those people

Matt and I have become those people. You know ... those people.

The couple behind you at Texas Roadhouse with the crying rugrat who you keep turning around to eye with looks of displeasure. Those people.

The daddy vigorously rocking a snorting baby back to sleep on the church pew in front of you during the sermon. Those people.

The mommy with the stroller in Wal-Mart blocking your path to your favorite box of cereal. Those people.

We've acquired all those elements that make up a parent's lifestyle -- the ones that annoyed me greatly in my youth. After all, who wants to be forced to hear some kid crying, no make that screaming, while you're trying to enjoy a peaceful hour on your lunch break? What kind of person would willingly subject strangers to that?

Impossible to avoid, we're those people with a baby who finds it necessary to make her little presence rudely known at all times. Before Natalie came along, I had zero tolerance for listening to monstrous wails pouring out from children whenever I was out in public. That lack of sympathy has led me to worry about her disturbing others when we decide to step out of the cave and into society.  And speaking of going out in public, I now understand the importance of a mother of a colicky baby venturing out. I know she's tired of feeling (and looking) like a cave woman.

This past Sunday, when I was out in the church hallway rocking Natalie back to sleep, someone asked me, "You know it's ok for children to cry in church, right?" I was trying to avoid being one of those people, but I guess he was trying to tell me it's normal to be one them.

Grocery trips are a true family affair with one of us pushing the stroller while the other pushes the cart. Talk about causing a rolling roadblock down the baby formula aisle! Fortunately, we at least aren't those people who use their stroller as a lethal weapon to cut past slow people in the mall (not yet, anyway). In the mean time, we'll settle for clogging up every aisle on a Saturday morning at a store near you.

Be on the look out for those people. You might just see us in action.