Saturday, September 12, 2009

We're always learning the things we want to teach our kids...

This afternoon, after I finished my last blog post, I packed up my computer and walked back to the Panera ladies' room before heading home.  When I opened the door to the restroom (it is a 2 stall room w/ one sink and dryer), I was greeted by a sight you don't normally expect to set eyes on in a public restroom.  A haggard-looking, I'm assuming homeless, woman, naked from the waist up, splashing water on herself in the sink.  As she heard the door open, she covered her breasts and darted into the handicapped stall.  Not knowing what to do, I went straight into the other stall, closed the door and stood there listening to this woman mutter over and over again, "I'm so embarrassed. I'm so embarrassed.  I'm so embarrassed."  

I looked down, noticed that there was no toilet paper in my stall, and I certainly wasn't going to ask her if she could spare a square and further mortify us both.  So I opened my stall and bolted out of the restroom and Panera entirely, the faucet still running from her attempts at a bath, and her still muttering to herself in the other stall.  

I was initially annoyed.  I really had to pee.  Like, sat there for 2 hours drinking free refill after free refill of iced green tea had to pee.   And I really hadn't intended to walk practically into a half-nude, floppy-breasted, odiforously ripe homeless woman in the bathroom.  It's a bit of a shock, just so you know if you've never experienced it yourself.  I thought to myself, "she could have at least found a place that only had a single stall toilet so she could have locked the door." 

But as I walked home, I started to wonder.  What is her story?  What led her to that moment and that utter indignity of being caught trying to clean herself in a restaurant bathroom?  Surely it will impact her more deeply and far longer than it will me.  I started to feel ashamed that I'd said nothing to her, didn't tell her not to be embarrassed, didn't try to ease her own sense of shame at the situation, because I was too shocked to find words--or to even know what to say.  How I wish I'd said something, anything to let her know that I wasn't judging her.  But?  For a few seconds, as it was happening, I think I kind of did judge her.  And that's the most shameful thing of all for me.

I find myself now wondering how to prepare Ethan to deal with the diversity of the human experience that he will surely face as he grows up.   There is nothing in the parenting books about "how to teach your child to react to a naked homeless lady in a restaurant bathroom."  So you kind of have to go it alone in figuring it out, know what I mean?   I want to teach him to have compassion and to show compassion for people who are less fortunate than him.  But how to do that when my own first reaction to this situation wasn't one of compassion?  I wish I could go back now, take a few breaths and find my voice to tell her that it's okay, and that I'm sorry that I caused her such embarrassment.  Amidst all of the lessons I try to teach Ethan,  it is a wake-up call to realize that I am still learning, too. 

8 comments:

CANDICE said...

You are awesome Sarah. Someday Ethan will have the luxury of reading your wise words, and maybe that will be his saving grace. Your experiences teaching him.

Monica said...

wow, I probably would have reacted like you. It was totally unexpected. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Inge said...

Sarah, I read your blog constantly and never comment, but this time I had to. Your post was incredibly insightful and has certainly taught me something. I too would have initially judged, but now through your words, I hope I can take those few moments and feel compassion instead.

Sarah said...

Oh geez. I don't know what I would have done if Harry had been with me. Or if I had been alone. Food for thought, that's for sure.

Neil said...

I think the very fact that you thought about this after the experience is a sign that you will teach him well. Most of us would act exactly like you would, because it came up so suddenly and you were unprepared for it. That doesn't not mean you were uncaring. The next time this happens, you might say something.

Aunt Becky said...

Sometimes, the simplest answer to questions like that is honesty. Or "I don't know."

My eldest is getting to the age where he IS going to notice and ask questions like this and I genuinely wonder how he will react.

You are a wonderful mother.

Amy said...

Great post. Lots to think about. I would probably have done the same thing.

Emi said...

My 2 cents of psychobabble- I think your initial reaction was out feeling discomfort and when we feel uncomfortable/hurt we "lash" out- as in trying to make the other person "wrong". I think your reaction was a normal one and it's also ok to revise your initial reaction. I don't think anyone would accuse you of not being compassionate....