HOME EC/SHOP: The Entitled Stroller Mom is Worse than Puberty

I think your baby is darling, really I do. Unless of course it's one of those ugly babies, freakish by its very existence – shouldn't all babies be cute? – but I don't hold it against the poor thing, who will never, ever see his or her baby pictures, nor do I hold it against you. And I understand that navigating that jogging-friendly baby stroller is a pain in the ass.

But here's the thing: it's not the pain in MY ass, nor should it be.

I'm happy to move aside on a sidewalk, happy to hold a door for you. I'll offer my seat on a bus if you look frazzled. I will smile sympathetically at your kid's wail, if I don't already have a headache.

Here's what you get to do: not be a bitch about it.

I mean seriously, because you bred is it my DUTY to step aside, despite being in a hurry (see, those of us NOT pushing strollers have jobs that we're not taking leave from, and they don't think your choice counts as a reason to be late) so that you can traverse a snowy sidewalk before me and every other waiting person? Because the glare I get for zipping past so that I am no longer in the line of stroller-fire, more quickly than you could hope to even turn the corner, mind you, and saying "excuse me" as I do it, seems just a titch unnecessary. And you know, when I do hold those doors, and pretend the kid isn't one of the ugly ones, and don't scream at you "dear god, parent your child, my purse, and breasts are off limits," would it kill you to acknowledge the superhuman effort of will, maybe just by a smile, or, get this, a THANK YOU? Isn't that what you plan on teaching your kid when s/he speaks in more than puke and shrieks?

Actually, I'm taking bets on you not bothering with that one, because people parenting their kids and taking responsibility…well, that doesn't churn out parents like you, now does it?

-Posted by Jilly