I've Had Nine Years To Think Of What I'd Do
And it finally happened.
While at the Y for swim lessons last week, they passed out coupons - they were doing a fundraising night at Chili's. As a bonus, they had coupons for kids to eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Tonight was the night. We decided to go after swim lessons.
We arrived, were seated, and placed our order. After five or ten minutes, I decided to go ahead and nurse Brigid, so that she wouldn't want to nurse just as my food arrived. I started to nurse her. About two minutes later, a woman with a headphone thing, like a manager would have, walks by the table. She stops a few feet past our table, then turns back to our table.
"Would you please do that in the bathroom."
"I have every right to breastfeed in a place where I am otherwise authorized to be. Besides, would you want to eat in a bathroom?"
"Well, no, but..."
The conversation degenerated from there. If she had just made the request, then walked away when I refused, it would have been angering. The fact that I had to repeat the law three times was bad. Then she tried to tell me that the law also required me to be "discreet." I told her that, in fact, that language was removed from the law some four to five years ago. (It actually could be more, but I can't recall the exact year.) She then tried to tell me that "if [I] kept doing it, people would start to stare." I told her that I had breastfed all three of my children, and I was pretty sure I knew what people would do.
Which is to say - nothing.
I got her first name from the server, and I picked up a card at the front with the general manager's contact information. I've had nine years to contemplate what I'd do if someone ever said anything to me. Let's just say I could be a Cylon, 'cause, boy, do I have a plan.
While at the Y for swim lessons last week, they passed out coupons - they were doing a fundraising night at Chili's. As a bonus, they had coupons for kids to eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Tonight was the night. We decided to go after swim lessons.
We arrived, were seated, and placed our order. After five or ten minutes, I decided to go ahead and nurse Brigid, so that she wouldn't want to nurse just as my food arrived. I started to nurse her. About two minutes later, a woman with a headphone thing, like a manager would have, walks by the table. She stops a few feet past our table, then turns back to our table.
"Would you please do that in the bathroom."
"I have every right to breastfeed in a place where I am otherwise authorized to be. Besides, would you want to eat in a bathroom?"
"Well, no, but..."
The conversation degenerated from there. If she had just made the request, then walked away when I refused, it would have been angering. The fact that I had to repeat the law three times was bad. Then she tried to tell me that the law also required me to be "discreet." I told her that, in fact, that language was removed from the law some four to five years ago. (It actually could be more, but I can't recall the exact year.) She then tried to tell me that "if [I] kept doing it, people would start to stare." I told her that I had breastfed all three of my children, and I was pretty sure I knew what people would do.
Which is to say - nothing.
I got her first name from the server, and I picked up a card at the front with the general manager's contact information. I've had nine years to contemplate what I'd do if someone ever said anything to me. Let's just say I could be a Cylon, 'cause, boy, do I have a plan.