Or if you did have a private office like I did, you'd have students knocking on the door while you were trying to pump. AWKWARD.

I brought a cooler to store everything. Better than explaining to a bunch of very old childless men what was up. Although they thought I was eating a monstrous lunch every day.

A kid on his bike who could not have been more than 12 once shouted that he'd like to do me in the ass. My god that is some intense social conditioning for a kid to come up with that.

This is the hardest thing- not to chat back out of politeness. I have found that it gets easier as I get older. But on planes, I hate it because there is no escape.

This is what I would have liked to say to the border guard who asked me why my husband was letting his good looking wife go to the U.S. all by herself. But, border guard, so I laughed it off. F you, power dynamics!

That bit about making you feel somehow complicit is the key. That's why you question yourself and don't run when you really should. So insidious and you're right, waaaaaaay worse.

That would have been my reaction too, but since it seems to have come out of left field, I'm not sure how I'd react in the moment. (I'd hope for some devastingly withering comment, but probably freeze and back away.)

I wonder if the person who pointed out that this is kind of sex offenderish behaviour isn't right? Like he knew that she would feel trapped with the date/set up by mutual acquaintances scenario. Which is pretty horrible.

The bit about the gentleman waiter at the beginning is spot on. Once upon a time, however briefly, service jobs were careers and afforded the wages and respect a middle class career earns. And businesses could make money doing this, because there was a large group of people making living wages who had income to spend…

Totally. It worked for us until it didn't work. So we did some cry it out. That worked at that point. And sometimes we still co-sleep.

TRUTH. My kid is good and it's about 5% because of our parenting, 95% because of who she is. She has good days and rough days and that's life. A lot of comments I've seen discount the luck factor with birth and breastfeeding and sleeping through the night. I know lots of good parents who have struggled (but their kids…

Yes on cry it out. And the thing to remember is that parenting is often about managing your priorities. Are you as a parent not getting enough sleep? Then maybe a little cry it out so your child can start to settle themselves at night will help you get more sleep and be a better parent overall. Not every decision you…

Not freaking the fuck out was definitely my goal during transitional labour when the pain just crested and then grew more, then crested again, then grew more. But it was a different kind of pain than I've ever felt. Pushing for me was refreshing because I could have some control over the process and focus on that.…

Not really what I claimed. And I doubt that your mind remains open because you 100% discounted what I had observed (in more than just a couple of instances), while I added what you claim to my thoughts on the topic. Conversation done.

As did I. And I accounted for your observations. Anyway, I've seen your comment history and it's clear to me that you're here to show how much you know while correcting others. I don't feel the need to deal with you any further than this.

I totally thought the same thing about my hoodie and shorts!

Isn't that a terrible thought?

In the context of this conversation, I'd say that "fat" is the loaded term (as opposed to the others), and you questioned my experience and observation on several occasions while I tried to acknowledge yours, so I'd say that subjective is correct. But thanks for pointing out how adjectives work.

I find leg-of-mutton sleeves best for hydrodynamics. Obviously made of wool.

I found that really interesting (not quite the best word but I can't come up with a better one) about Vanessa Williams' news about her abuse the other day. Acknowledging the conflicting feelings that victims have is so helpful for sorting out how they do feel about what happened. Good for Oprah.