So, I’m 38 weeks pregnant. My DC is 22 months old (very sweet, well behaved child.)
This week I went into a fast food chain I was using one of those self service kiosks to place my order with my toddler on my hip. DC would have stood happily at my feet but I thought they would enjoy seeing me tapping the screen which is why I was carrying them.
A worker came up to us and started playing with my DC (she was probably 50-60). It started with high fives and then she was asking me the name and age ect. All a little chaotic and distracting while I was trying to order but it was all friendly and with good intentions. Then she announced ‘come to me, mummy is too busy to hold you’ she then assumptively held her arms out to take DC. I politely but firmly said ‘No thank you, I’m happy holding him’ she looked a bit upset but nodded.
We then collected the food tray (which I carried in one hand up the stairs with my toddler still on my hip so just to clarify I’m really not in need of a helping hand.)
The worker then came upstairs shortly after us and proceeded to stand at the end our table for the entirety of our meal. Asking me a question about DC at what felt like every mouthful.
I’m not annoyed, I understand she was just enjoying the interaction with a happy child but my gosh it was tedious… I just wanted a quick and easy meal but instead ended up being in an endless cycle of small talk and awkward silence.
Surly working in a restaurant you know customer service is important but practically shadowing a child from the moment they walk in until they leave is a bit awkward and OTT?
It's a shame too because it was probably my last meal out with DC before baby arrives.
I’m thinking that her trying to hold DC, the overfamiliar touching of my toddler and the assumption we wanted her to talk to us for the whole meal is just a lack of understanding boundaries!