Keith Ortiz4 said:So, I’m out for a walk today with my three-month-old (who basically lives in my arms), and we decide to stop at an outdoor patio for a quick break. I order two sparkling waters, and within minutes, the baby just starts crying. It’s not just a whimper—it’s a full-on meltdown. I tried holding him, but nothing worked; he just wanted to be carried. He was clearly overstimulated and fussy. Honestly, I felt so embarrassed. In a moment of total desperation, I just set him down to lie there and cry for about ten minutes while I had a cigarette and finished my water. Eventually, the crying turned into this intense, piercing screaming.
Just a few yards away, there was this group of about six people in their 30s, and they were staring at me the whole time.
When I finally decided to head out, I apologized for the noise. They didn't even say anything back; one of them just gave a little wave, like a "whatever" gesture.
I really want to know what you guys think. Was I being judged?
Was it because I was being "rude" by staying and making everyone listen to the screaming instead of just leaving immediately? Or were they judging me for letting the baby cry while I sat there calmly smoking and drinking?
How would you have reacted if you saw this happening? What would your take be, and honestly, how should I have handled it?
I don't have kids myself, but I’ve spent plenty of time around them over the last decade—enough to know... Honestly, I’d judge you. You should have tried harder to distract him or calm him down—longer than you actually did. Look, I'm a smoker and I've got my own issues, but that's beside the point—I don't believe in spoiling kids, but even so, I'd still judge you... 🤷