I think I’m turning into a stereotype

It isn’t just that every time one of my children brings a friend home I want to feed them… “Would you like a drink of something? Coffee? Tea? Squash? Water? Something to eat? Toast? Sandwich? Bun/cake/biscuit…” or that my children suffer similarly when they are upset “Jam sandwich? Ham sandwich? Cheese sandwich? Fried sandwich? Toasted sandwich? Toast? Beans/egg/cheese on toast…” or that every time I go shopping I’m texting them about articles of clothing I’ve seen that they might like, boots they might need because it’s snowy, jumpers/coats, hats because it’s cold…

It’s scenes like this. I go into my bank today to pay in some money and notice there are no paying-in slips. An elderly couple next to me are asking a bank employee about the lack of slips, and she tells them there are none and there is a new system. I go to the cashier who is a beautiful and friendly young lady and as I hand over my cheque to pay in I ask about the new system. Yes, she says, there’s a new way of paying money or cheques into my account and she offers to show me. She emerges from behind her glass screen and shows me how to operate the new paying-in machine (as if I am an elderly idiot, but in a very kindly way) and I mention how easy and convenient it is. I said it was great as long as it did not put her out of a job. No, she replied, someone has to spread the beauty! She said it in such a funny and jokey way that although it was true because she was very beautiful, it did not sound immodest, just friendly.

So this is where the stereotype thing comes in. I have to really restrain myself from asking if she is married, engaged, single, because I was sure she would love to meet my son. Luckily for him I restrained myself! Luckily for her too!