Sunday, September 27, 2009

Two Different Points of View ♥


I hate Wal-Mart. I'm talking I absolutely loathe that place with every fiber of my being. I hate the crowdedness of it, I hate the fact that ours is the biggest Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania and if I forget to grab something on one side of the store I have a half a mile hike back to grab whatever frivolous thing I needed. I hate the people everywhere who all seem to be in a race to grab the freshest carton of milk. I hate the parking lot where it seems like you are in the Indy 500 and its a race to find the closest spot to the door. And I really hate the fact that I live in a super small town and for one stop shopping Wal-Mart is my one and only option.

That said, when we needed a few odds and end in our house this week I was already crabby when loaded up my boys and pushed my cart through those double doors.

I navigated my way through the jungle of the store, attempting to push that fancy double wide cart with the duel children's seats in the front around, you know, the one that is humongous and ridiciously hard to navigate. I took up the whole aisle just to get a loaf of bread. I was growing more and more irritated by the second, that much was true.

The cereal aisle, that's where it happened. While Brayden and Gage were busy having a debate whether we should buy Fruit Loops or Cookie Crisp (Fruit Loops won out in the end by the way) I stood and allowed them to have their argument for a minute just so that I could catch my breath. A young, well dressed business woman stood up after reaching down for a box of Bran Flakes, turned toward me and said (in all seriousness, no smile, no hint of sarcasm.) ...

"Wow. You really must have your hands full with those two. Double the trouble. I don't envy you at all. Really, I would not like to be you."

Ouch! That’s a little harsh, especially since she repeated it a few too many times. Ok, I admit it was 5:30pm and I still hadn’t found time to shower, I was in no way “dolled up”, wearing very little make-up (if any). I probably looked a little disorganized…maybe a little scattered…possibly a bit overwhelmed. But come on, I'm a mom. That pushed me right over the edge and my irritation was fueled into 100% pure unadulterated anger.

I swung that cart right around and headed for the doors. We were leaving, toilet paper-less, laundry detergent-less, and whatever else was on my shopping list-less. I literally had to leave that store for fear of an oncoming explosion. And so I trucked on and headed for the exit.

I walked towards the checkout, unsure if I was even going to go through it. The idea of taking my boys out of the cart and just going home was becoming more and more appealing. Right about the time Brayden asked me why we had turned around a older man rounded the corner and we bumped smack into each other. Before the words that I was sure would come had an opportunity to bubble to my lips the man, with a smile and a soft chuckle, said ...
"Oh my goodness I am so sorry. Oh my your boys are adorable and so well behaved (he obviously didn't know them very well). Which aisle can I find myself two of those? (pointing at Brayden and Gage)

Wow! Two very different people with two very different perspectives on life.

There’s always two ways to look at things…
The woman saw them as double the trouble, BUT the man saw them as double the LOVE!!!

I turned around, with the most authentic smile, and finished my shopping.

xoxo,

9 comments:

  1. Wow....WOW. I don't think I've ever had anyone be so brazenly rude to me! I can sit here and think of a number of things that I can say I would have said to her...but knowing me I probably wouldn't have. I do know that with every ounce of my being that I would secretly hope one day she ends up with a couple of her own...and that they turn out to be complete hell raising rug rats and will make her eat her words!!

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  2. I know the feeling all too well. I've had so many insidents like yours. I have... left the store a couple of occations, blurted out how rude and offensive they were, left the aisle angry to collect myself again, or just completely ignored them and went on my way. There are so many people out their with this attitude, but it is so refreshing when you get someone like that old man. (((HUGS)))

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  3. Oh man! {hugs}

    I probably would have looked right at Powersuit and said something along the lines of "Honey, I think your pantyhose is too tight... anyone can see that mine is the most rewarding life of the two of us." and then smiled at her while loading more sugary kids cereal - SO much better than bran flakes - into my cart.

    But then I also probably would have been bitchslapped, so perhaps its a good thing I wasn't there!

    So glad that man was there to remind you that YOU are the lucky one!

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  4. It's such a common attitude, I see it all the time. I have 10 children (not all still little of course) and the comments I get/ have gotten run the gamut but consistenly the older folks recognize children for the beautiful blessinga that they are. They've lived longer and experienced more. They know that true love and satisfaction aren't to be found in themselves but in the love they share with others. Being a mom is hard, few people would deny that but it's also the best thing you'll ever do.

    Peace,
    Michele

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  5. OMGoodness... what a wonderful post. What a terrible thing for that woman to say to you. I'm so glad that you bumped into someone right after to restore your spirit. I used to let that sort of thing bother me, now I try not to waste the energy, albeit it's not easy to do.....
    ((hugs)) to you.

    Fantastic blog by the way!!! FANTASTIC!!!!
    I love it... seriously... not even kidding!

    Very well written. I am your new biggest fan.
    I am also featuring you on my "cool blog of the day" on my site as well!!!!
    Keep up the great work.... you have inspired me to continue....

    Michele
    http://www.findingtrinity-michele.blogspot.com

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  6. Aw, thank goodness for older and wiser, and clearly a father.
    And kudos to you for not knocking out that woman with your ginormous shopping cart. I don't know if I could have shown your restraint. My forked tongue probably would have won out. :oP

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  7. Thank you for sharing this! Isn't it crazy how your own perspective can change so quickly depending on what some total strangers say?

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  8. Why do strangers have the ability to drop you like a red hot stone or lift you like a helium balloon? I know which person you 'bumped' into had a more fulfilling life while the other was obviously more materialistic and self centred, dont' you?!

    Asda in the UK (Walmart owned btw) is evil too... I HATE the place with an absolute passion. Why do people who shop there act like the 3 minute warning has been sounded and feel the need to stock up on everything they can while blocking the aisles for those who just want to get in, get shoppped and get out again?! GRRRR...

    x

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  9. Ah! Love that older man! Don't you hate those other people who have no idea what REAL life is like?? :)

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