A Public Service Announcement a la Stephanie

This is a PSA to anyone who has never had children, raised children, or been a parent of any kind:

Please keep your thoughts, opinions, parenting suggestions, dirty looks, heavy sighs and remarks to your self.

As annoyed and upset as you may be by the sound of a child crying I guarantee you that the parent of the child that is crying or throwing a fit is far more upset and possibly more annoyed.

When a child under the age of 18 months or so is crying, chances are strong that they have a need that needs to be met. Imagine being hungry with no way to make, cook, buy, order, open, pick up or cal in something to eat. This defines every meal period for any child under 12 months of age (for early talker for late takers we'll say 2 years of age roughly). So they cry. As parents we deduce they are hungry. As non-parents you deduce they are a disruption. Dare to imagine how you'd react to sit in your own pee or poop?

As for those older children who throw obnoxious fits in public? When you are ready to open your mouth, remember the last time you got cut off in traffic or found out that you drove across town to discover that the store was out of what you came for. Your fits are none the prettier. Trust me.

I know it's very hard for some people to begin to process breastfeeding. As a proud nursing mom, let me explain something to you. That milk you reached into the refrigerator to get this morning- it came from a cow. A cow boob to be exact. Baby bellies cannot digest cow milk. So they get milk from their own "cow". However, this cow's name is MOMMY. When you are out in public strolling by drinking your latte or diet coke or bottled water, do not stare at a mother who has herself covered up and is nursing her baby. Ironically you and the child are doing the same thing, only the child's beverage of choice doubles as a perfectly digestible, completely balanced, and nutritional meal. In a restaurant and witness this "lewd" act? Remember that at least the nursing baby is quiet when they're eating. Unless you'd rather you make your comments about a screaming baby. In which case, refer to paragraph 3.

While I know that children are inquisitive and curious and it can be somewhat of a burden to smile back at a child or say "Hello" when they say it to you. I won't begin to describe how long it would take you to answer a question like, "What's your name". Try to remember that questions are how children learn. Also remember what lengths you go to trying to get the latest dirt on celebrities or to gossip or hear gossip about your friends.

I also understand that a child fidgeting, kicking around, moving around, talking, or daring to behave like a child can be somewhat frustrating. I know that children moving around at a table or on a plane or in a movie theater is the ultimate annoyance. I realize that adults never fidget around or send text messages while eating a meal or watching a movie. You'd never hear some one's cell phone ring loudly or answer and talk loudly while in a restaurant.

Finally I realize that parents, especially with parents of more than one child or parents of a young child carry a large amount of loot with them. This is not to invade upon other people's space or make anyone inconvenienced. It is however a requirement to have things like a wallet, diapers, diaper wipes, changes of clothing, snacks, etc. in order to help prevent all of the above listed behaviors and occurrences from happening. Overlook my loot and I'll look your over priced bag that is larger than my diaper bag. Please do not stalk me for my parking space as I try to carry all of my loot out to my car from a shopping trip. It will not make me go faster. Giving me dirty looks and rolling your eyes at me as I try to load my gear and children and groceries in the car will not make me move any faster. In fact it is likely I'll move slower.

A wise friend once said, "I was a great mom before I had kids." So as you go out in the world today, tomorrow and every day until you have children reflect upon this. And when the blessed day comes that you become a parent, then you can put all of your thoughts, opinions, parenting suggestions, dirty looks, heavy sighs and remarks in to play. And watch the reactions of the people you used to be.