Oh well.
Baby can't go (something to do with ABC laws on the ship) so I can't go. My husband, however, can go with a friend. I HATE that! I sort of want him to have fun without me, but I also kind of don't want him to have fun without me at all!
I'm such a big baby.
posted by Just some girl @ 8:23 AM
6 Comments:
I am completely outraged. Babies aren't allowed on cruise ships? Seems like a crock to me. You should get more details. Tell them not letting your breastfeeding infant come along on a cruise you just won would be the worst kind of PR for Harris Teeter. And you know a lot of very powerful food bloggers who might have a thing or two to say about it.
It's actually not the cruise line's policy - Harris Teeter chartered the ship and it's something to do with that. (The cruise line does allow babies on their boats but a baby/child fare is 1/2 adult fare! Pretty steep for a babe in arms who won't even eat the food! But we were thinking of trying to buy him a ticket - but since it's chartered, we can't.)
The guy at the prize claim line said that I wasn't the first one to have that problem, either. I wonder what the other breastfeeding moms in the dilemma will do.
My husband's going to go ahead and sign up (we have to let them know if we accept by tomorrow so that they could pass it on to the alternate winner if we don't) and then invite a friend - who I will UNCEREMONIOUSLY KICK OFF if something happens between now and then that makes it possible. Like hell-raising, or if Archie happens to self-wean between now and then. But I'm too nervous to leave him for a week just in case he decides to self-wean (out of fury at not being invited? Or developing a preference for the bottle?) Anyway, I'm trying to make it to a year, so the risk isn't worth it.
It's hard for me to get too outraged at Harris Teeter (although I'm super bummed out) b/c it was total luck - if I'd paid for it I'd be screaming bloody murder, you betcha. I guess I feel like if somebody gives me this unexpected present I don't have much room to kick up a fuss if it doesn't work for my particular situation. Is that lame?
Whatever - Harris Teeter - the same Harris Teeter who tracks your grocery shopping to conveniently raise the prices on all the crap you buy and discontinue your most beloved items? That same Harris Teeter won't bend the rules such that they make any sense? I CANNOT believe it.
ok, seriously, I too am outraged. Although I only have my dogs to which to compare motherhood (and people find that either totally hilarious or completely repulsive), I would like to join the outraged mothers forum to stick it to Mr. Teeter until you and peanut are on that cruise.
Let me know my first assignment...
M
You have so much on your plate, I wouldn’t blame you if you dropped it. However, as a formerly breastfeeding mother of two who just recently tasted a full night’s sleep, and who also likes to write angry letters for reasons far less important than this, I would be FURIOUS. I’m writing a letter as we speak. It goes like this:
Thanks, Harris Teeter, so much for awarding me a cruise ship vacation that I so desperately need as an exhausted new mother and piss-poor graduate student that never got a honeymoon. And an even bigger thank you for then unceremoniously taking it back just because I breastfeed my baby and would need to bring him. Is discriminating against breastfeeding mothers your official policy? Because if it is, I think you should get out of the “food business” and into something where this type of discrimination would be more appropriate. Like sperm donation.
Giving out prizes is nice and everything, but only if you give the actual prize, instead of dangling it in front of someone’s face and then yanking it back. That, in fact, is worse than never winning the contest at all.
You idiots.
Personally I don't think a cruise is worth giving up breast-feeding for--I guess it's too late now, but could you have given the prize to a family member as a gift? Because I also wouldn't want my husband to go on a cruise and leave me home alone with the baby. That sounds like a recipe for resentment! It would have made a wonderful gift for another struggling, exhausted young couple. Your time will come! A honeymoon is more fun without the baby anyway, but wait until the baby is properly weaned, and do it on your timetable, not Harris Teeter's.
It does suck. Big time. But...easy come, easy go? We called them today and told them that neither one of us would be going, so I hope some other lucky couple is absolutely thrilled about it!
Rebecca, you're right - going on a cruise is absolutely NOT worth giving up breastfeeding. (I'm shooting for at least a year, if he'll cooperate!) I wish I could pass it on to someone else, or cash it in for money (wouldn't THAT be awesome! I would hire someone to clean the hovel once every two weeks, and pay for a little babysitting!) but it's pretty much "take exactly this, exactly when it's offered, or decline it." So...we declined.
I actually feel better about it now that Robert's not going either. I wanted him to be able to have fun, but I would have been TOTALLY JEALOUS. And also, it would be hard to be on my own with the munchkin for a whole week - I'm spoiled by having a work-from-home husband! (I get to take long showers! And dress with both hands! And just hand him off if I need a break! Co-parenting rocks!)
Anyway - thanks for the outrage, everyone - I'm crossing my fingers that maybe this means that karma smiles upon us and we'll win something ELSE. Perhaps I'll start actually entering those Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes...
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