Today marks our first ever American Thanksgiving. Being in New York means that we are at the heart of American traditions like the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade. I knew that even though I really wanted to, it would be hard to take part in the festivities this year. I’d either be 39 weeks pregnant or with a newborn, neither state would make it easy for me to brave the crowds.
So here I am with a 3 week old and a toddler watching the end of the parade on TV. I went from wanting to see the balloon inflation on thanksgiving eve to scrapping that in favor of staying home and keeping the kiddies warm. I went from nearly going to the parade and the deflation of the balloons after the parade to here – in my pyjamas at noon snuggled in front of the TV with Big Monkey and the two little Monkeys. It didn’t seem practical to be out jostling for sidewalk space while needing to be able to feed every 2 hours and subjecting my crowd hating toddler and way too small newborn to pushy crowds.
Sometimes being a parent means being boring. If it were just me and Big Monkey, we probably would have gone to see the balloons be inflated, as well as the parade as well as the madness afterwards. But, being a parent I had to think about the little monkeys and in this instance it meant staying home. Okay, so its not exactly being boring, but it is changing my perception and realizing that for this year the stars were not aligned for our family to be out and about at the parade. And you know what? That’s okay, because I wanted to do what was best for the kids. And by doing what was best for the kids, we had a great day. I made my first ever pumpkin pie and green bean casserole, we taught Monkey #1 how to drive the laptop (probably a bad idea, but he had fun!) and best of all I didn’t have to worry about people banging into me and Monkey #2 strapped to my tummy.
So that is why when I read a story like this one about a pregnant woman miscarrying after being pepper sprayed at Occupy Seattle, I have to ask myself, what was she even doing there? First off, I do not at all condone the use of pepper spray on people peacefully protesting. There is no excuse for the officers that pepper sprayed her in the face and kneed her in the stomach. But, I also do not condone a parent/parent-to-be putting their wants (and yes, going to a protest is a want NOT a need) before what their child NEEDS. Risking her health as well as that of her unborn child’s by attending the protest was not the actions of a responsible parent to be.
What’s your thoughts? What little or big event have you forfeited as part of your parental duties? Do you think that the women at Occupy Seattle had every right to be at the protest, or should she have found another way to protest without being there?
UPDATE: Their have been a few holes in her story and the validity of her story is now under question. Check out the comments over at the Daily Mail. Was she really pregnant or just trying to get attention for the movement? It would be very sad if she made all this up, but it would be a relief if a baby was not harmed.
