People Peeve

I work in retail, which means that I deal with people all day. I happen to work in a children's store, so I get to deal with small people and their parents all day. My pet peeve for the day is parents who ignore their children while they shop.

Some parents seem totally oblivious to the fact that their child is wreaking havoc in the store. We have kids pulling clothing off the tables, playing tag (really) in the store, chasing each other around the rounders and the all time favorite, hiding between the clothes. Are they blind and deaf or just incredibly stupid?? Listen up people: a store is not a playground, nor are we your personal babysitters. Watch your own kids and if they are acting up, discipline them. If they start screaming, leave. Nobody wants to listen to your child raise holy hell. Which brings me to my next point.

DO NOT SHOP WHEN YOUR CHILDREN ARE TIRED. Sorry for shouting but I wanted to make sure you heard me. Soooo many people seem to miss this point. They head off for a day of shopping with Junior shoved into a stroller and they expect him to stay put and happy for hours on end. It doesn't work that way. Small people get bored easily. They get tired quickly. Respect that and plan your shopping day accordingly. You can't shop all day with little ones. Accept it and know that one day they will be teenagers who wouldn't be caught dead shopping with you unless you are paying. When your child starts crying in that distinctive whiny "I'm tired" tone, go home. Get something to eat. Let them play. Something! Just get out of my store. Thank you.