For the past hour I've been working in a coffee shop. Perhaps it's because I'm on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but one of my companions has been a screaming baby. Yes, her mother is here too, but seems basically unaffected by the ear-piercing freak-outs that are constantly flowing from that tiny girl. I first noticed mom and baby as they were in line waiting to order. I thought to myself, "Oh my god, I bet she just wants her coffee so she can get that baby home." But no. She ordered her drink then proceeded to sit down with her screaming baby in the stroller next to her.
Now, I'm a mom to two kids who are not always on their best behavior, so I really hate to judge. However. This is one of those times that mom is 100 percent wrong to sit in a public space, drinking her coffee and writing cards (what the?) while her baby sits in the stroller and screams. It's time to go home, baby. IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.
Just in case you're ever in this position and wonder, "Hmm, should I stay at Starbucks and allow my baby to terrorize everyone? Or should I go home and take my screaming lil' monster with me?" allow me to help you sort it out.
Is my baby screaming so hard it's probably going to make her throat raw?
Is my baby throwing things at other people whom she is not related to?
Is my baby projectile vomiting?
Is my baby breaking the sound barrier?
Am I usually a totally clueless mom?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, please pick up your baby and move her to your home immediately. Thank you.
Have you ever been out and wondered what the heck that mom was thinking?
Image via brknhrt2/Flickr
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Comments 31
I tend to think that it is none of my business. Maybe the mother just needed to get out of the house and get some fresh air and yes BABIES CRY! If she can't calm the child down then it is her choice on what to do next. It really doesn't bother me since I have 2 little ones of my own. They are pretty easy to calm down but I know every child is different.
I will, however, commence shopping at the grocery store. I've listened to babies cry there as long as I can remember.
Nope. Never okay. I don't care if that baby never stops screaming, the mom does not get to subject everyone else to it. Letting your kid scream in a store, market, cafe, or restaurant is rude and, yes, makes you an inconsiderate, self-centered asshole, no matter what age the child is. On planes and at appointments I get that there’s no place to go but ignoring it like this mom apparently was also constitutes asshole behavior. Be a decent human being and, for the sake of everyone involved, at least try to shut the kid up.
I honestly can't even imagine voluntarily sitting somewhere in public with my child (unless it was the doctors, etc. somplace we HAD to be) while they screamed and cried. I would be mortified and I also am not equipped with the chip that allows me to tune out my crying child and go on about my business as if nothing at all was happening (especially in public). Yes, I'm a mom, and I certainly have more empathy for certain situations than I did before, but that is ridiculous by any stretch.