street, or blog with.
So, yeah, I’m annoyed with myself about this whole exchange…please think about your manners, and indulge me, with something that’s been banging around in my brain reading your answers…How old are you, really? And how were you brought up?
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 8:20 pmShe kind of jumped all over me about sharing MY experience, yes…just like what always happens on Babble…
Scorp, please don’t go…this is really your space.
I seriously can’t stand you people and don’t know why I keep coming back. I guess I am just bored. But I will do something better with my time…
Aunt Kim commented on May 18 10 at 8:29 pmHmmm…in my ever so humble opinion I think it’s not a parent/childless, pet owner/not pet owner, stoller owning/sling using issue. It seems to me that our society in general (yes sweeping generalizing that frankly is often supported by my own personal experiences and observations) has lost consideration for our fellow man. We jump to anger (the father because his child was being jumped on by the puppy…the puppy owner because she was being jumped on by the father) and defensiveness immediately instead of trying to see and understand from the other persons point of view. Many of you above are guilty of this as well. Can’t we all just take a breath, and consider the other person here…and to Manjari’s point…stop and let someone else in. It feels REAL good.
OK…commence the attacks on me now.
Manjari commented on May 18 10 at 8:30 pmDon’t go M_S. I agree that the site has gone way downhill, but it will be worse w/o your comments.
GP, you can feel free to get lost. You know what you’re doing, and you’re just an ass. Yeah, my twins walked everywhere when they were 2.5 too, not so much when they were under 2. The point is, no one is saying that it’s soooo hard. Just that sometimes we use strollers, and people don’t need to get all upset about it. You’re the one getting on your high horse in response to every single post.
GtothemfckinP commented on May 18 10 at 8:41 pmI’m not “doing” anything except expressing my opinion and I’m not on a high horse. YOU (and a few others) just don’t happen to like what I say. I really can’t believe how twisted the group is…
Baltimore Mom commented on May 18 10 at 8:42 pmI am strong and in shape. And I don’t want to carry 30 pounds of child all over the place. For one thing, she’s a heatbox and she makes me sweat. And for another, even in the best carrier, she gets heavy. And yes, I’m a babywearing/breastfeeding/co-sleeping AP mom, but sometimes I like my space. As a ten year city resident, I can say with certainty that there are plenty of cases in which a stroller is the better option. And some people just can’t babywear. Like someone with ruptured disks in their back (my brother) who ginormous babies (my nephew).
LindaLou commented on May 19 10 at 4:34 amI’m not a big fan of strollers. I carried my kids in a sling when they were tiny or got tired ~ otherwise, they walked. The only time we used a (borrowed) stoller with our youngest was when we went to Disneyland. I understand that other people need them (I have a couple of friends with bad backs and/or larger children) but people should be considerate with those things ~ some of them are gargantuan! Now THAT, I don’t really understand. Also, I’m a huge animal lover (we have a whole menagerie here) and I hate it when people don’t train their dogs. It’s pure laziness on the part of the dog owner to not bother to train an animal in basic obedience. Dogs should be taught at bare minimum: sit, stay, come, let it, and down. I don’t understand anyone who thinks their puppy’s right to be rude trumps my toddler’s safety and well being.
LindaLou commented on May 19 10 at 4:37 amAnother couple of things: Mistress Scorpio, don’t go. I really enjoy your posts even though more often than not, I disagree with the content. I’m more of a crunchy, AP Momma myself. :) Also, if everyone would just ignore the ruder side of GP, then she wouldn’t be able to get her jollies by inciting everyone to argue. I’m just sayin’.
MomofBeans commented on May 19 10 at 7:55 amPlease stay, Mistress Scorpio!
I don’t have a problem with strollers. I wore my daughter in a mei-tei baby carrier until she was just over one year. Then we started using the stroller more. Now, I would have her wearing a harness if I could because the child is a runner and no matter how fast I am, I fear that the day might come where I am not fast enough. The stroller may make me uncool, but I’d rather be uncool than have an injured little gal.
Marj commented on May 19 10 at 12:35 pmI have twins and dogs. It is not okay to let your dog jump all over a stranger, much less a child who is smaller and more likely to be overwhelmed by that. I don’t care how friendly your dog is. You don’t know what that other person’s life is like, maybe they are terrified of dogs, maybe allergic, maybe just 20 lbs and smaller than your big lolloping friend. Also, I have a double stroller. It is huge but can be necessary for me to use sometimes. I specifically chose an inline one, rather than a side-by-side model though, so it will go through doorways, and not take up as much space on the sidewalk. Most people seem to appreciate that. I do not usually take it into crowded spaces. Usually me and another adult will carry the boys, they do not walk yet. Once I took them out to a family friend restaurant and wore one and pushed the other in an umbrella stroller. It wasn’t fun, but it did work. Took the stroller to the crowded farmer’s market recently…it was okay. As long as I was patient with people dashing around me and in front of me, often causing me to have to come to a complete stop while people behind me got annoyed that I stopped walking, it was okay. I suggested to my husband that we each wear a baby, but he wasn’t keen on the idea.
Laura commented on May 19 10 at 1:28 pmI have to say reading this whole argument just made me laugh. Just be considerate, stroller or carrier, etc. Some people are just easily annoyed. Or crazy… (Linda, I’m looking at you!)
Don’t go, Scorpio. You’re funny, and I’ll be bored without your comments. Let us repeat the mantra of group forums together: “Don’t feed the trolls. Don’t feed the trolls…”
ChiLaura commented on May 21 10 at 11:18 pmI hear ya, M_S. I mostly browse babble for the actual articles (as opposed to blog posts), and I look in on the Top 5 and the most commented. But what happens when I read the most commented? Not comments about the actual post, just good ol’ GP telling everyone else how much they suck, and everyone else saying, “No, YOU do!” Total time suck. Kick the habit — you’ll feel better! But I too will miss your witticisms, those rare times I’m around. =)
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