Is it me or….?
So, Erin has the chicken pox. It came on on this morning and I had no choice but to bundle her in the car and head for the three C’s – Chemist, Calamine lotion and Calpol.
She was in her pyjamas and slippers and it was absolutely teeming down, my plan was to park right outside the chemist, lock the car doors and run in and still be able to keep an eye on her (I haven’t left her in the car on her own before).
However, like all the best plans….
Due to the weather the street was packed and I couldn’t get parked outside the chemist, in fact I couldn’t get parked very near at all and had to pull in further down. I parked outside a barbers, there was one customer having his haircut and one hairdresser. It was one of those places where there’s just a chair and a mirror (sparse would be an understatement). Their window was large and clear and I’d parked bang outside. I know I was being over protective but I thought I’d pop my head around and just ask the woman cutting hair if she could keep an eye out. I apologised for being over protective and explained that my daughter was unwell and I needed to nip to the chemist, I pointed out the monsoon outside and politely asked if she could keep an eye out while I went to grab the medicine I’d be no longer than five minutes.
I was expecting her to say ‘yeah, sure’ or ‘no problem, I’ve been in that situation myself blah de blah’. But no, she launched into a barrage of reasons why she couldn’t which related to “if a customer comes in…” Now, forgive me but it’s my inkling that she’d be lucky if she had half a dozen customers booked ALL day, and the likelihood of her getting a rush on, was highly unlikely.
I left the shop with what amounted to a ‘no, I won’t keep an eye out for you’…and I chuntered under my breath for the next fifteen minutes, questioning the world and the lack of community spirit, and what was wrong with people??
So, is it me or does this seem particularly mean spirited? Or was I out of order to ask someone to keep an eye out? What do you think?
Wouldn’t have hurt her would it? Maybe one day she’ll need a favour which is refused and think back to today! Good luck with the pox….nasty itchy thing, hope Erin doesn’t have it too badly.
I hope so! Erin seems ok at the moment, still fairly upbeat
What an old boot! Hope Erin’s ok, give her a hug from me x
Crap! How rude. Not even a thought, to take care of a sick little girl. I was brought up to look out for such chances, such an opportunity to do a good deed.
Hmmm I would be happy to keep a look out but I wouldn;t have asked someone else to look after mine which is bizarre – probably wouldn’t have asked because I’d be pretty sure that the reaction you got would be the same one I’d get… that and I am number one cotton wool neurotic mummy
I’d say mean-spirited. Perhaps just someone having a bad day and taking their grumpiness out on you. Hope Erin is on the mend.
Stu – I wasn’t even asking her to go out of her way, just do the citizenly thing and keep an eye out, we all should be doing that for each other anyway, no? Can you tell I’m still a little upset about it!
That’s exactly my point – I am someone who *wants* to do the citizenly thing – What kind of person doesn’t see this kind of opportunity as a chance to pay back the planet for every fiver we find in the pocket of an old pair of pants? Some people are just poster children for birth control.
What my Ma said. Mean spirited. Ten quid says she doesn’t have kids of her own. Big hugs to Erin and DON’T SCRATCH!! x
She’s trying hard bless her, she’s been fighting back the tears tonight
She was definitely mean-spirited, how can anyone not want to help a mum of a poorly child! Hope Erin’s on the mend now.