Well today has been a day that I hope will never be repeated. To start off, I am currently a stay at home mom, to supplement our one income family. I sell things on Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook marketplace. I am a member of deal groups that alert you to low priced items that can be resold at a profit. I got an alert that there was some video games on clearance for .03 cents. You read that right. So I do my due diligence and confirm that the store has some in stock, before I make the 35 mile one way trip with a 3 year old in tow. I pull into the parking lot, not too crowded. Feeling good about this. Plus there is a cart in the drop off bin. If you've ever been shopping with a toddler you know how important this is. I jump out the driver seat and see a young girl grab the cart, that I so desired. No biggie, I'm not a whiner. Pull my son out of the carseat, and start walking in. A nice older gentleman stopped me and handed me a cart, because if you've ever wrestled a 3 year old, its not pretty. Days looking up.
I go to the electronics department scouting out the clearance aisle, they aren't there. Look at the ones behind the glass case. There they are! I was so excited. Then I see that they are marked at 35.00 a pop. Hmmm...way more than I have on me. I asked the nice lady if she could help me get a few video games, I figured if they rang up more than I anticipated. I would just return them, later.
She rings up the first one and, she's like wow these are .03 cents. Then it happened, the evil, crazed eye, woman that was put on earth to ruin my day, did just that. She literally looked like a comic book villain as she hurdled the gate and snatched my precious video games and said these aren't for sale. My nice check out lady looked scared and bewildered. It was like looking in a mirror. I said "Oh why not?" She said don't you see the price, you can't come from out of town and snatch our deals. I started to laugh. Because she had to be kidding, right? Oh that set her off and it turned ugly fast. She started screaming like a banshee. In turn my three year old started screaming, "You're being bad, go to time out!" The nice lady and I just stared at each other and I thought in my head, where's the hidden camera?
Me perplexed, toddler in full tantrum, we walk away. Then I hear the words "Wh!tey isn't going to win today" Oh a fire I have never felt in my life erupted. I have tried to teach my child, to not to be judgmental, to be nice, kind and no name calling. I'm heading to customer service, now! She sees this and follows me with a few friends. Now my son is in full on meltdown tears, sobbing, snotting, asking "why she mean?" I stop and look at my child so upset, and realize that its the first time he's seen hate, for no founded reason. I stopped gave him a hug and said "She's just having a bad day, she's not mad at you." He said "OK, mommy" but do you know what he did he blew her a kiss and said "Feel better." I dont know if she heard him, or even understood him, but I did.
The video games that brought me there today, ended up meaning nothing. But the love my child has for all people, and the kindness in his little heart, made me feel better. I'm doing a good job, and remembered not to let anyone interfere with what is most important. Our attitude, our family, our future, and our young children.
Hopefully, this small synopsis of my day, will uplift others, as it did me. She didn't know me, nor I her. Hopefully, my explanation to my son she overheard, and maybe will feel different after today. I know I do. I might have lost that battle, but I won something more precious. Money isn't everything.