Now that I'm thinking about it, my approach probably wasn't the most tactful or gentle way to let them know. But at least I did it, right?
After I stared at myself in my mirror for about 45 minutes the first time I tried on my uniform I heard my parents come in the front door. My first thought was to rip everything off and put sweatpants and a t-shirt on before they had a chance to see me. First of all I think its impossible to take that uniform off in less that 5 minutes seeing as the shirt doesn't like to go up and over my boobs without putting up a fight. And Second of all neither my mom or my step dad have x-ray vision. They can't see through my walls or my door so how would they possibly see me unless I actually went out of my room? Realizing this, I thought that maybe I should step out of my room. In my uniform. In front of my parents. Somehow I came to the conclusion that this was the perfect way to tell them about my new job. It was not.
I opened my door and peeked around it to see if they were in the hallway. They weren't. So I tried to be as quiet as possible going down the stairs to find them. (Again, completely ridiculous because I'm pretty sure nobody wants to be the victim of a sneak-attack from a girl wearing orange lycra) Eventually I could hear them in the front room. The one with the giant window looking on to the street and where the curtains are rarely actually being put to use. I tiptoed up and stuck my head around the corner, keeping my body completely out of my parents line of vision. My mom looked at me and my step dad (RM) turned around to see what she was looking at.
Mom: Are we playing hide and seek? What the hell are you doing?
Me: Hahaha oh you're funny. I just wanted to see who was home.
Mom: Okay...
Me: I have to tell you something... or show you. Both I guess.
Mom: Jesus did you get a tattoo? You know I told you I would kill you. And I will.
Me: No! No tattoo.
Mom: Well good it can't be bad then what are you still hiding for?
I came out from around the corner. My mom and RM looked at me for about a millisecond and both started laughing. Not the reaction I was expecting.
Mom: For a second I thought maybe you worked there or something! HA! Wouldn't that be hilarious!
RM: Halloween is like a month and a half away... You and your friends are always trying to get stuff together at the last second. Looks like you're prepared.
Mom: It looks exactly like the actual uniform. Where did you find them?
I wasn't sure how to explain that I did work there and this is not my Halloween costume and this is the actual uniform. I stayed silent for a couple seconds thinking about how to go about doing this. I looked at the ground and looked back up at them. My mom's face slowly registered that I might not be in my Halloween costume and turned from amusement to shock to complete and utter disapproval. I couldn't look her in the eyes. My step dad looked extremely embarrassed and wouldn't look me in the eye. So we were all avoiding looking directly at each other which made for a very awkward moment.
Me: Um... I actually do work there now? I got hired a couple days ago and...
Mom: I know I told you to get a job but I didn't mean THIS.
RM: Shit. What if the boys ask me where my daughter works?
Mom: ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??? Did you really just say that? That's what you're worried about?
RM: (realizing his mistake) Well I mean.. I just don't want them going there and you know...
Mom: So wait.. you go to Hooters with the guys? That's your restaurant of choice?
RM: Well they have really good wings and it's a good place to go watch the games and that.
I was happy since I seemed to be out of the line of fire. My mom (as you can probably tell) is one of those people who has never set foot in Hooters and makes crazy assumptions about the girls who work there and the men who are customers there. After she was done with RM she turned back to me and said her (quite lengthy) piece about what she thought of me working there. I told her that, to be honest, I didn't really care and maybe she should come visit me while I'm working some time and then make her judgments. I don't think she expected me to talk back to her so that shut her up.
I didn't think it was fair of her to make generalizations about a bunch of people she's never met or talked to or anything. Maybe Hooters does have girls who aren't the most intelligent, or who aren't the most conservative. But how is that different from any other restaurant? I'm going to college like a lot of other girls who work there and I'm not one to open my legs for any guy who looks my way which I'm absolutely sure is the case for almost, if not all the girls I'll be working with. And sure, some of the guys who come in might just be there to ogle pretty girls but what restaurant doesn't get those kinds of customers? I know that people might pass judgement on me now that I work there but to be honest those people are completely inconsequential because they have no idea who I am.
