Today we had an afternoon of bonding with my sisters and mom. Despite an off-schedule morning of Enzo waking up early, having a morning nap, and then twice as much milk as normal, I agreed to venture out to lunch.
Turns out that wasn't the best idea, as I should have put him down for a nap. It started out okay (as evidenced here in this photo) and immediately became the worst lunch of my life. Enzo got fussy and belted out his experimental hey-I-realized-I-can-make-this-high-pitched-scream scream. I then experimented with some discipline and firmly shook my head and explained that we don't scream in public and didn't give it much more attention, since I've realized that's what he's after. Again. Scream. Then I hear from a distance behind me in the most vile and aggrivated voice. "SHUT. UP.!!!!!!!!!!!"
We all turn around to see an angry old man with his wife glaring at us. I turn my head back toward my family and manage to slowly utter, "Did that just happen?" (Which was more-than-slightly reminiscent of my verbatum statement when I fell on my arse in the middle of our wedding ceremony.) I turn around again while mom grunts "how rude that was" and see the old woman mouth "sorry" while gesturing to her crotchety husband.
Immediately I decided that the man was not well, maybe alzheimers or turrets syndrome, or had a miserable life. Made me feel a little better, nonetheless. Still, I felt like the restaurant was focused on us and my son's every move. He cried again -- just begging for a nap. I took him outside as fast as I could. After a few minutes of distraction, a teenie woman emerges from the restuarant and exclaims, "you get back in that restaurant. Your baby can make whatever noises and sounds he wants to. For God's sake, that man has no right to speak to you or your son that way!!!"
Turned out she was the owner of the restaurant and has problems with this same customer weekly. Rude. Miserable. Mean to all her staff. And splits the soup and salad ($2.95) with his wife. No tip. She explained that she wanted to go and find me since she didn't want to approach our table for fear more attention was drawn to us and the rest of the customers thought she was also reprimanding us. She said she was going to stand by his table and watch him until he left.
For the rest of the lunch (the loooongggest lunch of my life), my sisters and I took turns walking Enzo around the restaurant, in the foyer, outside, etc. I was still hypersensitive to each noise he made, fearing EVERYONE was annoyed by us.
The evil man and his wife got up to leave and applause broke out from the other diners. Yes. APPLAUSE. Vigorous, deliberate, vindictive applause. When the man tried to address the patrons who were glad to see him go, the owner-lady practically pushes him out the door saying, "Enough. We've all had enough of you." Hi, Humiliated, party of 1? That's me.
I felt better thinking he was a sick old man. And so much for teaching my son tolerance. These people in the restaurant were only trying to support me, I know. But it felt miserable. Yes. Pretty much my nightmare coming true. AND, our meal was compd!! Made me feel worse. As soon as I could, I ran out of there before anyone else could tell me my screaming son was no big deal.
I don't think Enzo and I will leave the house for a while.
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