You know, I haven't been on this Earth that long but I feel like its long enough to get a feel for how things work. More now, as a mother, then when I was a single female, I feel like I am slighted by the male population. I don't know about other woman out there but I have a hard time counting the number of guys that will pull out a chair, open a door, let me proceed him in a line, etc. (Yes, even my hubby has a hard time with this.) And I have two small kids. I would like to think that would give a hint, if nothing else, that screams "Hey, this lady needs all the help she can get!" But that's just not how young men are raised these days. When did that stop? And why?
Today while driving into the crowded gas station, I got cut off by a guy racing me (yes, racing, all of five feet to the first open pump, like gasoline was going out of style!). I sighed and made another round along to the next open pump in my MINIVAN with my two small KIDS only to be cut off, AGAIN, by another guy. He seemed to think I was racing him to the stop sign. He slammed on the gas, (yes, slammed) and squealed a tire all to inch out ahead of me maybe 2-3 feet. Of course I was dumbfounded. Now, there's not much left in my arsenal since becoming a Mama. So, with nothing else to do, I gave him my best Mama Face and without missing a beat he drove off.
Similar things like this happened a lot while I was pregnant, nursing and even when I was by myself with a baby in the stroller and carrying a diaper bag, etc. And on more occasions than I would care to count, I had to open the door while trying to drag in said stroller, hold onto the diaper bag and somehow manage not to lose my toddler, too. All that without an ounce of help. Not even a "Hey, sure looks tough to do that by yourself." Maybe its me. My parents always taught us girls that was how we should be treated and taught my brother that is how he should treat woman. I assumed that everyone knew this. So imagine my surprise when I became a grown woman. I am almost in shock when a guy is a gentleman to me or my kids. I feel like I should give him a bear hug, a medal or a "Your mama would be proud" award. For the first time in a long time that happened to me just yesterday. I was walking into my building at work and a dad (so he probably feels my pain) saw my arms full of baby and work stuff and quickly offered to get the door for me. I actually just stood there for several seconds trying to figure out what just happened. And then I realized he was being a gentleman. So to him, I say "thank you." You were thoughtful and kind and you set the mood for the rest of my day. To the rest of the male population, I feel like I should let you in on a little secret: Just because we are empowered women does not mean we want to be treated like one of the guys.
