airport, originally uploaded by ben.truitt.Jake,
You and I are at the airport, waiting to board a flight to Hartford, CT, where we will meet your mom, who left this morning. Everyone at the airport keeps acting like it isn't possible for me to fly alone with you. I thought we wouldn't get through security when they found out that I didn't have a woman to help. So here is the lesson for you when you are a dad: when you travel alone with your child, wear a wig.
Dad
I don't get it. What exactly did they say to you?
ReplyDeleteFirst, apparently I was being discriminated against because I don't know how to spell discrimination, not because I'm a dude.
ReplyDeleteBasically there was mass confusion among all of the women authority figures on our way to the plane: the ticket agent, the first security lane lady, the second security lane lady, the gate agent. Here was a typical interaction:
Security Lane Lady: "and who else are you traveling with?"
Me (looking at Jake): "my son"
Lady: "yes, and who else"
(Lady looks around in confusion to try to discern who this kid's mom is)
Me: "just me and my son, Jacob"
Lady: "oh..."
(Lady sort of get this look in her eye like...is this dude going to make it without a woman to help? Maybe I should just put a halt to this sham)
But then on my way off the plane in North Carolina for our layover there, the pilot (a dad) was really nice and helpful in getting down the steep ladder onto the tarmac, and another passenger (also a dad) volunteered to wait in the cold for our stroller so that I could take Jacob in to the warm building.
So the other lesson when you read this one day, Jacob: Help out your fellow fathers, we have to unite in the face of this blatant discrimination! (which might be kind of weird, since my other advice was to wear a wig). :)
-Ben
Well, first, as Ben's mom who has spent 32 years in the language classroom, let me say how grateful I am to the person who pointed out the correct spelling of discrimination! Second, Jake,
ReplyDeletejudging from those old-fashioned airport workers, you are on the cutting edge of babydom -- i.e., a little one who had two parents fully capable with babies! Lucky you! (And, knowing that your sweet disposition aided in that, lucky them!)