I’ve been bitten by the holiday bug and the wish to get my shopping done early. Partly because my daughter is coming when I’m usually running around willy-nilly and I’d rather spend time with her than fighting the crowds, and I just like to know I have it all done and relatively within the budget.
Last week I was at the mall early and had to dodge all the mall walkers. Well, more like mall-racers. Those women almost mowed me down! Reminded me of the folly of walking anywhere near the bike lane in Germany. If you’ve been there, you understand.
While I was perusing some clothing, a mother and her young son were doing the same a few racks over. He must have been all of 5, if that, and he was bored and distracted with the shopping cart. He wasn’t being overly active or acting crazy, but he was rolling the cart back and forth and just so happened to roll the cart a bit too far back and bumped into an older woman.
Before any apologies could be uttered, the old woman yelled, “You should teach your child some MANNERS.” and then huffed away with the very audible comment of “fucking foreigners.”
The mother, immediately began to chasten her son for his lack of awareness, however she did so in a calm and focused way that her son instantly listened to. They were of middle-eastern descent, and the statement that got me was, “See what I had to hear because you were not paying attention?”
This whole scenario just disturbed me. I felt sad for the young woman who had obviously been hurt by the comment and disturbed that the older woman would be so ugly in her comments and snap judgements. And the little boy was just being a little boy and MUCH better behaved than many other children I’ve seen tagging along with mom in a boring clothing store.
Maybe it’s just me, but this stuck me. I’m not sure why I feel the need to share this, but there it is. It got me. Now it’s out there and I’m reminded why I prefer being kind to others.
Snippets and Tidbits 
Do you get now why I don’t like people? Lol
I get you Jenny, I really do.
I have involved myself with children of all ages for most of my adult life as both a teacher,and as a coach…Even today,though retired,I teach a 3rd grade P.E.class,and read to kinders once a week…I guess you could say that I love kids…much more than adults…I have found that like most everyone else,children respond a whole lot better to reasonable dialogue than screaming and yelling….Now,having said that,I am reminded of the time that little pre-school imp sneezed her snot bubbles on me at Starbucks…was sick for a month!!!
HI Tom!!
I too prefer to be with children. They are always candid and easy to read and still have such joy in them. It warms my heart to hear that you are still active with the littles because they really do show you a light people seem to lose as they age.
I remember the “snot bubble” incident. But just think; she strengthened your immune system for you!