Is it possible...

[switch842]

...to bring your child to a convention and not be "one of those people" who use said child for attention?

Here's the thing...

There's a discussion going on over at Gateworld in the Convention Etiquetee thread (go to the last page) about this couple who has been brining their child to convention for the last several years (if you've been to any cons, you probably know who they are) and them using said child to get attention, the child being disruptive, etc.

As many of you know, I was planning on bringing Gabe to the SG convention in August. Mostly because y'all want to meet him and I would like you to. The other thing is, hubby will most likely be out of town that weekend, too. So, I kind of have to bring him along. I mean, my parents are in town and could watch him if need be, but I don't know if I would be ready to leave him for a whole weekend by that point. Especially since I'm not really going out of town or whatever.

So, I want to bring him, but I don't want to be perceived as using him for attention from anyone. I have an aisle seat so I can quickly escape if he gets fussy, etc. But the other thing is, often times babies just naturally generate attention, whether you actively seek it out or not.

I don't know where I'm going with this. I just, ya know, don't want to get a bad rep, I guess....

Comments

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

I think reasonable people can always tell the difference between parents who are like LOOK AT MY CUTE BABY SO COME PAY ATTENTION TO MEEEEEEEEE versus parents who just have their kids tag along. There will always be people who will be unhappy with the presence of a child no matter what. Uh, to be frank, I'm a cf_hardcore person (I know, I know, we've got a really bad rep), and I know how militantly anti-child some people can be, but those people aren't your concern, because they won't be happy no matter what and they will bitch, but they're always a small, if noisy, contingent. As long as you're an attentive parent and not thrusting your child into people's faces, then you're totally fine. Like, back when I went to wrestling shows, there were always THOSE parents there, too, and they really will LITERALLY hoist their baby or their toddler into the wrestlers' faces in order to get attention for themselves. Those people stand out, and they're the ones who get bitched about. But I've also seen plenty of people who quietly escort their fussy child away from crowds, and they don't get remarked upon, because, well, they don't get noticed.

Wow, that was kinda tl;dr. Sorry.

But anyway, the fact that you THOUGHT about this shows that you're considerate, so I don't think you'll have a problem. :)

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Not tl;dr. I get it. :-) Totally not planning on foisting little Gabe off to strangers. If anyone should offer, totally different story. Then, well, maybe...