Personal Vent

[Tammy Councilman]

For those of you who don't know we are expecting our third child and very happily. Well, today I walk into the post office and after standing in line for almost 10 minutes I'm called to the counter. A gentleman (if you can call him that) waits on me and the whole while I've been waiting in line he's been running his mouth to any and everyone who will listen to him. So, I'm at the counter and I'm mailing a couple of cards and a gift for one of my families who lost their angel in October. The man proceeds to say to me, "Are you expecting or just fat?" without even blinking an eye, cracking a smile. I'm so stunned I just blurt out I'm due the end of July. He says "wow, you have a ways to go" and then goes on to say how hot it's going to be and how miserable I'm going to be. So I say, "no, actually I'm quite thankful." You see, our second son came down with RSV when he was just three weeks old and spent 4 days in the hospital so I'm HAPPY I'm not having a child born in the middle of winter during RSV season. How dare anyone say that??? Keep in mind, there's a room full of people standing in line and they are just as stunned and embarrassed for me as I am. In fact, the gentleman next to me tried to lighten the mood and said the guy behind the counter must have foot and mouth disease. Irregardless, it was totally inappropriate and this man never apologized, never acknowledged me, just abruptly took my packages and went on to the next customer. Sometimes I think this world is so cruel and gross that the only saving grace are the folks here on this forum who give their heart and soul every to do GOOD things in the world.

I guess I've said my peace now....:o

Tammy Councilman
Area Coordinator, Greensboro NC
Volunteer Photog
www.portraitexpressions.org (http://www.portraitexpressions.org)

[Tricia Hackney]

Sometimes people are idiots and need to be called on it!! I think I would call his supervisor and report what happened. I once called a grocery store manager because on of the bag boys was making comments about "stupid Christian church people keeping everyone else from buying alcohol on Sundays" --- this was a SUNDAY afternoon and I was dressed nicely (compared to your average grocery shopper) on my way home from church! This dingaling got fired. Sorry you had to deal with such a mo-mo (Hackney speak for moron ;)

[Dawn Marshall]

Some ppl really don't think before they speak. My first three children are girls. Everytime we would announce what we were having...we actually would have ppl apologize about it or say it should've been a boy. Like it was some sort of freak mistake that we only have girls. I remember more than once feeling like smacking someone for it. Instead, I would politely smile and say we were thankful for whatever the Lord gave us...because He knows what's best. (Our 4th is a boy...don't even get me started with the rude comments we got about him).

[Cheryl Haggard]

You should put this in the family section titled Maternity room. I am sure some of our parents could pull this guys head off for you through mental telepathy....(SP)

[Tammy Councilman]

Cheryl, you just made my day! :p I don't know how to move the thread but the thought definitely gave me a chuckle!

Thanks for all the support guys, I knew I could come here and find a willing ear to listen! I think that lump in my throat just went away.

Tammy Councilman
Area Coordinator, Greensboro NC
Volunteer Photog
www.portraitexpressions.org (http://www.portraitexpressions.org)

[Cheryl Haggard]

Big Dog Kirk can move it...Can't ya big boy????

[Kirk Kief]

'Poof'

[Lacey Canaday]

That is mean, to think that some people should walk around with there foot permently in their mouth. When I was six months pregnant with Sophia, people would ask me how far along I was, when they found out that I was only six months they replyed "thats it??? your are soo big for only being that far along you look like you are nine months". They do not seem to comprehend that not everyone is tiny when they are prego.

[HAINAngel2000]

I used to worry about what people thought, now if they are rude I go ahead and tell them YEAH so what I'm fat, got a problem with it.LOLOL I mean I have come to realize that some people are clueless and until they have walked in my shoes they will never understand. Anyway I am in line to poof him away too :)

[Lindzy Foster]

That is horrible, a woman on one of the maternity forums im on said that she went to a popular department store to pick up some maternity dress pants, she was obviously pregnant and the girl behind the counter(who was extremely thin and tall) told her "i dont know why people waste their time buying these things, your just going to use them as an excuse to sit on your *** and get fat, when i was pregnant i just didnt eat and i didnt need them." the lady said she was in such shock she just paid for the purchases and left but later called and reported the girl who got fired....what is wrong with some people???

Im mentally poofing him away right now!!!

Oh and im due in July also! wow i can only guess what he would say to me im as big as a house!

[motherofthree]

I am so sorry that you experienced this jerk today. Some people really do not know the impact their careless and thoughtless words have on those around them. I am glad, though that someone spoke up and let you know that others thought this was not OK too.

[Jeannie DeSena]

Tammy, I am so sorry this happened to you! What a shame this guy didn't keep his mouth closed and spare you this peek into the ugliness churning around inside him. We are so vulnerable when pregnant, and the very people we would never want to hear from seem to take some sort of permission from the appearance of a pregnant woman to share their opinions on all sorts of topics, uninvited and definitely unwelcome. I'm thankful this guy is not someone you have to deal with every day. Where's the next nearest post office?!

I enjoyed meeting you at the NILMDTS training session in Apex (thanks, Kirk and Aimee!!), and I appreciate your thoughtful, sensitive contributions to this forum. (Hmmm... thoughtful and sensitive -- two things that guy was not!)

[owens_mom]

Irish fury response to idiot behind the counter: My pregnant hormones afford me a pause in the journey from brain to mouth.... what's your excuse?

[Dottie Di Liddo]

Or you could just tell the guy, (he's NOT a gentleman) "Do you have to work hard to be that ignorant, or does it just come naturally?" That would shut him up quickly, he'd probably have to think for a few minutes to even figure it out. Don't ever feel like you need to justify someone else's stupidty by giving them an answer or explanation. Hang Tough! & Congrats on your pregnancy... Dottie

[Margaret Hatcher]

Well Tammy my mother always told us that if you didn't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all and that two wrongs don't make a right. I too taught my children and grandchildren the same, but in this world you can't fix stupid and that is exactyl what he is. I heard that they have medication for that, maybe he didn't take his. lol I am just sorry that you had to hear that!

[Amy Joy]

Tammy, Im proud of you that you didn't just go off on him. I probably would have made a scene. Not that that would have been the right thing to do but I know how emotional we can be, especially when we are pregnant. Can you emagine what he would have done if you started to cry. What an idiot :mad:
Nex time your at the post office, smack him upside the head with a box and tell him it from NILMDTS.

[Tammy Councilman]

Thank you to everyone for all the chuckles :D and support and words of encouragement. For those of you who have also experienced similiar instances or know someone who has, I'm sorry you had to go through that too! I'm so overwhelmed by the tremendous support this forum has to offer and I knew when I posted this thread I was in the right place. Congrats to all the mommies here on the forum and for the uplifting insight!

Tammy Councilman
Area Coordinator, Greensboro NC
Volunteer Photog
www.portraitexpressions.org (http://www.portraitexpressions.org)