Tuesday, May 18, 2010
accosted
Greyson and I go to Menard's to look at the 6-pack vegetable seedlings, of which we only pick two because they are so picked over, and then inside to get a small rake and some new pruners. We buy those things and then go out to the van and put them in. Then, since we are *right in front* of the Menard's nursery entrance and the fence where the vegetable seedlings are placed, I see that a new rack of veggie seedlings has been set there. I wonder if they got a shipment of California Wonder bell peppers. I check that the windows to the van are cracked, which they were already, and I ask Greyson to stay put and he obediently says "Okay!" and I intend to spend *literally* 2 minutes going in the nursery just to see if they have the peppers I want (not to buy them, just to see if I should go back later today) all within eye-sight of the van. Now, imagine a woman, about a minute after I enter the nursery, verbally accosting me with "you better go get your kid", threats of calling the police, and calling me a bad mom.... and then stomping to the cashier of the nursery to "report" me. I was shocked! This woman, obviously wanting to protect my child, had jumped to his rescue by attacking me. I truly believe that Greyson was safe the whole time. If this same scenario occurred again, I feel that I could make the same decisions and everyone would still be safe. Sadly, it will probably be my fear of being accosted/accused that changes how I approach the scenario the next time. And how far will my parental judgement slide into societal fear?
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4 comments:
Oh, my goodness, what a nightmare. This 'woman' obviously had a guilty conscience about something. You are a wonderful mom, Melissa. I'm so sorry this crazy lady did this to you. I love you.
Grandmomma
What is it about human nature that makes people think they can sum up a situation with a momentary glance? There is always so much more than meets the eye. Wow, Melissa, how truly exasperating and humiliating that must have been. I hope your heart has stopped racing! I'm sure you know what's safe for Greyson.
It's a very interesting question you ask! If the fear mongers had their way, we would never let our kids out of our sight, much less out of the house. So sad that some people let themselves live like that.
Wow. I mean... wow. I feel angry and accosted just reading about this! You are a WONDERFUL Mom, Mel, and I agree with Tracy that it's ridiculous she would sum up your situation with a momentary glance. I'm so curious to know how you responded to her... I'm sure it was with 100% more tact and grace than I would have handled her!
Chris, I tried to act tactfully and gracefully by saying that Grey was fine and that I was going right back to him. She wouldn't let it go and kept YELLING at me that I needed to go get him and that she was going to call the police and that the windows weren't rolled down enough and that I was neglecting him.... until she realized that I wasn't going to cave to HER demands. At that point she said, "Okay, fine, I'm calling the police." At which point I said, "Sure, go ahead." My grace kinda tapered off after that. Then, after I looked to see if the peppers were there, I walked by her at the cashier's stand (with the cashier looking at her wide-eyed and confused) and said, "And this is how long it took me..." She said something about me being a bad mom and, having completely lost my patience, I yelled, "I'm a GREAT mom, thank you!!" And honestly, the last part I wish I could take back, nobody needed to hear another woman yelling at that point. I also remembering going to Sonic (thanks Momma-Susan) after that because I didn't want to have to think about lunch and ended staring into space for the next 20 minutes or so. I was literally in a state of shock.
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