To have enabled some tweens?

[TheSlatternintheHat]

When I was a tween, I ADORED MAC makeup and always had my nose pressed to the counter, drooling over lipsticks I couldn't afford. The irony is, now I'm older, I never really wear lipstick.

MAC have an ongoing recycling scheme called "Back to MAC" whereby if you bring back 6 empty containers, you can get a free lipstick. Today, I was at a MAC counter armed with several empty containers and determined to find some lipstick I would be happy to wear. I finally settled on one shade, but had enough empty containers for 4 more lipsticks.

Whilst looking, I overheard a couple of tweens (they can't have been older than 12 years old), standing near the lipsticks and trying different shades, talking about which lipsticks they would love to get if only they could afford them. It took me right back to when I was their age. They turned around to leave and I went after them and asked if they'd like some free lipstick. I thrust them two carrier bags with 6 containers each and told them they could take it to the counter and pick a free lipstick each. They looked at me sceptically (probably wondering who the mad lady was!) and, without waiting to hear their reaction, I turned around and hurried off, a little bit embarrassed. As far as I saw, they walked out of the store giggling to themselves, and I figured they had no idea about the scheme and would probably bin the bags.

When I was at the counter waiting to get my free lipstick, one of the MAC assistants came up holding some empty containers and asked the assistant serving me if she'd given them to some girls by mistake. I saw the containers and realised they were the ones if given away, turned and saw the girls a few feet back. It transpired that the girls had said they were given the containers and wanted to return them, in case they were given in error or stolen! I told the assistant I'd given the containers to the girls and that they could use them if they wanted. When I'd finished at the till, I turned to leave and passed by the girls and told them they'd get better use of the lipsticks than I would, and they very sweetly thanked me.

It was only an hour later that I thought, oh shit, what if their parents don't allow them to wear makeup? I put it to a couple of my friends and they're split down the middle. One of them had strict parents and said they'd have been furious and probably punished her for speaking to and accepting stuff from a stranger. The other thought it wasn't a big deal and, if they're parents were that strict, the girls would probably say nothing and keep it to themselves (I don't know whether that's so good either - if that's the case, I'd be enabling the girls to be dishonest/lie to their parents!)

So, what do you all think? WIBU? I keep thinking no, I was just trying to be nice in a fit of nostalgia - but the road to hell is paved etc etc ...

[AChristmassyJerseySpud]

Hmmm

Tbh i would have probably said to my two 'i hope you bloody said thank you' and 'you don't wear it outside of the house' but thats about it.

[friday16]

You did a sweet thing. If the parents are loons, that's not your problem. If the parents are serious loons, the kids are presumably used to managing them.

[dontwanttobefatandforty]

As a parent who isn't overly strict I would think you had done a nice thing

[ZillionChocolate]

That was a kind thing to do. Polish your halo.

[ArthurCucumber]

My dd is nearly 12 and would have LOVED that, so yes, you were being really sweet. She's just starting to be interested in makeup and, although I wouldn't allow her to wear it out of the house, she'd have some good-quality stuff to experiment with, which is great. However, I'm just wondering what my reaction would have been if she'd arrived home with lipsticks that she could obviously never have afforded with her own money, with a complicated story about some random woman in the shop. Not knowing about the MAC offer, I have to say I'd raise an eyebrow. Dd is the anxious, law-abiding type - I like to think she wouldn't agree to anything untoward, and would be terrible at lying about it if she had. But I'm one of the less strict and suspicious parents in her circle of friends. So even if I ended up believing dd, I'd be concerned that some of her friends would be getting a rocket about suspected shoplifting.

[darkdays]

I think that is a lovely thing to do!

[DameDeepRedBetty]

I think it was lovely. Of course they're not allowed to wear it to school, and I was still about it being worn out of the house when dtds were 12 (only two years ago but seems a lifetime ), but I don't think I'd have minded if some random nice lady had happened to be randomly nice to mine.

[thebody]

ah that was a nice gesture. your friend who would 'punish' their dd is a loon.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

What a lovely thing to do.

My dd is only 4 so makeup hasn't entered my head yet, so really don't know if yabu or not.

[DameDeepRedBetty]

Arthur I'd like to think I'd believe them as (a) it's such a weird story that even dtd1 with the hyperactive imagination couldn't make it up and (b) there'd be something about the offer on the net for me to check on.

[GobblersKnob]

I think it was a lovely generous act on your behalf, bless them for trying to return them in case it was a mistake.

[FairVerona]

I think that was a lovely thing to do. If that had been one of my daughters I would have been delighted that they met you!

[Jengnr]

If they're not wearing it with or without parental approval anyway I'd be surprised.

It was a lovely thing to do. Good on you.

[Jengnr]

If they're not wearing it with or without parental approval anyway I'd be surprised.

It was a lovely thing to do. Good on you.

[valiumredhead]

Lovely thing to do

I have extra special love for my aunty as she gave me my first mascara at 12

[Canthisonebeused]

I would think it was OK what you had done. However I'm not sure all parents are reasonable. My though was that maybe they would be accused of shop lifting the lipsticks and could potentially be in a lot of trouble if their parents were the unreasonable sort.

I would tend not to do kind guest urges like this with complete strangers children as you never know the home situation. Sad but I think it's something I would consider in such a situation.

[londonrach]

What a lovely person you are. Im sure the girls would appreciate it.

On a separate point i need a lipstick (not had one for years now, money and time being main reason). Does it have to be mac old containers. Can it be any make. Have some that are over 10 years. Also where are mac counters.

[ArthurCucumber]

Betty - yes, I'd definitely have checked on the Web to find out if the offer was really a thing. I might have had to ring a couple of the friends' parents, though, as I can think of two in particular who'd have gone spare :(

[pomdereplay]

I would've loved you forever as a tween and that is the spirit in which I would think about it with my daughter as the recipient. Very lovely and kind of you!

[Nombrechanger]

You sound absolutely lovely! I try to do nice things for people but because I live in London I think it's taken the wrong way. People are too suspicious and I doubt blame them in many ways.

[Nombrechanger]

Don't not doubt

[LittleOldWineDrinker]

I'd say you did a kind thing. I can't imagine being lucky enough to own a decent brand of make up at their age.

[kali110]

What a lovely thing to do

[Dilidali]

It was a cool random act of kindness!
Had I been the mum of one of those two girls I would say just don't forget and repay the kindness when you can. Abd 'you're not going out wearing that'. :)

[ZillionChocolate]

I would have thought they'd get a receipt for the lipsticks wouldn't they? It'd explain that they weren't stolen.