Irony At Its Best

I will apoligize before I start this. This will be a long entry, but if you have the time, I think it is pretty interesting. So yesterday morning I was having this conversation with Krystal about an article I read in the Sunday paper. The article pretty much said that we as parents tend to give into our children's temper tantrums in public because we are worried about what people think around us. The article said to stop doing that because we are reinforcing bad behavior. Fast forward a couple of hours. I am at Walmart doing some shopping. I took a little too long and it was past Drew's normal nap time. So I picked up some fruit snacks and Drew is begging for me to open them. I give him one package and he gobbles it up in two seconds flat. Then he begins to yell "Snack, snack, snack." So I give him one more package and tell him that is the last one. Of course that package is gone by the time I head to the check out line. The lines are long as usual. (Walmart really needs to do something about that) He begins to yell that he wants another snack. I then tell him that he cannot have anymore. Then comes the tantrum and I think to myself I will be out of here in a few minutes. I will endure the pain of the temper tantrum so as not to "reinforce his bad behavior" So you can imagine how I am feeling. I am thinking Walmart needs more than two registers open for all these people. Please let someone let me go ahead so I can get this screaming kid out of the store. So I am holding Drew on my hip as I am putting the groceries on the conveyer belt. As I turn to get more items, this lady begins by saying, "Um, I have noticed that your son has been crying for awhile (3 minutes!). I thought at first that maybe she was a clerk that was going to open another checkstand to let me get the heck out of there but then no offer. So then I thought maybe she will offer him a treat to keep him quiet. Think again. So she stands there in silence with a blank look and thus begins our exchange
Me: Was there something you wanted to say to me?
Crazy Lady: "Yes, take your child out of the store.
Me: I am sorry. I am going to buy my groceries first and then I will leave the store
Crazy Lady: No, leave now.
Me: No, I am going to buy my groceries and I think you need to mind your own business
Crazy Lady: I am not going to mind my own business. I had three kids and none of them every did this. You need to leave.
Nice Lady Behind Me: I think you need to leave her alone. She is doing the best that she can.
Crazy Lady: (speaking to nice lady behind me) Well, your kid isn't crying.
Nice Lady: My kid is five years old. Her five year old is not crying
Drew: Still screaming
Crazy Lady: (now speaking to me or should I say yelling at me) Well kids cry for three reasons, they are tired, hungry or need a diaper change. Figure out which one your kid needs and do it.
Me: I am now feeling like you are harrassing me. Either back away from me, or I will ask them to call security
Crazy Lady: (laughs under her breath) Security. You do that. But I can yell louder than your baby can scream
Drew: Still screaming
Me: (now speaking to the cashier) Will you please call security?
Cashier: (lame 18 year old) Uh, that would like take an hour
Me: (thinking in my mind) Thanks for the help. I guess they don't pay enough at Walmart to show a little compassion.
Crazy Lady: Take your kid out of the store. I mean what the hell are you doing?
Man Customer at front of line: Shut up and get back to your own lane
Me: Sobbing and no longer looking up or engaging her.
(She finally walks away back to her own checkout line)
Man and Nice Lady Behind Me: Can we help you? Don't worry about her
Manager: (finally!!!!!) Was someone bothering you?
Me: ( Still looking done due to the embarrassment of crying.) Yes, some lady just wouldn't leave me alone.
Manager: Where is she now?
Nice Lady Behind Me: She is in the next line over.
Drew: Finally stopped crying because hello I gave in and gave him another fruit snack. The stress was making my stomach have strong, painful contractions and I decided it just wasn't worth it this time and so I gave in and reinforced that unacceptable behavior.
I am not sure what the manager said to her. I just kept my head down and paid for my groceries. However, those around me were very supportive. The lady in front of me told me how her now eighteen year old daughter used to fling herself to the ground kicking and screaming and she would pick her up by her hand she would just yell you are hurting me. Thank goodness for the help of these nice strangers. I could see that the crazy lady and I were paying at the same time and so I rushed out of the store so as not to meet up with her again outside. So on my way out, there were these guys selling stuff like they always do outside of Walmart. I thought to myself, there is no way they are going to stop me when I am crying. Oh think again. I looked at the guy and nicely said, Today is not the best time. I think some people really need to get a clue. Anyway, that this my crazy story for today or I guess for yesterday.