Self-Made Mom

Awhile ago, I wrote about how dismayed I was at the lack of people who would give my preggo self a seat on the “el.”  Seems this trend has been seen on the NY Subway. Thanks to Marc for correcting me that someone actually gave his wife a seat on the Chicago trains (updated 1/4). I guess I was too shocked to actually believe that one.  

While it still annoys me that men literally push over women on the train to get an open seat during rush hour, I’m sort of “over” it now that I’m not preggo.  I can stand up now for more than 20 minutes without getting nauseous and tired.

Now I’m taking my gripes about the citizens of Chicago to the streets.  Walking with my son in his stroller around town is becoming dangerous and downright nasty.  Here are my beefs about trying to maneuver around the Windy City:

1. Drivers don’t stop at stop signs so you never know when crossing an intersection if that car is going to hit you or not.  Mister in the utility van: is going through the stop sign before me really going to get you to your destination faster?
2. People don’t move over on sidewalks for you to pass so you end up in the muddy grass.  Thanks for ruining my shoes.
3. People look at you like you’re crazy when trying to grocery shop with a stroller. Like a stroller is that much larger than a shopping cart. This happens even at the family friendly Whole Foods. People: how else am I supposed to get things done if I can’t load up the storage compartment of my Bugaboo!?
4. And, my personal favorite, people don’t hold doors open for you in stores.  I love it when people ooh and ahh over my son as I’m struggling to prop the door open with my elbow to wriggle my stroller inside. Nary a helping hand in sight.

Guess the chivalry doesn’t improve much after you have a baby.  You’d better watch out for me in the aisles and on the streets, folks.  I just may run over your pinky toe for fun.

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