Interference is usually foul.

I was at the grocery store a couple of days ago, and it was our typical favorite outing. Since sarcasm doesn't convey well in writing, I will tell you that by "favorite outing", I mean "thing I always put off until the last possible second because Mason and I both hate it more than words can say."



Well, this procrastination was well rewarded. I had a slightly tired child who was also in need of a snack and not in the mood to cooperate. Both of these things were my fault because I was trying to push through errands and just wanted to get it done rather than stopping to take care of his needs. (I've told you more than once that I'm mother of the year). Plus we were out of snack foods that I'm willing to feed him and needed to go to the store before he could have a suitable snack, and it was a few hours shy of dinner time. Also, I think my poor attitude about the grocery store translates into his behavior while we're there, because I really hate going.



So needless to say, he was wandering aimlessly. One of his favorite treats is a smoothie from Jamba Juice, which just so happens to share a parking lot with the grocery store. I told Mason if he would stick with me in the store and not cry, we could stop and get a smoothie when we were done. I figured this would kill two birds with one stone, as I could get my last errand finished and get him a snack in a timely manner.



At first, the plan was working well. He would wander a bit, but without my yelling (trying with moderate success not to be the mom who yells) and a reminder, he would come back and stick with me. A big problem we were having was the large number of mother/children combinations in the store at the same time. Mason wanted to play with other kids. Well, while he was wandering before I could get his attention to get him back, he nearly walked into someone. She blew it off with my apology and I thought that was the last of it. Really, he wasn't running around so I didn't think it was a huge deal.


Well, no sooner did I get in the line at the meat/fish counter and place my order than this woman approached me and told me she wanted to pay me a dollar to talk to Mason. I told her I didn't think that was necessary, but thank you for the thought, and she brushed me off and said "He needs to learn to respect his mother. I raised three boys myself and I know how to talk to them." Over my continued protests, while trying to be tactful and still deny her, she called Mason over and talked to him about being kind and then gave me the dollar. I was horribly uncomfortable the entire time, and this lady made me feel like I was about two inches tall. I felt she was interfering and condescending and I wanted to crawl into a hole. Unfortunately, there was not one readily available and I didn't realize I could leave the meat counter and come back to pick my order up so that I could step away from her.



In the end, her little speech didn't work and he grew more upset, ending with me putting him the cart to contain him and his screaming through the rest of the store. We had to come home and sit for half an hour for quiet time before he was thoroughly calmed down and back to his funny, unfrustrated self. I think it took even longer for me to really calm down because I was so bothered.


Has anyone else have a similar situation happen to them? How did you handle it to maintain even a shred of self-pride?