Friday, May 7, 2010
Am I Paranoid?
This morning, while the kids and I were standing in line at the Home Depot service desk, a nicely dressed, middle-aged, Hispanic woman began doting on Sarah. I was holding Sarah and Caleb was standing beside me. This woman was sweet, but she threw me for a loop. After a few minutes of commenting about how cute Sarah is, she asked if she could hold Sarah. Immediately, my defenses went up. I don't know you, I thought. I can't outrun you in my flip flops. There is no way in this life that I would let a stranger hold my baby in the middle of a store. It would be too easy for you to kidnap my precious little girl! Does this make me paranoid? I mean abnormally paranoid? Or is this an example of healthy protective instincts?
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I think in this day you can never be too careful. You are right, you don't know this woman and to hand your child over to her is crazy. Honestly, some people amaze me, I understand talking to a baby, saying oh how cute, etc. but I have NEVER had the urge to touch or ask to hold a strangers baby. I don't think you are paranoid, I think you are being careful.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I give people that touch my kids the evil eye, there's no telling what would happen if one of them wanted to hold one of them. We can be paranoid together!
I would have felt the same way!
ReplyDeleteI totally think go with your gut. Very healthy protective instincts. Go Lauren!
ReplyDeleteShe can get her own baby if she wants to hold one! That is right up there with strangers grabbing prego belly. Its just beyond social norm and is unacceptable to expect a woman to want to share their baby (or bump) with a stranger.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I too would NOT have let a stranger hold my baby in Home Depot... I do know that for the Spanish community it is very common to fuse over babies and want to hold them. Where we have lived, they don't even ask... stranger or friend! So, rest assured you did the right thing... but that the woman was just acting like she was raised to act! In Latin America it is a HUGE compliment for someone to kiss on your little one! I have the funniest stories about Chandler and ALL his Spanish mommies!!!
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