Atrocious behaviour in shops - share you horror stories here..

[howdidthishappenthen]

I've just taken DS1 (3yrs) and DD1(6m) into a clothes shop for the first time since she was born. Prepped for action by taking new library books and a snack for DS1, and bf-ing DD1 before venturing through the door.

These efforts brought me 6 minutes of quiet cooperation before both started playing up. Had to decide between letting DS1 loose, and hissing dire threats at him for running between the racks and whipping open curtains in the changing rooms (fortunately, we were the only people in there!) or strapping him in the buggy and dealing with the buckaroo antics and ear shattering shrieks. DS1 added to the merriment by grizzling miserably throughout. 15 mins after entering, and without trying on a single garment, the shop assistant suggested, through gritted teeth, that I might prefer to 'come back later when you have more time'. To which I replied that I had plenty of time, but too many children.

Thoroughly miserable about the whole event. Feeling destined to forevermore to only wear clothes that don't quite fit but can be ordered online.

Cheer me up by sharing your shopping related tales of woe, pls ladies..

For some reason my dc have always seemed to have learnt from a very young age (2 to 3 year olds) the most affective way to get sympathy/attention from others when being told off is to get me into trouble. A couple of examples -
My dd when I told her in an exasperated voice to put a toy back -
all sweetness honey voice 'oh of course mummy, and i will go in the cupboard for 5 minutes when i get home.' She has never been in a cupboard, or naughty step or other.

My ds when removing everything off the conveyor belt, when I asked him to stop, turned to the checkout assistant, and said 'i will be beaten and grounded for this.'

I asked him when if he had been beaten or grouded before, he said no but I may well do it this time!

I have never smacked, nor even threatened violence, nor had to ground any of my children.

thanks to those that understand my point!

thread is really funny and made me laugh

won't post a story now as feel my previous comments mean it would be seen as a SN story rather than just a cheeky monkey story (and honestly wasn't half as funny as the other ones here).

as you were ladies!

Crunchy, I apologise again for any offence caused, but at the stage I joined this discussion it was 'hilarious' how shop workers had to clean up poo from babies, just not so hilarious if you are the shop worker cleaning up after a stranger was my point. OMG am I really gonna post this...

DS2 has a terrible habit when we go to the supermarket...you know the stacks of toilet rolls or kitchen towel that some poor bugger has spent hours stacking because they are on special offer??

Well he always makes a grab for the one on the bottin cue them all falling on top of him while he giggles madly saying "snowing mummy" he then sits among them while i try manically to pick them up and stack them back up....only for me to turn to grab him and him do it again grrrrrr

As did I thesecondcoming

TSC - just spent 5 minutes crying with laughter at the jewellery box post, as did DH!!! Totally hilarious, you have brightened my day!

Beer, you are right I do have a lack of understanding of SN issues (clearly), and I certainly never intended to ridicule the young man. My problem is with the father not appearing to be bothered.

BTW saw a fabulously cute child at the bus stop tonight, he was pulling of his t-shirt and making tarzan noises while thumping his tummy. His mother was looking for her dark glasses!!!

Also, a very cross little girl today, crying because Mummy and Daddy had both been allowed to hold an item they were looking at but they would not let her (I would have let her try it on myself, she could not have done any harm, but if they say no, what can I say?).

I had a dreadful experience in the local charity shop when dd aged 4 refused point blank to get off a crappy trike that was up for sale. I tried in vain to lift her off but she clamped her legs round said bike and everytime I heaved, the bike came too....she was screaming for England and proceded to bash me with one of those snake draught excluder things which happened to be on a nearby display! It took 2 of us to prise her off the trike - still the words of 2 old biddies who witnessed the whole sorry scene rings in my ears "Ive never seen such appalling behaviour in a child" Even the snake looked shocked!!

DS aged about 3, ran his hands up the legs of all the lady mannequins in John Lewis dress department and pulled their stockings down to the ankles. They looked hilarious, like Nora Batty but with black stockings, DH and i were helpless

I really don't know where he had see this happened before

He has also been known to look under all the changing room doors, saying, look lady look!

I remember her throwing a huge wobbler in mothercare and hiding under the sales racks so I couldn't get her out of there.

I love you all. The only mother I know who I go shopping with has one of those children that sits serenely in his pram no matter how long or tedious the shopping trip. Sometimes he just falls asleep.

I can't remember the last time DS didn't have a weeping-kicking-throwing-himself-on-the-floor tantrum when we went into a shop for more than 38 seconds. I thought I had the odd child.

This gave me the best laugh today. I will never look at my dd2's cinderella jewellery box in the same way thinking what could have been!

mamma I laughed so hard at your story dd came over and asked if i was ok

We were in a supermarket when on holiday DH had DS in the trolley. He (DS) leaned over and started stroking the forearms of some passing French schoolgirls.

DH was mortified as they clearly thought it was him at first, not seeing the monkey in the trolley. And couldn't explain himself either.

It's always a bad sign when parents come into the shop issuing instructions for their DCs to behave or not to touch anything...

sure is!!!

actually hope over experience is probably more likely!!

"Yes, that is the scary cot where ghosts live, and the extra scary ghost who carved the wood said you have to sleep in there tonight if you touch anything else but the nice ghost who is a friend of Casper said you can have an ice cream if you are good"