Sorry for ranting but I've been reading blogs and articles and all these things about Hooters and I find that a lot of them are biased and ill informed.
Since I first told my mom, she's been asking me questions about it and I showed her the handbook as well as the Hooters Girl Image Magazine. I think she's coming around to the idea and once I start and can tell her about what it's like working there from my point of view she'll be more comfortable with it. I also told her about the strict rules they have about harassment which was her biggest concern. Hopefully she'll get used to it so she can come in and visit me one day!
Oh and also I'm not sure if this was just me (and if any of you other Hooters Girls out there noticed this, tell me what happened!) but I told some of my girlfriends about my new job and a couple days after I swear every guy I've ever known (whether I still talk to them or not) either texted me, messaged me on Facebook or e-mailed me with something to say about it. Even this guy who I haven't talked to since the fourth grade tracked me down on Facebook! I thought it was funny that they all thought it was so cool. I'm still the same girl! It's just a job guys! Jeez... Men! Haha
Your mom's take on Hooters and the idea of her daughter working there seems pretty similar to my mother's. While my mom still isn't thrilled about where I work, she has definitely become pretty comfortable with the idea. She's seen the uniform, checked out the place, and heard about the security and anti-harassment policies. She understands how great the money is, and how little physical effort is required to get that money. I'm nearly certain that as time passes, your mom will get to that point too.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that your mum will start to get used to the idea when she realises that it's not dragging you down! It was probably just shock, and a misapprehension of what Hooters is like. KH is right, she'll get there.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't stress the "I don't care what you think" line too hard though, as this will certainly make her think of your job as a rebellion against their morals, when you can help her see that that's not the case. Tell her you DO care, that you DO want her to be ok with it, and that maybe it won't be as bad as she fears.
I'm sure she'll come around. I was lucky. my folks were all for it. As a matter of fact my dad grinned and said "Well now I have a good excuse to come in and have wings" to which my mom playfully smacked him on the shoulder and called him a pig. They've both been in several times as well as other family members. It drives me insane that the people that draw forgone conclusions about what Hooters is have never set foot in the door. As far as the ogling, well a pretty sexy woman is going to get that whether she waits tables at Hooters or Red Lobster. Yes we show a bit more at Hooters and the ratio of hot servers to average is much higher, but guys will be pigs no matter where they are. As far as friends coming out of the woodwork, it was the same with me. I told a couple friends that were just a hop, skip, and a blab from other mutual friends, then they started beating the tom-tom's and before I knew it guys I hadn't seen in years were e mailing and asking every question under the sun..... mostly about the uniform. As I posted on KH's blog, you'll be amazed at the power you have over a guy in that thing. I show more on the beach yet get more attention when in uniform, and every guy I've dated since getting the job has asked me to wear it for him. All the attention both negative and positive will take getting used to, but you will....and you'll learn to take most of it with a grain of salt letting it roll off you like water off a ducks back. You're going to be just fine girl!
ReplyDeleteLove the blog! My parents weren't sure at first either. Well actually, my dad (being born in Holland and not being a citizen) wasn't even really sure what Hooters meant. Once he figured it out, I actually think he was sort of proud in way, as odd as that may sound.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was nervous about the uniform, but when I actually showed it her she said, "You wore less running college track!" Which is true now that I think about it. We literally ran in spandex as short as my Hooters shorts and matching spandex crop tops. Not very efficient for events involving sand if you know what I mean.
Really though, after they both came in and experienced it they realized it wasn't such a big deal at all. Now they just realize that at this point in my life there are very few places I could be making as money and saving so much for my future. Shoot, when I had an office job in my major they still had to help me with my rent!
The defining moment for me was when my mom said, "If Hooters had been around in the seventies I probably would have worked there too."
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