Don't Check me Out - I'm a Mum
When I'm out with my kids no guys ever look at me. I'm holding a stroller with a baby in it in front of me, like some form of shield and I've got a three year old hanging off my other hand. Those two weapons are enough to scare off most men, young and old.
There is much talk about the invisibility of the older woman, how grey hair, lines and a middle aged spread render a once gorgeous woman indistinguishable from the masses of uninteresting humanity, but I'm still young...ish. It's like children are an extension of the pregnant belly, when they're there they scream 'Hands off! Someone got here before you!'
A friend of mine once told me how she was in her car and stopped at traffic lights when a guy in the next car gave her a major once over, or as my friend describes it "some serious feedback". My friend was enjoying the attention until she saw the guy do a double take as he saw her one year old sitting in her child seat in the back. Suddenly the guy looked away and stared fixedly at the road in front. He apparently looked embarrassed. Embarrassed! How on earth do single mums ever get a date!
When I do get the chance, what maybe once every couple of weeks, to go out without my kids, and I'm not talking even talking going out on the razzle dazzle, just out of the house, I'm always shocked that MEN DO LOOK AT ME!
And sometimes they're even YOUNG CUTE ONES!!! And the ridiculous thing is part of me feels somehow guilty that I've cheated them into checking me out when I'm without my kids, so I don't really deserve the admiration. But to hell with that, hey? Do check me out! It makes me feel alive again!
