People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

First off its after midnight and I'm awake because my lovely Dusky decided to hold a conversation with herself sounding like Regan from the Exocist. The laughing and chattering woke me out of a deep sleep. It reminded me that I wanted to share my funny bird story from last night at work. I work with my friend Mindy who doesn't own any birds. She appreciates them and always takes trips with me to the bird store for delicious goodies and toys. I was standing on the sales floor telling her about how Carlisle tried something new!!!!! (I was super excited over it) the conversation went seething like this:
Me: Carlisle is such a picky eater! I was so excited when he tried those pepper nutri-berries today.
Random customer: You have a picky eater? How old is he? (I'm thinking she owns birds... I've come to discover a lot of my customers have birds for pets)
Me: He'll be 3 next month.
Customer: How old are you? (I was confused at this point as to what MY age had to do with it)
Me: 23. Why?
Customer: *disapproving tone* WELL, I guess that's not TOO young to have a 3 year old kid. (at that point Mindy is cracking up)
Me: Carlisle is a Sun Conure. He's a pet bird, not a human child!
Customer: You realize you talk about him like parents talk about children? That's not right. (Mindy had to walk away)
Me: He IS my child. He just has feathers. If it makes
You feel any worse I've got 3 others aside from him. I treat them like my kids too.

She walked away from me after that and went to the back to get her prescription and ignored me when I said "have a great night!" as she was walking out the door. The nerve of some people to judge like that! She just doesn't understand the joys of loving an animal as much as we all do. I love my birds and my cats. They're all my babies!

I guess I'll try going back to sleep now that Kayak is done laughing like a maniac. I'm taking a trip to Bird Paradise tomorrow with Mindy and cannot wait! I love that store more than I love human stores. It's so worth the long drive. My picky eater will be happy to have his regular food again.

Re: People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

LOL. Well, that customer just wasn't happy with ANYTHING you said! Can't please everybody! Do they think 23-year-olds shouldn't have maternal/paternal instincts at all?

In the old days, people to be married and starting a family by age 14, so I think parental urges at this age are completely normal. I'm 24, and I started having maternal urges around 19. No baby humans yet, but I've had cats and a bird.

Re: People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

Remy, I think she would've had a heart attack if she met an acquaintance of mine, who at 23 (and is a few months younger than me) has 3 beautiful, healthy, well behaved children. I don't see anything wrong with being a young parent if that's what your heart desires. My acquaintance is a very rare case. Most young, unwed parents I see are a strain on the system who didn't want the kids in the first place. She has raised these children on her own for the most part (baby daddy is now officially out of the picture) and has never been able to collect any kind of welfare because she's always employed and makes too much.

Ugh, I'll leave that topic alone. It's a very sore subject with me. Annnnd yup! I'm still awake. Thank you Kayak for the midnight alarm.

Re: People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

Bleh - that lady sounded conceited. I can be rather blunt/'honest' when talking with people and I would've told her as such, lol.

Geez, "not TOO young" "you talk about him like a human child" - who CARES! There are plenty of responsible people that have had children when they were younger. I've seen people in their 30's and 40's who can't even responsibly look after a child. Look at how many people lock their kids in hot cars, or leave their kids unattended in unsafe situations? Age has nothing to do with it. To give you an example: A friend of mine had a kid at 18 and she's doing very well for herself. She completed her degree and now works as a translator, and her partner manages a store. They made adjustments in their life to ensure that their kid could have what he needed.

I find it rather funny in a ironic and sad way at how often humans, aka homo sapiens forget that they are apart of the animal kingdom as well; too many people think that they're "above" animals. *rolls eyes*

Eh, whatever.

Glad your friend Mindy got a laugh out of at least.

On another note: should get an audio recording of the creepy laughing. Haha, could make a Hallowe'en tape about it

Re: People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

The, "How old are you," to another woman from out of the blue was the first clue that she was a total b.

Re: People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

The looks I get when I wear this shopping (also a sticker on the van)

Re: People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

That is a really cool t shirt. Alison and sweetie pie

Re: People think when I mention my "picky eater" I'm speaking about a human...

Lol what until your old like me then they thing your talking about grand baby's lol. No I don't have any grand kids yet I'm still raising teens and fur and feather baby's. Oh! And around this house we call people with out feather or fur in their life, muggles. Non pet people.