That lady's crazy!

We ventured out to Target on 54th Street today to pick up Sam Man's 9 month pictures. While we were checking out, I pushed the cart (with both kids inside of it) forward in the line. There was one woman in front of me, talking with the cashier when Adri screamed out "Did you just push me? Did you push me?!? You don't push me!" as loud and angrily as she possibly could. I'm positive my face turned all shades of red before I scolded her and looked up at the cashier and customer staring at us in disbelief at my little angel's tone and words.

The cashier and customer began talking and I heard-
"when we had children"
"I'd never have let them talk to me that way!"
"I would have spanked them right in front of everyone!"
"Mother's these days are too scared to punish children because they'd be turned in."

It was at this point that I couldn't hold myself back anymore. I really dislike when people talk around me, like I'm not standing there listening to every word.

"Yeah, well it's not that I'm scared. It's that some days I think if I began spanking her I might not stop, so I don't think you want me to start." (The truth is that I don't believe in spanking, I want her to respect me; not fear me.)

Cashier: "Believe me, you'll know when to stop." (Really, REALLY? I'm guessing because she's done it a million times before?)

Me: "And, she's two...She's challenging me and figuring out the boundaries. It's part of being a toddler." (I love how parents conveniently forget how their children acted when they were younger--their child never embarrassed them.)

Both women started giving me ideas of what I could do to correct the behavior. At this point Adri was sitting there with huge eyes.
"I don't want you to spank me, Mama!" Adri said to me after listening to our conversation.

Me: "I'm not going to spank you Adri, don't worry."

The cashier looked at Adri and said "You are too cute to be so naughty. You need to be a nice little girl. Be nice to your Mommy, you don't talk to her that way."

Adri just kept staring with huge eyes.

I thanked the cashier and tried to get out of there as quickly as possible. I already felt like the "Worst Parent of the Year Award" should go to me. I didn't think Adri could possibly top herself after this.

As we were walking away Adri screamed in her loudest voice:
"Mommy, that lady is CRAZY!"

And I thought I couldn't be any more embarrassed...

From Winter 2010