Charlie O'Brien blog: a letter to the lady on the train

"To the lady on the train – thank you.

You helped me move my pram when I was struggling one handed with a slightly fractious
baby. You then sat down opposite me and struck up a lovely conversation about my
daughter Luna, and your four grandchildren.

You were travelling with your daughter and I have a feeling she is a very lucky lady to have
you as her mum.

I’m almost ashamed to admit this – but when I first saw you looking at me, I assumed you
were just another intolerant commuter, huffing under your breath because my baby dared
to gurgle.

But I was wrong and for that I apologise.

I had spent the day commuting into London with my baby and husband for some work. We
strategically planned NOT to travel in rush hour with a pram because let’s be real – that’s
about as much fun as toothache.

But despite us boarding a very quiet train with a very well-behaved baby, we were still met
with disapproving glares and low grumbles – purely because we had a small human in tow
instead of a flat white and a copy of the Metro.

I felt anxious the whole way there as a selection of commuters eye-balled me over their
newspapers every time Luna so much as exhaled.

We chose to eat in Pizza Express after we’d finished our job, knowing that it was more likely
to be packed with London tourists than important business people doing important business
things.

But still, a couple starred and pointed and commented as I hurriedly rushed to feed my baby
under a cover of shame.

So when I had to do the journey home alone – I hoped and prayed that she would ‘behave’
so I didn’t have to be made to feel once more that I wasn’t welcome in the outside world,
because I had a small human with me.

But instead you told me to “keep doing a wonderful job”.

You made my day and I wish there were more people on trains, and in the world, like you."

Charlie

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