Yesterday I took my 1 month old to a matinee at the Bristol Old Vic. My Mum and I really wanted to see the show (by Kneehigh) and my husband was busy so we took the little one along. I checked with the theatre who said it was fine. She was good as gold and slept in the baby carrier though the whole thing. Noone would have noticed her!
However, I didn't enjoy it at all as just before we went in I passed two women in the foyer and one said to the other, loudly and clearly, looking straight at me, 'she's not seriously thinking of taking that baby in the theatre'. I was so shocked that I couldn't think what to say, walked away and spent the entire performance wondering whether I was a selfish, bad mother!
I knew she'd sleep and the plan was that if she cried we'd quietly leave straight away. I wouldn't want to spoil anyone else's enjoyment.
Why do people think they have a right to speak to new mothers this way? I am super sensitive right now and trying to do everything right for my baby. Just can't get over the rudeness. Wish I'd said something to the woman at the time but I was too shocked and didn' feel like a confrontation.