Monday, July 21, 2008

Madness.



So today Mal and I were killing some time and I had one too many Dr. Pepper refills so I had to use the restroom. I saw a store that I recognized and thought I might go in to look around for another sundress that I need oh-so badly (note sarcasm) and use their bathroom that I also needed oh-so badly. For identity protection we will call the store TJ Shmaxx. I wouldn't want to taint their name, so I will just leave it at that. I put Mal in their shopping cart and made a beeline for the bathroom, when I got to the back area where it was located, the dressing room lady asked me what I wanted. (and it was as unfriendly as it sounds) I told her I just needed the bathroom and she snorted at me (because that apparently is a crazy request) and said that I couldn't take the shopping cart in there. (it was one of those super classy shopping carts with the giant pole so that crazy shopping cart steelers can't get them out of the front door or in the bathroom apparently) I was already annoyed because I was about to wet myself and that she had an attitude about me wanting to go to the bathroom. So I said, "well....what am I supposed to do with my baby if I can't take the shopping cart in there?" She snorted again and said "take him with you." Snort. So I snorted back and said, "So am I just supposed to hold him on my lap while I pee?" She didn't respond to that and just stared me down until I walked away with pee drizzling down my leg.

Haha, Ok. I might not have peed on myself. But seriously, if it would have made TJ Shmaxx change their horrible policy, I would have. Maybe. Maybe not.
There was also another lady coming out of the dressing room area who handed all of her clothes back to our super friendly employee and said that she didn't need any of them because there were no dressing rooms that she could fit her baby's stroller into. The lady told her that she could just park it outside of the dressing room and leave the door open while she changed.....uh yeah, great idea. I am sure the woman would have loved to try on her BATHING SUITS with the door hanging open.

Is there something wrong with all of this? I couldn't use their bathroom because I wasn't willing to pee with my child balancing on my lap or set him on their nasty crusty pee encrusted floor. and the other woman couldn't use the dressing rooms because her stroller couldn't fit in the stalls.
I know I am blowing this out of proportion but it feels so wrong to me.
Madness. It's all madness.
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34 comments:

Margo said...

hey!
seriously do not get me started on how unfair most retail/restaurants are for parents of small children!!!

whenever we go somewhere now and there isn't a changing table in the men's room (just the women's room), i start to give a loud lecture about what kind of horrible injustice it is to make only women change baby diapers. what if a dad needs to change a baby???

and if there is no changing table anywhere in an establishment, then i feel free to change my toddler's poop-filled diaper on the table!!!

also, i loved the videos of mal!!! sooooo cute!!!!

Blog Shmog said...

I could go on and on with bathroom stories for you. i've had to hold my baby while peeing...and that is hard since i never sit on the seat!! i have a seat phobia. even with seat covers i don't feel very comfortable. so i'm holding my baby and i'm also trying to keep my toddler from licking the walls and floors. fun times!

Stefne said...

Well, see if I ever shop at TJ Shmaxx again!!!
Pee was running down my leg reading the story because I was laughing so hard!!

Shadley said...

that is just criminal!! not every store can be IKEA, i suppose.

hey- i have a nose ring question for you- did you wear yours in Ethiopia for your Embassy appt? I am concerned I will need to take mine out when we are in Et. and I haven't had it out at all yet-- if you wouldn't mind, email me and grimesfam@gmail.com.

thanks- Shadley

Julie said...

Hi Tara! I love Malak's pj's in those pics! David and I leave for Addis 2 weeks from Friday and I can't WAIT! :)

Sparkz said...

Too funny! I love both the dog story and the TJ Shmaxxx story. I've never thought about what to do with a baby when your out and need to go to the bathroom... I guess I'll have to start brainstorming b/c it sounds like taking a shopping cart in is out of the question.

As far as the Carters, my husband and Troy are friends from OC. Oh and thanks for the 3 comments!!! I had a secret ploy going to increase my comments. Its called don't update the blog and see how many times you can get people to comment! Yeah I should probably update that now that were back! :)

Unknown said...

Many many times have I had the unfortunate "let's not help mothers out" experiences at stores. My routine now is "boys (age three and five) keep your feet under the door where I can SEE THEM!" Baby comes into stall...is heaved over my shoulder and balanced while I attempt to balance (I too am afraid of sitting on those seats). I hold my breath that one of the older boys will not run off throwing my plan into chaos. And now I have TWO infants. Hmmm...maybe I will just wear an adult diaper.

Jesi Q said...

Another entertaining story to get the morning going... thanks Tara! As for TJ Shmaxx... that's ridiculous! I wish you WOULD have peed on the floor... now THAT would have been hilarious!

Oh, and those pictures of Mal... too CUTE!! Love the outfit!

Kim said...

i love it when people make life with a small child so convenient for us. jenn and i were just complaining the other day that more stores don't have parking at the front for expectant mothers/mothers with small children. thank you to babiesRus for actually doing this, other retailers step up. other countries do it why don't we!!!

by the way, i loved the video of malak's new tricks. cutie.

mama becca said...

BOOOOOOOOOOO!
This has been my life for the past 4.5 years. So, we just stay home. Seriously. I'm so tired of the rudeness! I just have to go places when Z's home to watch the kiddos. Sad that we live in a place so unwelcoming to kids... I remember it was different back in Ethiopia...
love you!
becca

grimthecat said...

