Babas (Nannies)

I recently decided to invest some money on some much needed new clothes. Pregnancy changes everything. I bought a ton of new things from dresses to shoes and all from Brazilian stores made in Brazil. Maybe I should reiterate it was an investment :)

Anyway, for my morning walk with the little one I decided to show off this amazing long colorful skirt and I paired it with a simple white tank top so it wouldn't compete with the colors of the skirt. I thought it looked great but to my surprise I was not welcomed very well with the neighbors. 

For some odd reason no one would say 'bom dia' but the empregadas (maids) coming to work were over friendly and one even asked me for directions. I just chalked it up to an off day for some of the residents. A couple of times I went out of the way to say hello to a few people and received odd looks. 

Then I caught a glimpse of myself in a shiney wall that was wrapped around a building. I looked exactly like a baba, nanny, from the waist up. Unless you looked down behind the stroller to see my skirt then you too would have thought that I was just working and not a mommy with her baby.

You see in Brazil all the babas wear white. I am sure that few households allow their babas to wear whatever and I have even met a few that have the freedom of attire. For the most part though anyone wearing all white is a baba. 

Not that there is anything wrong with being a nanny but I was seriously surprised by the reception I received from those who probably thought that I was. It didn't feel good at all and I honestly feel sorry for those who have to feel like that everyday.

I need to try and get a photo for you to see of all the white they wear. Today that will be my mission when I get to the park!

Tchau,

Sara