People Suck

I fell victim to drive-by parenting in the grocery store today. I went back through the store to look for the lady after I checked out but it is probably better that I didn't find her.

Anna and Bryn were in one of those carts that is a car -- you know the one that is impossible to steer? They were doing well until the last few minutes when Anna started asking to be picked up. She wanted me to carry her around the store and I'm not going to do that. She cried and was pretty much having a tantrum which I ignored as I finished shopping.

This lady was following me ( ) and told me, "I think there is something wrong with her!" I said, "Nope, she just wants to be picked up." She says, very exasperated/shocked/horrified, "Well, there is nothing wrong with that!"

Ummmm.....yeah. There is nothing wrong with her wanting to be held but that doesn't mean I am going to do it. I am not carrying her in my arms through the store. She is FINE. She has a pacifier, a cup of milk, she's not pinched by the belt, etc. I had talked to her about this before we went in the store -- that she needed to stay in the cart the whole time (it has been an issue). If I had a kangaroo pouch I think she would be in it all the time. She is a snuggler but there are times that I just can't carry her around.

Fricking nosy people suck.

[fluffhead]

I just want to know what you were planning to tell her if you'd have found her! I'd have loved to be a fly on the wall :argue:

[BonBon]

What a nosy wanker. Has she ever tried to carry and console a screaming child while trying to shop and maneuver a shopping cart?! Geez, I could see her commenting if you were beating the kid...

WHY do people feel the need to critique your parenting? Maybe she should have carried Anna around next to you while you shopped.

Honestly, I would have been afraid to pick her up anyway. Wouldn't want to reinforce the idea that squawking in the grocery store gets her what she wants.

I still have a bug up my butt about the old biddy who told Dagny that we didn't love her because she didn't have a hat on.

[Gwendolyn]

I still have a bug up my butt about the old biddy who told Dagny that we didn't love her because she didn't have a hat on.

Whaaa?!?

We are going through grocery store tantrums too...those frickin' car carts! James wants one, but will only stay put half the time. I get those looks all the time when I ignore James's tantrums...do I need to explain that since he is fed, not tired, in pain, otherwise in danger...it would be irresponsible parenting to reinforce the behavior by giving him what he wants!!! He doesn't feel unloved or rejected by his mother...he is simply two years old and wants what he wants when he wants it...and that aint life!


People suck!

I'm with fluff - I want to know what you were gonna say.

I think I might have told the wench "well, then you carry her, and we'll make sure to arrange all of our grocery trips with you so you'll be available to haul her around EACH time."

Or, a simple "Bite me."

Yeah, I thought of telling her she was free to pick her up and carry her grumpy self around the store.

I was going to tell her that it was impolite of her to share an unsolicited opinion and presumptous to assume that she knew my child better than I do. And then I was going to suggest that she call the police and clarify with them if ignoring a tantruming child in a safe spot was child abuse.

[Phoebe]

People do suck sometimes. Like grocery shopping with two small children isn't hard enough! We have similar issues here. I hate those cars because my kids want in and out 50 times. It drives me insane and then I forget half my items on the list. For what its worth, I wouldn't have picked my daughter up at that time either!

Jennifer

[Tenacious_D]

Big no no!! It amazes me that people will butt in when nothing is going on but when kids are in real danger (i.e. physically abusive parents) they turn away. People surely do SUCK (except everyone here )!

[planet]

“Well, yes, holding our children is wonderful part of parenting, however at this moment it would teach her that throwing a tantrum will get her what she wants when she is not in need. The lessons she learns now will determine how she behaves toward others later in life. I do not want to raise my daughter to have a sense of entitlement that permits her to behave badly toward others, especially when she knows nothing of the circumstances outside of her immediate vision. Thank you for your concern”

You could leave out the thank you.