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I usually ignore random strangers, or give them an eyeroll and go about my business. If it's been one of those days and I just can't keep it in any longer, my default is usually sarcasm and I'd say something like:
Judgmental much?
You had your chance to screw up your kids, now it's my turn. (I used this one a lot when I knew they had kids, especially if i knew their kids weren't perfect.)
It must be nice to be perfect and have perfect children.
Yes, I wish store management and/or employees would intervene some times. What I see fairly often are two year olds and older going through the meat aisles pressing their little grubby fingers into the meat, often perforating the plastic and the parents seems to think it's completely cute.
I think when parents allow their children to deliberate destroy products, instead of passing the costs down to everyone else, those parents should be held responsible.
Other customers might pipe up but it won't do any good but store management could do something about unruly and destructive customers.
Destructive, yes, loud or unruly no.
Staff at stores and restaurants are not there to police bad parenting. NOT their place to make those judgement calls, especially not knowing if a child does have autism or other reasons for their behavior, and not in the litigious society we've turned into.
Peer pressure used to work wonders, parents were embarrassed to be called out about their kids bad behavior. Now, many either don't care, or get defensive if you suggest that their little precious is behaving like a brat.
If I ask a child to pick up something they've thrown on the floor at a store (and I'm a mgr) I often get eye rolls or worse from the parents. I can't imagine the reactions if I asked them to keep their kids quiet or to keep their sticky little hands and mouths off everything.
The OP's child is allowed to be grumpy, but the person making the comment isn't?
How about - everyone gets grumpy and cranky and moody from time to time. That day, it was your child's turn, AND it was the old guy's turn. They both took their turns on the same day. Out of all the people who live on this planet - how remarkable that exactly two people might show up in the same building, and be grumpy at the same time.
You know what's even more remarkable? That the OP became grumpy as a result! That's THREE GRUMPY PEOPLE occupying the same building at the same time!
OMG call the press, post an announcement on CD. The world is ending, Armageddon has begun.
/snark
Really OP though - it's not a big deal. If that's the worst thing you experienced in your day, you obviously don't work in retail. You want to hear about grumpy kids and grumpy adults making snide remarks - come work with me for a shift.
People who make remarks like that are bitter. For why? Who knows. The most you'll get from me is "Tired, isn't he?", with a smile. I am 70 and have been there and done that. I remember how hard it was to get a kid through the store without buying everything in the place. And I was not very good at it. Just ignore them and keep up being a mom. Good luck.
My remark would have been, "Yep, I am which is why he isn't getting any gum. Sorry you don't agree." and move on. I know that isn't what he meant but that's what I would have said to "correct" him. Especially if I was cranky enough otherwise I would just ignore.
I give sympathy looks to harried parents that you can see care what is happening and trying to hurry up to get out of there. But I don't like parents that ignore screaming kids and keep shopping leisurely up and down each aisle. I wouldn't say a word nor would I try to "glare" at them etc. That's just childish. Just get out there and move on.
My remark would have been, "Yep, I am which is why he isn't getting any gum. Sorry you don't agree." and move on. I know that isn't what he meant but that's what I would have said to "correct" him.
What?
He DID agree, but you have to "correct" him?
That makes as much sense as the OP's overreaction....
What?
He DID agree, but you have to "correct" him?
That makes as much sense as the OP's overreaction....
The gentleman thought the OP was letting her kid be in charge...so the comment I suggested would have the mom correct his thinking by saying no she's in charge not the kid and being sarcastic that he doesn't 'agree' with it.
The OP's child is allowed to be grumpy, but the person making the comment isn't?
How about - everyone gets grumpy and cranky and moody from time to time. That day, it was your child's turn, AND it was the old guy's turn. They both took their turns on the same day. Out of all the people who live on this planet - how remarkable that exactly two people might show up in the same building, and be grumpy at the same time.
Well, with the tiny difference that the OP's child is 2, and the old guy is obviously just a little bit older, and you would think should be a bit smarter and more mature, and should've by now figured out simple social rules and basic human courtesy, like not making snide comments to strangers. But I guess some people never really mature past toddlerhood.
Well, with the tiny difference that the OP's child is 2, and the old guy is obviously just a little bit older, and you would think should be a bit smarter and more mature, and should've by now figured out simple social rules and basic human courtesy, like not making snide comments to strangers. But I guess some people never really mature past toddlerhood.
Everyone expresses their grumpiness in different ways. Some get road rage. Some tell the cashier "no wonder you're just a cashier, you're too stupid to do anything else" when they don't get the price that they wanted on their 5-pack of pens. Some post on an internet forum about how old men comment to someone else, about a third person's child. And some - like 2-year-old children, have temper tantrums.
Most people don't act out the simple social rules and basic human courtesy 24/7. As I said - sometimes people get grumpy. And just like that 2-year-old, sometimes they express their grumpiness. If it's okay for a 2-year-old to do, then it's okay for a 70-year-old to do. And I'd say - it's probably even MORE okay for the 70-year-old to do, because he's lived long enough to have earned the right to express his grumpiness. The 2-year-old hasn't been alive even as long as the 70-year-old's dentures.
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