How I was treated by Tesco for putting my son on the potty!

[bubble30]

My son turned 2 in May and we are mid potty training. Been in to places like Boots and M&S and got fold away potty out in store for my son to have a wee. I've also used it in Tesco with no complaints from them. This morning I went in and my son was crying 'wee wee'. Got him out of the buggy and put him on the potty - I wasn't in the middle of an aisle and went t clothes section where we'd be more hidden away as that section was close by to us. My son did a wee but come to get him back in the buggy and he had the most hideous tantrum. Once I got himm back in the buggy, I stood up to find 2 members of managerial staff stood over me. They told me that there was a toilet in the store where I should have taken my son to. I explained that he's just started potty training and when he needs a wee it has to be then and there and I don't have time to get him to a toilet. They told me they undestood that but that there was a toilet I should really have used. So again I explained that I don't have time to get him to the toilet. The woman then said 'it's not nice for our customers to see, it's not nice for your son and now you've just caused a big scene in the store'. I said 'well now you've made me feel absolutely rubbish' and they both walked off. I walked out of the store but thought 'no I'm not having that' and I went back and gave it to them both barrels that I was disgusted with the way I'd been treated, I'd been talked to very rudely and spoken to like I was a child myself. The senior manager came down and was very apologetic and I asked her of Tescos policy was that if there's a mother with a tantrumming child, do you train your staff to go over and tell the mother she's created a big scene in the store. She was very apologetic about the way I'd been treated. I'm still fuming. I've used the portable potty in other shops without complaints and I've seen other mums do the same in shops too - that's the whole purpose of the portable potty being invented. I just wanted people to know how badly Tesco have acted in this instance towards a mother potty training her 2 year old. Can anyone else recommend best places to post to make sure Tesco know I'm letting people know about this? Thanks.

i got a porta potty and was disappointed to never have used it with either of mine.

i wouldnt ditch it all together - keep if for emergency usage in the car or trips out - but i wouldnt use it in a shop

never mind op - learning curve there! well done for coming back.

We went on a works family day out once to large park with perfectly lovely public toilets and colleague's wife sat her dd on a potty on their picnic blanket right in the middle of everyone else's picnic blankets whilst everyone eating, then proceeded to talk to DD very loudly, praising her for using the potty and looking round to check everyone was watching and suitably impressed! Boak!

Agree with everyone else that Tesco were right (for the first time ever) but huge well done for handling your flaming so well.

Most people either don't come back or simply come back to argue that the whole world is wrong for not agreeing.

Think it's 2 mumsnet firsts, a OP with grace and Tesco being defended.

No Maryz!

Read my message upthread. Bubble's all right. She's going to be one of us.

Well you've all got to know me sort of in the wrong way. Can't sleep. I'm going thru PND and feel like crap. How do you get thru post natal depression? How come other people cope so well and I'm falling apart on a daily basis x

they don't, honestly. it's all a big fib. have you any help with your PND? LOVING your response on this thread, bubble, good on you!

Poor you.

Have a look at the PND threads here. There's lots of people going through the same thing.

And if you want something to read, have a wander through the Classics... oh, and these. These are brilliant.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1212449-dh-threw-wine-at-the-wall/AllOnOnePage

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1262170-DH-SHOUTED-AT-ME/AllOnOnePage

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1331082-He-wee-in-the-airport

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1372290-HAD-a-terrible-christmas

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1498923-Shouting-at-me-in-the-supermarket?pg=1

Bubble-hats off to you for being so gracious in your flaming. PND is a bugger but you can get through it. What help are you getting in real life, do you have any support?

bubble seriously, stay on mumsnet. I have no experience of PND but I do depression and the ladies on MN give some great advice and support....

Bubbles - this is how we cope!
MN gets you through a lot of crap! Sometimes you will get jumped on for a comment and feel kike hiding, but otherwise its a great place for advice, sympathy, a chat or good old laugh.

You have been very gracious, Bubbles. Hope you get the help you need with PND. Unfortunately there are lots of MNers about with experience of it but if you need support, you can find it in abundance here x

Bubbles i had PND. I can tell u now that ul get thru it. Seeing th gp and talking always help. Im a single parent with a 8yr old. If i can get thru it so can u.

yabu.

It's pretty disgusting to have open urinating in a shop.

It doesn't sound like this child is ready for toilet training. Use pull-ups would be my recommendation.

I'm with Tesco on this one. I used one of those portable potties, but never used it in a shop.

OP

There are some great threads on here re: PND.

I had it myself with ds1 (wasnt on MN back in those days) and it was hellish.

I hope you get some support and advice x

Well done for being so gracious and revising your opinion OP. I would second the view that it doesn't sound like your DS is ready for potty training if you are having long periods of having to wee that very second. When we did DD1 I stayed home for a few days to start with, but then she could definitely hold for long enough to get to a toilet. We didn't use a porta potty at all after the first week - and only then for places like parks where there can be quite a wait for a toilet.

Do get help for the PND. It is a chemical imbalance. That means that all sorts of medications can be very helpful - or if there are other issues the doctor is the starting point for help in other ways.

I feel better today mainly because I did Slimming World a while back and lost a stone but put 9lb back on so been trying to shift weight again recently and when I got on scales I've lost 4lb of the 9lb I put on. I've also been on the phone to APNI who are always good to have a cry down the phone to. I can't find the place to go to post about PND on here tho x

Oh just found it - mental health I'm assuming x

oh gosh sorry, that will teach me to read and reply on the fly. How bad do I feel now. Sorry bubble I've just seen the other posts