Congrats on your lovely little boy. We are in Tulsa and just starting the process.

gigglechirp said...

Definitely madness!! This stuff get me so wound up.

C said...

Oh what I have to look forward to! That lady had issues

Renee said...

I'm with you sister. I have Maryn and Keller hold eachother's hands while I potty the whole time I'm saying- DON'T MOVE...DON'T Touch anything- they think this is really funny....and then they start touching things- It drives me crazy! Obviously the people who design these things have never had little people to take care of!

Holly said...

oh gees. I think you need to do some letter writing to The Shmaxx! That's crazy.

Gina said...

NOT out of proportion, I would have been just as MAD! Seriously. That is completely ridiculous. You should call their manager.

rebecca marie said...

it's totally maddening. this one time, i had the she-spawn at a store that i'll call Rosh. (do you love it? i love it! i got it at Rosh!) so i say to the dressing room guard "can i please use one of your dressing rooms to change my daughters diaper? since you don't have public restrooms with changing tables?"

and the guard lady goes "(heavy sigh out nose) well, i guess. but throw the diaper away. AND USE WIPES."

what? am i going to wipe my baby's butt on one of your "designer" dresses?

i think people are ridiculous. in general.

~Laura~ said...

madness....complete madness!

Olivia Orsborn said...

I can relate! I just had a situation at Costco! I ignored the employee's comments and walked in anyway!

Ellen Enright said...

Hi Tara!

I have totally been there. It is the most inconvenient thing to have to use a public restroom with a baby. I have actually had to hold Claire while I went or I let her stand on the floor and plead with her not to touch anything. She always goes straight to the floor. Great post!

Ellen

Stacie said...

I remember trying to pee with Micah on my lap once while hovering over the potty. Yes, MADNESS!
Oh- and Micah & Malak have matching jammies! I just posted a picture yesterday of Micah in the same pjs! (I know - what are the chances that we both shop at Old Navy? Crazy.)

Jennifer said...

Ya know what it is???....it's just a big load of SHMAXX!! SHMAXX I tell ya, that's all it is!!!

Anonymous said...

Honey, you'll get used to peeing with him on your lap!

Sarah D. said...

That is too bad! Until you mentioned about the poles on the shopping carts being there so that you can't get through doors I always wondered what they were for. Clearly I don't have children yet! It's silly but all I could come up with was that the poles made it easy to find carts that had been left down aisles. Lame. The real reason makes way more sense but I'm sorry it made shopping so difficult for you!

Kellie said...

Tara, I love your stories. This probably won't be the last time that you run into the bathroom problem. Wait until the potty training years when your caart in completely full and your child decides that she has to go to the bathroom right then. It's just the woes of being a parent.
Thanks for the comment. We are excited about the house...if it works out. And we are very excited about adopting. We went to a Gladney info meeting about a week ago and we are pumped. We are going to start the process early in 2009. Gladney is the only place that we have considered because of your guys, Filipe and Jenn, and Dave and Chelsea. It would seem wrong to go anywhere else.

Amy said...

You sure know how to tell a good story Miss Tara Tara T-T-T.

We are back... want to get together?? Well, maybe in a few days. Silas has a bit of a cough/cold. I wouldn't want to get Malak K sicky.

Calling you....

Anonymous said...

Tara,
I had such a good time visiting with you and Mal this week. We'll have to do it again, for sure. I'm excited for whenever Josh will be able to meet you guys.

Anonymous said...

Tara, I've just read through most of your blogs and your boy is beautiful!! Caleb had told us a while back that yall were adopting, and I'm so happy for you. It's amazing to see what God's been doing in your life and the way that you are making an impact for children all over the world. Paul and I were recently in Oklahoma City taking our middle schoolers to OCU for Camp Cornerstone. Next time we'll have to look you guys up. We have two boys of our own, Rylan is 3 1/2 and Kason is 20 months. They're a blast. Boys are a whole new ballgame. I love all your stories, and yes, I've had to pee while holding a child on my lap. One of those things you never think you'll ever do, but desperate times... Anyway, I wish you all the very best blessings with your precious family. love,
Melanie Partlow (AIM)

Christina said...

Hilarious!!!!

Amanda said...

I think this IS madness!! I protest!!

emily said...

You go girl! Don't give up your cause, fight it sister. Ok, that is ridiculous. You need to not spend another dime in their store:) Take that TJ SHMAX

Christie said...

How sad am I that I can't find that house anymore?! Boooo. That's cool, I'll keep the pool through the end of summer then start looking around!

So, these pictures are pretty great. Do you think Megan wants to teach me how to use my new camera? (Or point me in the direction of a decent class?) I hope so, because I need it.

I will see you all very soon! Enjoy BU '08!

Anonymous said...

Ahh, yes, be thankful you got to skip the "where the heck do I nurse this monkey". And yes, every mother worth her salt has peed in the air with baby-O on her lap/shoulder. (some while nursing.) :)

Sarah and Tim said...

This is insane. We haven't ventured out too much yet for this very reason. I need to send Tim on recon missions to find baby-friendly places.

LOVE your pictures!!!!