Another Great Parenting Story, Part 2

[Missy Vixen]

I own a local shop. My shop is TINY. It also caters primarily to the crafting industry. As a result, there typically aren't a lot of kids in my store.

Until today.

I was visited by a local woman and her two daughters. The older one looked a bit lost without a GameBoy or the television to amuse her. Fortunately, she sat quietly in a chair and waited for her mother to finish her business with me. The younger one had a purse, and was vigorously swinging the purse by the strap and hitting anything she cared to with it. When she tired of this activity, she began doing cartwheels. In my store.

Needless to say, a few gentle hints did not get the attention of the mother, so I finally commented that "this isn't a great place for cartwheels. Please stop." The mother finally glanced around and said, "Manhattan, you're not hurting anything."

Store owners have one of two alternatives when something like this happens. You can either ask the family to leave, or you can grin and bear it. Fortunately for me, the mother decided to take her children elsewhere. In the future, I will politely stop Mom and the tumbling daughter at the door, and tell them that my liability insurance won't cover gymnastics in my space.

GRRRRRR.

Julie

[skygazer]

1. "Manhattan"?

Hoo boy.......

[Missy Vixen]

2. And I thought it was just me

Yeah, "Manhattan". The other child had a similarly "special" name as well; unfortunately, I was so busy worrying about Manhattan's smacking her head on my counter that I didn't make a mental note of it.

One thing's for sure: If I had EVER exhibited similar behavior to Manhattan's this afternoon, I would have received what my parents called a "buttwarming", and I'm not a spanking proponent.

Julie

[WindRavenX]

10. if I ever name my kid like that...

...please shoot me.

[skygazer]

13. Won't have to

The kid will do it for you...

[mitchum]

19. Manhattan? Christ, why didn't they just go with Montgomery Ward Snopes?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

3. Where's the boundaries?

That kid will probably be a handful when she enters school.

[Missy Vixen]

6. I think the kid's already in school

I think she's five or six. My first indication that it might be an interesting visit was the fact that Manhattan was also sucking her thumb.

Julie

[Zookeeper]

7. Yes. That mother is really not doing her child any favors...

by allowing her to behave so disrespectfully in public, particularly allowing the child to swing her purse around, hitting merchandise in a store.

I'm a parent and I know it can be difficult shopping with small children, but I have seen so many instances recently of children who were crabby and obviously exhausted, who just needed to go home and have a nap or go to bed. When they are like that, there simply is no way they are going to settle down unless they end up passing out in the shopping cart.

[Missy Vixen]

14. Usually, it's okay

>When they are like that, there simply is no way they are going to settle down unless they end up passing out in the shopping cart.<

Most of the small fry that visit are firmly in hand, due to a gallery being in the same building. We've had some kids previously that were overtired and/or bored; I try to engage them in conversation or point out something they'll be interested in for a few minutes. I'm also not above bribing the young ones with c-a-n-d-y if it's okay with Mom, so they're good as gold when they come to see me.

I'm hoping that this was an exceptional case, and Miss M's mother was so mortified at my quiet suggestion that she doesn't darken my doors again ;-).

Julie

[Zookeeper]

16. It sounds like you know how to comfort/engage the little ones...

I'm glad to hear that "Manhattan's" mom was not typical of your customers. And I'm sure your more "aware" customers appreciate that you are able to distract their kids for a few minutes.

I'm surprised to hear that Manhattan was school-age! I was guessing three or four.:eyes:

[Zookeeper]

4. Please tell me that the child's name wasn't really...

Manhattan???! (I'm very tempted to use my first "barf smiley" for that one.

Seriously, I do think it would be reasonable to just state to the mother your concerns about injuries and the cost of insurance. If you relate it to money instead of poor parenting skills, a parent like that may be more understanding.

[Missy Vixen]

12. Zookeeper, I wish I were kidding

>Manhattan???!<

:puke:

We named our cat Manhattan Rising, because his mom is from a cattery called Broadsway. It's cute for a cat. It's obnoxious for a child. Of course, that's my opinion.

Julie

[nini]

5. Princess Manhattan's mom will be real sorry one day..

.. when she's a teenager and won't see why common decency and rules apply to her.


just remember that - she'll get hers... :evilgrin:

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Ah, wonderful...

yet two more uncourteous, self-focused abominations being slowly trained to be sprung upon the world in a few years. Brought to you by self-centered ignorant parents who think their children are just the most special, dearest commodities they ever created to make their friends jealous.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Manhatten, you're going to grow up as oblivious of the fact that you

live in a WORLD with other people who you may inconveniently need to consider as your inconsiderate, obtuse mommy did.

(Makes ya want to scream, eh Julie?) :hi:


Now if it were MY kid...Manhatten...cut the crap or I'll toss your happy ass from here to fucking QUEENS!

[Missy Vixen]

11. NMSA, you know it

>(Makes ya want to scream, eh Julie?) :hi:<

:hi: to you, too!

I'm making the usual gender disclaimers, but while dwelling on the Saga of Manhattan and her family, the immortal words of Milli Vanilli keep coming to mind: Girl, you know it's true.

Julie

[flamingyouth]

15. When my store was in the mall, I had this stuff all the time

I swear, women would just take their kids to the mall as kind of capitalist play therapy. And mind you, I have a CHINA shop, so I was always very firm with the parents: Your kid runs around like a maniac and breaks stuff, you buy it.

And don't even get me started on that kid's name. :eyes:

[Missy Vixen]

17. This brings back fond memories of China, Silver and Crystal

>And mind you, I have a CHINA shop, so I was always very firm with the parents: Your kid runs around like a maniac and breaks stuff, you buy it.<

You go, girl.

I used to shop quite often at Bellevue's China, Silver and Crystal. I was continually amazed at the sheer number of young kids in that store with NO supervision. At the same time, the staff there brooked NO funny business.

Julie
"Mom! What's a H-e-n-c-k-e-l-s knife?"

[flamingyouth]

18. Yeah, I had some friends who worked there

We used to swap insane-child stories. :D

[Missy Vixen]

20. Wow, would I love to be on THAT mailing list

>We used to swap insane-child stories.<

I have lots of 'em, but suffice it to say that Miss M has moved to the top of the list. ;-)

Julie

[name not needed]

21. "Manhattan"?

I think this woman may have smoked crack at some point in her life.