To the woman who gave me "the look" in the store:

Do you ever have those moments of ignorance where some things don't bother you until it actually happens to you? I was one of those people who had moments like that frequently, almost every day actually. Last week I had one of those moments and my eyes were opened and it's all thanks to you.

I never understood why people were so moody about mothers my age and I also never understood why mothers were so offended when asked about their age. I totally understand it now and yes, I'm offended.

I started my day at six in the morning like I always do most of the time. I didn't have an alarm clock going off, the sunlight didn't wake me up, I didn't have anything in particular to do that day. I woke up to the sound of my almost three month old sucking on her fingers, kicking her little legs like a mad man in her pack-n-play that I have in my room since she's not crib-ready. She was kicking those legs so hard she relocated herself 90 degrees. I rubbed my eyes and got up. I stood over her for a good eight minutes because she's just too darn cute to be fed and sent right back to bed. I had to adore her, absorb her innocence and of course get in my daily early morning smiles. I went on with my day and decided I'd stop being lazy and go print some photos. I packed up the baby and left.

First of all, there were four other kiosks and three were empty. Why the hell did you have to use the one directly next to me? I don't really care about that honestly. What I do care about though is the way you looked at me after your interrogation. You'd asked me how old my daughter was, gave me the response I always get ("Awww, she's so cute and so little!"), and then asked me how old I was. I am 19. I didn't get a cute response after that, no motivational mini speech about how wonderful parenthood is and how "it'll go by so fast", nothing. Instead I got an awkward silence and you gave me a look that I will never forget. If you were going to look at me that way, why'd you bother asking?

Answer me this: why were you so interested when I was just a lady with a baby and so disgusted when I turned out to be a 19 year old mother? You didn't see me looking at you funny when your spiked septum piercing was staring at me in the face. I wasn't judging you when you bent over the counter to get a phone cord and your buttcrack was out and about. No, I was as kind as I always try to be to other people. I was totally fine with walking around with my daughter strapped to my chest and now I feel so judged. Thanks.

What made me being a mother at 19 so awful to you? You think I can't handle it? You think I'm irresponsible? Maybe you think I wasn't raised right. But that's just it! I probably wasn't raised the way you perceive being raised right. I had to grow up a lot quicker than others but that's not your business and that has nothing to do with me being a mother. I don't get why you'd jump to conclusions and assume that my age affects my ability to nurture and care for a baby. I mean, come on, MY CHILD IS LITERALLY STRAPPED TO ME and I'm in the store alone. It's not like I leave her with people all the time. In fact, I can literally count on one hand the amount of times I have physically left her with someone else. And when I did, best believe my mind never left my baby.

The more I thought about it, the more I understood. Yes, I see how some mothers my age aren't ready and therefore struggle. Some have certain circumstances that take a toll on their ability. And let's face it, some just don't want to do it. But let me tell you something... I didn't have my mom and dad getting up with me in the middle of the night when I had no idea what I was doing after I brought her home. Hell, I could barely get her dad to get up with me. In the toughest time of being a new mother I was 12 hours away from any family. Thankfully, I have help now (not under happy circumstances). My husband is deployed and I still do my parenting alone. I didn't expect your sympathy on that note because of course, you don't know me, you don't know what's going on in my life. So, whatever, I guess I can see where your "concern" is coming from. But do you see why I'm offended? If you ask me, I'm doing a damn good job and your concern (or whatever the look was for) is not needed.

I am speaking for mothers of all ages. It's not just the 19 year olds who are being judged. It's every mother out there being judged and it's because of people like you. So what if I'm 19, or that girl over there is 17, or that woman over there is 40. Jesus, we can't catch a break. We're not doing this right, we're not doing that right. The truth of the matter is you don't know us and vice versa. Let us be our age, do things our way, learn and grow, and you do the same with whatever you have going on in your life. Except, do it without the nasty looks.

Sincerely, a 19 year old mother who just wanted to print some damn pictures.