My children threw all the lottery tickets on the floor, in the supermarket, and I left it for the lady to pick up :(

[KnifesHope]

I feel really bad about this and I think AIBU is the perfect place, you lot can be really harsh! And I think that's what I need, I know I was unreasonable and I just can't get over it.

We were in the local supermarket and I had just picked the DC up from school. They were playing with each other in the corner while I paid the lady, she was lovely btw and young, not that it makes any difference. I was on my phone, I had answered it while we were at the till (which is something I wouldn't do, but my dad has been in hospital and I have to answer the call, for any updates etc) I had noticed my children had thrown all those paper lottery tickets over the floor (the ones that you write on) and I had got some bad news from the hospital (the worst diagnosis really and btw this isn't for sympathy) so I was beginning to cry, I then just left with the children but as I left, I saw the lady picking them all up :( I don't want her to think my children are horrors and I'm some kind of evil woman who lets them do what they want, it's just I was going to have to tell them about how sick their grandad is and I just wasn't even thinking straight, gosh. I'm awful.

I have changed my username as I don't want people to judge me around the website for the future...

Tell me how awful I was. Maybe it will stop me dwelling on it.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I'm so sorry you're having an awful time Do you think worrying about the lottery tickets is a displacement activity to stop you worrying about everything else?

You're not awful.

[HereIAm20]

In the circumstances we can let you off and give you a hug x

[Beardsareweird]

No, you weren't being awful. Maybe the woman in the shops did think your children were little buggers, but so what? If you feel that bad, go back and apologise but to be honest I would let it go. Thinking of you

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Oh you wanted shit for it... You're a terrible mother. Or something. If that helps.

[quantende]

So sorry you have had some bad news, even worse to have had to deal with hearing it in that situation, in public :-(

Please don't worry about the tickets, you could always apologise with a brief explanation next time you are in, when you have got your head around things a bit, I'm sure it would be appreciated.

Chin up and focus on what is important right now xxx

[3littlebadgers]

We all have moments when we do or allow something which is surprising and out of character. Today was no ordinary day for you, had you been on good form you wouldn't have left her to pick up the tickets. Please don't be hard on yourself. If it helps, maybe appologise to the lady.
So sorry about your dad I wish you all the strength to get through the path ahead. Un-mumsnetty hug for you

[KnifesHope]

I suppose I didn't want shit for it, I just thought I'd prepare myself. Thanks all, I'm surprised at the answers really.

[MiscellaneousAssortment]

Oh love. It's ok, it really is.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

Next time you see her apologise if you're dwelling on it but I really wouldn't worry. I've worked in retail years and it's something she'll have done before I'm sure.

I'm sorry you've had bad news

[AlmaMartyr]

You aren't awful, honestly. So sorry for your sad news

[youarenotkiddingme]

An awful parent wouldn't be worried about how their children's behaviour impacted on others.

Sorry to hear it was bad news about your dad

[Drowzeee]

I used to work in shop and would have been fuming but I obviously wouldn't know your circumstances

[KnifesHope]

Thanks everyone.

Drowzeee, I bet she was... It was so busy as it was school pick up time. We had a lovely chat at the till aswell and I bet her whole opinion changed of me/my children.

[Waltermittythesequel]

Please don't worry about it. You had far, far more important stuff on your mind. I'm sorry about your dad.

[ItsJustNotRight]

You need . Don't beat yourself up over this, you know in different circumstances you would dealt with it as necessary. Some bits of a paper on the floor is hardly crime of the year, not behaviour you want to encourage but no harm done. Your energy is needed elsewhere so as my DSs say to me "let it go mum".

[Northernlurker]

So what happened is lovely mum and kids are at checkout being lovely, phone rings, mum dives on it and is engaged in conversation which was clearly difficult from one side checkout lady could hear, kids run riot, visibly upset mum grabs kids and leaves. It will have been perfectly plain that you'd had bad news. Don't give it another thought.

[Bluechip]

What youare said. An awful parent wouldn't worry about it, you're not an awful parent. im sorry you had bad news about your dad

[yeOldeTrout]

I once left the staff to clean up a large broken glass bottle of olive oil, sigh.
And no kids were involved, it was just my clumsiness what broke it.
I've no doubt they are just glad it was simple pieces of paper.

[INXS]

OP, you'll be back in that little supermarket soon I'm sure. Next time she's in there, explain. She will get the warm and fuzzies that you remembered and cared and all will be right with her.

I'm so sorry about your dad

[mycatwantstokillme1]

I'm really sorry to read about your dad, if I knew how to insert the bunch of flowers they would be right here. YANBU cos you know if you hadn't got upset you would have got them to pick the tickets up.
Hopefully to make you laugh and not feel so guilty, I went into our local supermarket the other day after I'd had vegetable chilli and and felt a fart brewing, mine are normally nothing special and very quiet - I kid you not - this one sounded like a fucking car backfiring! I think I syled it our but 2 customers and one shop assistant looked round in horror and I didn't even flinch, just carried on walking down the aisle (although I was mortified) - and I don't think it smelt of roses. At least your DC's didn't do that!

[mycatwantstokillme1]

oops meant to say I think I styled it out!!

[KnifesHope]

Thanks everyone :)

[29redshoes]

I used to be a cashier and honestly if this had happened to me I wouldn't have been bothered at all. It's no big deal, I'd have forgotten about it by the end if my shift. In fact it probably made a bit of a change for her (not even joking...being on a till is boring).

Sorry for your sad news

[chocolateworshipper]

So sorry for you. I bet the lady could tell that you'd had some bad news and didn't worry about it at all

[Robinkitty]

If you feel like it you could tell customer services or a manager that she was lovely. Some supermarkets have employee of the month type things, if you feel quilty maybe. I doubt she gave it the time of day so don't worry about it.