Toddler broke item in garden centre

[Summerhen]

Took my two children DD (6) and DS (2) to the garden centre this morning to get a little bit of cake and some veggie plants for them to put in the garden.
We had our cake where they both sat nicely and then left the cafe to go and let them choose which plants they wanted. As I opened the cafe door both of them went out before me and due to the door being a bit heavy it took me a couple of seconds to manoeuvre the pram out and through the door by myself. As I looked up from the pram I spotted my little boy had picked up an ceramic ornament from a display on the floor so was quickly like ‘oh put that down DS’ whilst I rushed over, so was obviously my fault for asking him to put it down but I didn’t think and he put it down a bit to fast to which it cracked and broke into two pieces. I immediately headed over to the till to pay for it but I was met with a lady who just made me feel so bad for it. She told me that I should have been keeping an eye on him and that it was no surprise that it broke when they are so fragile. I’m probably way to sensitive to this kind of thing and need to grow a thicker skin but I’m always so careful with keeping him close to me to prevent anything like this, always telling him not to touch etc - this is the first time either of my children have ever broke anything in a shop and it just surprised me how annoyed she actually was about it. We live in a semi-rural area with not loads around, the garden centre is our closest cafe so just feeling like if I go in their again they’ll think bad of me now 🫣

I was going to say yabu but actually you were heading to the tills to pay for it so no you weren’t bu.

I think this is a her issue more than a you issue. The fact you offered to pay for it immediately made it a non issue to my mind. These things happen with toddlers and it sounds like she's been unnecessarily harsh.

What was it to do with her if you were paying for it? If she is employed there I'd consider complaining to the manager/owner. Business is tough enough without her driving away customers trying to do the right thing.

I was also expecting you to describe something else. Not sure what else you could have done.

Perhaps it's time to rethink the pram in places like this though?

Second children rarely sit in them like their sibling did because they want to do the same as older child. It's just another obstacle and hindered you in catching him.

I liked the backpacks with a strap although I know MN opinions on reins!

I'd have just said "theres no need for the parenting lecture, here I am buying a broken item so the only person out of pocket here is me."

Well she sounds a bit miserable! You paid for it and she can keep her opinions to herself!

It’s possible that if this kind of thing happens regularly she’s a bit fed up with it and that’s why she was grumpy. But that’s not your problem - I’d have understood it more if you’d objected to paying. And I’m with a few pp’s here - I don’t think you should have been expected to pay if it was a genuine accident.

I’ve actually remembered a shop thing to charge me once! I was with my two kids, at the till paying but before she gave me the total, she said, “I’ll just add on the cost of this figurine which your child broke”. And I was very confused as my kids had not broke anything; I had kept them totally under control. It got into a bit of back and forth with the assistant vacate I refused to pay, manager came down and then CCTV was checked. You could see my standing with my kids looking at photo frames. They stayed in site of the camera the whole time, and the figurines were at the opposite end. And older woman walked past with a walking stick in one hand and her larger handbag hanging off the other forearm. It was her bag which swung and knocked the figurine, I hadn’t noticed, and then I walked down the aisle and past the end with the figures so the assistant had seen me come out that aisle and assumed my kids had broken it. I was very annoyed!

Accidents can happen to anyone and you did the right thing by owning up and offering to pay straightaway. You were clearly feeling embarrassed and apologetic so it was very mean of her to take advantage of that and give you a lecture. Some people like an easy target for their ire but wouldn’t dream of challenging someone more aggressive.

Do go back and enjoy the garden centre. The worst that anyone could say of you is that your toddler broke something and you paid. No one is going to think badly of you for that.

I’m sure she was an absolutely perfect parent at all times.

She sounds miserable. I'm sure she is miserable with people multiple times a day so I doubt she will remember you next time.

You paid for the damage....end of! Sadly, some people are just too far up their own arses to accept that accidents happen but delight in guilt tripping others even when they've owned up. She was just being a power crazy bitch!

Same. OP immediately offered to pay. There was no need for the nastiness.

Hugs to you, my kids are the same age and I can so imagine being exactly in your shoes and doing what you did. Her reaction would have hurt my feelings and I’m not ashamed to say, absolutely ruined my day! She was an ass.

What a shortsighted woman! You did the right thing and she was unpleasant. She clearly doesn't understand how to behave in a way that helps retain customers.

I think she's the one with the problem. In that situation I would've apologised to a member of staff and given/showed them the broken pieces, but not paid.

Accidents happen and it's not a case of your DC being so out of control and throwing things around. Even adults break things accidentally, things slip out of hands, weigh more than expected, etc.

Thank you - definitely agree that the pram can be a pain at times for that exact reason! He loves to do the same as big sis 😅 The struggle I have is not being able to drive at the moment (finally taking lessons though! 🤞🏼) but means that walking any distance or anywhere with main roads I’ll take the pram as it is to difficult without it. Definitely agree with you though that if I didn’t have the pram then that situation would have been avoided!

You offered to pay, therefore no issue.

She was a total bitch.

Thank you so much, really appreciate everyone’s support with this ♥️

Aww don’t feel bad OP, that’s toddlers, it was an accident, perhaps the assistant has forgotten what it like with little ones.

I don't think she was a bitch or nasty, just a graduate from the school for the Bleeding Obvious! You offered to pay. Don't let her put you off going.

horrible woman, a small child accidently broke something and you paid for it. Things like this happen when out and about with little ones, it is not as if he defiantly flung the ornament on the ground. Go back there, you did everything right and she is a bloody misery!

As you so readily paid for the item, it’s none of her business. If you’d have stuck it in a sandwich and eaten it in the cafe - same.
Some people are just miserable sods.
Also, by turning up and spending your cash the place stays open and miserable Mavis gets to keep her job.

I would have calmly told her off. The shop has the right to ask you to pay for the broken item (which you did immediately, without being asked even) but they do not have the right to lecture you, and that’s what I would have told her. This was a minor accident, accidents happen! You paid, no need to lecture the client!

My lo broke something similar at a garden centre. I offered to pay but they refused because accidents happen. She was rude for no reason, try to forget about her.