Does this look like a day care

[GiftShopGirl]

Sheesh, so many tales! I work at a science center. We have a lot of school field trips here, so hordes of screaming children stampeding through the place is a frequent occurrence. However, children must ALWAYS be supervised by a parent or chaperon. Apparently not everyone seems to understand this concept.

Me:
EWM: Entitlement Whore Mother

It was a rare quiet afternoon at the science center, when a well-dressed woman burst into our gift shop pushing a baby stroller. I have never seen her in my life, before or since.

EWM: Hi there. Can you watch my baby while I go to the grocery store?
Me: No, I'm sorry, I can't.
EWM: What do you mean, no?
Me: I mean, I can't watch your baby while you go to the grocery store. This is a science center. We don't watch children.
EWM: Excuse me, I am your customer and I am telling you to watch my baby. I'll only be a few minutes because I just need to pick up a few things
(yea right. the closest grocery store is 15 mins away)
Me: Ma'am, I can't watch your baby. You need to stay here with it or take it with you.
EWM: Now see here! I said I'd only be a few minutes and I demand you watch my baby! I will return shortly.
Me: Ma'am, I cannot watch your baby. This is not a day care.
EWM: Don't you dare take that tone with me! I am a customer and I can do what I want! (yes, she actually said this!) I am leaving and I will return shortly. Now watch my baby.

She turned to leave but I went after her.

Me: *so mad I didn't care what I said* Ma'am, you CAN do whatever you want, but you may not like the consequences. If you walk out that door, I WILL call the police. I'm telling you now - don't leave your baby here.
EWM comes back, grabs the stroller, and goes to the door.
EWM: Fine, but see if I ever buy anything here again!
Me: I didn't see you buy anything here to begin with.

And she was gone. Honestly though, who WANTS to leave their child with complete strangers at a place that does not claim in any way, shape, or form to be a day care? If you're so well-dressed, then surely you can afford to leave your kid at day care or hire a babysitter for the time it takes you to "pick up a few things". Besides, if anything were to happen to that baby while she were gone, I might have been the one getting in trouble, and I definitely don't want that!!

[blas]

To a lot of people, babies and children are just accessories, the same way some people treat their pets.

[bainsidhe]

Deep down part of me wished you hadn't gone after her. Just so you could've called the cops. And watch when she showed up to explain to the lovely folks in blue what being a wonderful parent is all about.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

I wouldn't have stopped her. I'd have just called the police and explained that you weren't a day care and that you told her that she either had to take the child or stay with it and she just walked out.

But then again I'm evil that way.

[xaenon]

Deep down part of me wished you hadn't gone after her. Just so you could've called the cops. And watch when she showed up to explain to the lovely folks in blue what being a wonderful parent is all about.

Agree. That's exactly what I'd have done.

[Stryker One]

With a nice Chianti and fava beans

I'd wring my hands together and talk about how I'd looooove to "watch" the baby.

[Mister]

To a lot of people, babies and children are just accessories, the same way some people treat their pets.

Agreed, we had shoplifters once who used the stroller to carry the loot, hidden under the blankets etc. When they were found out, they ran (obviously) but they left the baby in the store. It took the woman 10 whole minutes to realize the baby wasn't going to come running after her.
Off cource, we'd already called the police by that time, they took the baby.

[blas]

I worked at a store called Deb when I was 17.

There's a lot of teenage pregnancy around here, and it's no big thing to see young girls with strollers. The sad thing is that most girls who shoplifted would hide stuff in the stroller and try to claim that "The baby did it!"

Sure....a practically newborn baby can reach up several feet and grab a shirt off the rack that looks like it would fit you perfectly and tuck it underneath itself just for you.

[LillFilly]

Ah yes, the baby did it. Don't forget the parents / older siblings / older friends that have a minor conceal clothing / items on their person and figure if they get caught, it's the little kid who will get in trouble, but it won't be a big deal because they can't be charged. Sickos.

[Aethian]

Mom got accused of shop lifting one time with me. I was still in the tiny and must have wires poking at me to live stage and she had to go grocery shopping. And since I was a special needs infant (3 month premie) she couldn't leave me with just anyone.

So she has my heart monitor under the basket, wires going up to me and me covered with a good sized blanket to keep in the heat. Gets up to the cashier who askes to scan the heart monitor. Doesn't believe that Mom brought it in with her and calls security over. Security comes with management and they start talking to Mom on how stealing is wrong and she needs to pay for the item. Mom just shrugs and says that she's not stealing, the heart monitor was purchased from the hospitol.

One of the guys takes the blanket off and says he's talking about the electronics and...doll? Looking at me he thinks I have to be one of those new fangled dolls that are really life like and pokes me. Wakes me up so fast my heart stops and the machine goes off. Mom scurries to get me going again and get the machine off and now everyone is watching her as suddenly the doll is crying and fussy that her nap got inturupted...and this is at a time I hardly slept.

So yea....the baby did it.

And now back to your regularly scheduled topic and sorry for the thread jack.

[bainsidhe]

Aethian, does it make me a bad person if I found that funny? I mean, it's a terrible situation, and yet the silliness of being stopped for shoplifting a heart monitor attached to a baby...errr...I have no words for that.

[Kerry]

I'd have let her go and then called social services right away...I can forsee the sad sad life that child will have if Mom doesn't get a clue, and fast.

[taxguykarl]

Honestly though, who WANTS to leave their child with complete strangers at a place that does not claim in any way, shape, or form to be a day care?

A better phrasing would be: 'Who in their right mind'. But that would be a self-answering question.

If you're so well-dressed, then surely you can afford to leave your kid at day care or hire a babysitter for the time it takes you to "pick up a few things". Besides, if anything were to happen to that baby while she were gone, I might have been the one getting in trouble, and I definitely don't want that!!

You're right about that, and your organization would be seriously screwed as it, in all likelihood, does not have any insurance coverage for that kind of situation. I too had to threaten (well, actually promise) to call police and child protective services on a mom who insisted on leaving her brats (and believe me, these little hellions were) in our waiting area where they were already amusing themselves by punching each other.

[Calud]

So yea....the baby did it.

So, how did it end. Did you survive?

(couldn't resist)

[Balgram]

Running out and stopping her was a good/kind choice. I can't understand what was going through her mind because I am sane, but she needed to take her baby.

Calling the police would have been the fair choice. She left the baby. Child abandonment, no? I'm not sure what it's called, but it sure ain't healthy.

I'm glad you did the good choice. I'm curious what would have happened had you done the fair choice, but I doubt this is the last time she'll try this stunt. Perhaps she'll try it with you again later, or at another CSer's store.

She probably will, too. How unfortunate for anyone who must deal with her.

My faith in humanity decreases when I hear about people like this.