Some People Suck

So get this:  I went to get some groceries with the kids.  I suppose my first mistake was going to the shops with the busy, disorganized parking lot lacking any designated pedestrian crossing spaces instead of the calm, slightly more suburban grocery store I usually go to.  I got the kids, my purse and reusuable shopping bags out of the car and found myself standing at the back of the van clutching a child's hand in each one of my own, bags dangling from my shoulders and cars flying everywhere.  One car was cutting across the empty parking space in front of me, another coming up behind me and one more to the right.  They all stopped, so I quickly scurried across to the relative safety of the shops.  Then, the man in the car on the left, who was cutting across the parking space, rudely shouted at me, "You're welcome!  No problem!"

Really?  I realize I didn't give an obligatory wave, but surely this loser saw my hands were full with little kids and shopping bags.  It's not like I sauntered across the street, taking my sweet old time, letting everyone wait.  I was simply trying to get my kids to safety and get out of everyone's way.  I didn't shout thanks because I assumed his windows were closed, and again, just trying to get out of the way.  I am not the kind of person who routinely neglects to thank others for small acts of kindness, but does every act need to be greeted with copious gestures of appreciation, if any at all?  Can't we sometimes do something just to be nice, because it is the right thing to do, and not search for outward gratitude?  I was so shocked, so eager to get away from all the cars, I didn't even have the presence of mind to say something back.  I was so upset, I actually ended up getting back in the car and leaving.  What if this man accosted me in the shops?  I just had to leave. 

Have you ever yelled at someone like this?  Has anyone ever yelled at you?  Did you get to say something back?

My only consolation:  karma is a bitch.

A Most Embarrassing Moment

It happened to me today.  That incident all parents of young children dread--breaking something in a shop.  I was in Starbucks in Niagara Falls with Little Miss Almost Two and a friend waiting for the dads and the older kids to go on some rides.  LMAT was playing with stir sticks, pushing her stroller and harmlessly dancing about until she grabbed a coffee mug off a low shelf.  My friend and I gasped and went after her to  just snatch the mug back before anything happened, when my Little S took off at mach speed (as usual) and triumphantly smashed it on the floor.  So, so embarrassing. 

Bless the staff--after I strapped Little S into her stroller, I asked them what I owed them for the mug but they just shrugged it off and said, "Don't worry about it."  Mortified, we headed out. 

Now does everyone understand why we do not want to go anywhere resembling a restaurant or cafe with the kids?  It is just too hard!  

Has something like this ever happened to you???