Boundaries

This being "Teacher Appreciation Week" the PTO at my school cooked lunch for us today. Barbeque and baked potatoes, I was excited for lunch.

Then when I walked in one of the PTO ladies said "Look at this one! She's too young and skinny, let's give her a lot!"

Did I say anything? No. Was I offended? Not really. But yes, random PTO lady, your forward comments made me ponder and have turned into a blog. Congratulations.

Dear PTO Lady,

Do you regularly attend cattle auctions? Because when you saw me today your comments reminded me of someone looking at purchasing livestock. This one's a bit scrawny, we can fatten her up before winter. Do you know how I feel about my body? Have you seen me naked? (Nobody sees me naked.) You've never even met me. Do you know how I feel about myself? No, but now we all know how you feel about yourself. Be careful ma'am, your insecurities are showing.

When I walked in did I say anything about your weight and age? Did I imply that you should step back from the buffet? Then kindly step back and think before you decide you have permission to comment on my body, a stranger no less. I may be a smaller size than you but that doesn't mean you can say anything about it. Thank you and have a lovely day.

As a rule, I do not comment on people's size, shape, or features unless I am telling someone they look beautiful. It's not the first thing I look at when I meet someone. I do not categorize my friends and acquaintances according to size, shape, or color. I have many gorgeous friends that would never make it onto a magazine cover, but the way they present themselves to the world is true beauty, fashion world be damned.

So why is it, I wonder, in this age when it has become politically incorrect to correct someone, has it become socially acceptable to make comments to their face about their body? It's impolite, shows a lack of courtesy and frankly, tact. I don't keep my mouth shut because I am "skinny" but because I possess manners.

MAJOR BILLBOARD WITH FLASHING LIGHTS: YOU ARE NOT SIMON, YOU DO NOT GET PAID TO SAY WHAT YOU THINK OF SOMEONE TO THEIR FACE. SO PLEASE KEEP ALL OPINIONS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S BODIES TO YOURSELF.

Or you know, you could get a blog.

Shalom