Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Something happened to me last night that I’m not sure that I even want to admit, much less relive but I thought it was important to share in case some of you have gone through similar situations. 

My son and I went to see an early evening movie just the two of us.  It is something nice that we enjoy together and we always get there a little early so we can actually have some conversation which seems to be dwindling in this house with me trying to find work and his new infatuation with all things television.  So, I was excited and generally in a really good mood as I always am when we get to spend some going out time together.  We got our popcorn and waters and sat down in the theater, and I was in the aisle seat as I always am.  It started filling up pretty quickly but I figured it wouldn’t get that busy.  As the lights start to dim there was a mother and son also who I could see looking for a couple of seats.  They sat down directly behind us with the son sitting directly behind me and the mother sitting behind my son.  As he gets settled in he yells out, “Mommy I can’t sit here.” The mother asked him why and then he YELLS out and let me reiterate I mean YELL, “Because that woman is too fat for me to see past her.”

*gasp*

Rather than cause a scene I just didn’t move at all for fear that everyone would know where his voice was coming from.  My eyes were filling with tears and I just hoped and prayed the previews would come on so that it would drown him out, but instead of shhhhhing him like I thought the mother would, she made it way worse then it was already.  She says in a loud voice “Nathan!! That wasn’t very nice!  Now apologize for the woman for calling her fat.” Now people were turning around and to the side, and I felt like every single eye was on me as I was mentally counting the seconds till I would burst into tears.  The kid stood up - walked into the aisle - and looked me dead in the eyes and said “I’m sorry for calling you fat, maybe you should sit where you can’t block everyone.”

*sigh*

The tears came, I just couldn’t help it… they weren’t loud tears with sniffling but seriously they were there.  I can’t tell you the level of pain and embarrassment I felt right then and there.  The mother got up and started towards her son but I just turned around and said to drop it. She heard my voice - along with everyone else - and all I knew is that I felt like I was mortified… there were even snickers from two teenagers about 3 rows up. 

What made it all the worse still was that my son turned to me and asked me if they were talking about me.  We don’t use the “F” word in my house and he rarely watches or listens to anything that would use the word as well, but he does know what it means.  I just told him yes and he saw my tears and told me that it was okay that I wasn’t fat.  Which of course made me cry even more.  I didn’t walk out but you’re damn straight that I stayed there until every single person in the movie theater had left after the credits started rolling. 

It was by far one of the most horrible moments in my life.  And it is a moment that will forever change me from here on out. 

I realize that yes the kid was just a product of his parents and family, but I can’t blame him.  He didn’t learn respect and that’s fine - but the fact is I am fat :( Not that I deserved that comment, but kids say what is on their mind, and the mother was trying to do the right thing even if she went about it in completely the wrong way.  I don’t know if anyone else has been through this, but let me tell you… it wasn’t fun at all :(