Today I took the kids to Kroger to pick up a couple of quick things and decided to give their childcare a try. I had heard good things, the best of which is that I don't have to shop with my kids. As soon as Ben and Jack saw the toys they were off! But, Lauren froze up. She freaked out and decided she wanted to shop with me rather than stay with Ms. JJ. As Lauren and I walked away she asked where Jack was and I reminded her that he was playing with Ben and Ms. JJ, the girl flipped out. She cried and cried. She was inconsolable. I walked through the store calmly explaining that she had made her choice and that I didn't want to listen to her crying. I noticed an old woman giving me the evil eye, but I stuck to my guns and kept telling Lauren that she could play next time, but she had already made her choice to shop with me today. Thank goodness I only had a few things to buy so I didn't have to push the screaming banshee through the store for too long. We arrived at the check out right before the old woman with the scathing looks.
Check out girl: (to Lauren) are you having a bad day?
Rude old woman (ROW): I think she is sick!
Me: No, she isn't sick, she made a bad choice. She chose to shop with me instead of play in the childcare with her brothers, but after we walked away she wished she had stayed to play.
ROW: Well, how old is she?
Me: She is 2 and a half.
ROW: She is too young to make choices!
Excuse me you old bitty, who asked you? You are at least 80 years old; your mothering days are over! I didn't even know what to say to her so I politely turned toward the checker and finished my transaction. She has apparently forgotten what it is like to be a mother of preschoolers. It made me so angry. I am really doing the best I can! I think at 30 months old I need to start teaching my kids that there are consequences to everything. Travis was just telling me yesterday that I am too easy on Ben and Lauren, then the nosey old bitch made me feel like mommy dearest. It was so much easier when it was just Jack. Now I am suddenly the worst mother in the world. I don't know what the right thing is. I just know I love my kids so much and I don't want to screw this motherhood thing up! Whose right Travis or the nasty old rag?
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5 comments:
You are right, of course!!! 2.5 is just the right age to start putting your foot down. She will remember the next time and that will be that.
I agree with Crystal. They are old enough to start being responsible for their actions, and I'm sure the next time you're at the store she'll remember the consequence. That old hag probably had 3 kids in prison or something.
PS - I want a grocery store that has childcare. How great would that be? Seriously!!
you did the right thing...people should mind their own business!!!
xoxo
you totally did the right thing!! I despise people like that!! Mind their own beeswax!!
oh man i would not have been able to not say something smart back at the old crow! for sure!
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