A large wall decal featuring a woman nursing twins used to hang over the breastfeeding aisle at the local baby boutique. She held one in each arm, like footballs.
The first time I saw this poster, a “woop” slipped from my lips. Renate rolled her eyes.
Breastfeeding doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I’m just a bit caught off-guard by the imagery associated with the product packaging.
Honestly – you don’t see this kind of thing every day:
Back in the store yesterday, I examined diaper bags to avoid any further bouts of surprise. Can’t embarrass yourself by staring at diaper bags, right?
“You know, we’ve got some man bags in the back,” a store clerk said helpfully. I felt like I’d been discovered unwittingly browsing the women’s selection at Footlocker. “Let me get one for you. They’re more manly, they go across the chest.”
I was unaware that a cross-chest carry is more manly than over the shoulder. Might be time to subscribe to Men’s Journal.
Made of canvas and mesh, the enormous man bag looked more suitable for transporting orange cones and soccer balls to practice. The words “Daddy Bag” were glued to the flap, which seems like a potential source of ridicule; instead of ‘secure-enough-to-carry-a-diaper-bag’, I’d be ‘so-insecure-he-had-to-get-the-testosterone-bag’. I already have one woman rolling her eyes at me.
I thanked the clerk, handed over the bag, and wandered up front to study the ‘Horton Hears a Who’ onesies. Renate rescued me shortly thereafter.