Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

So I was in the supermarket the other day to pick up some whole wheat rolls for my turkey burgers.

I walked past the self checkout on my way to the bakery section and notice that there's like 4 people on line and 4 peopleat the checkouts- including a lady with a stroller and a baby bag and a pocket book (I noticed her because she looked like she had so much going on, I was wondering WHY would she do self checkout?)

I grabbed the rolls and a few other things and proceed to the self checkout line. The woman with the stroller is still there.

As I'm waiting on line I see her scan something, examine the box, then apparently decide she wants another one and WALKS AWAY from the checkout leaving her baby there!

She did this 2 more times while I waited in line (it was as if she was shopping for items 1 by 1- getting something scanning it, putting it in the bag then leaving to get something else.)

It's not like she was running to the end of the aisle behind the checkouts to grab something quick. She was walking down 3 aisles then disappearing down the aisle and coming back a minute later.

The other shoppers and I just stared at each other incredulously...is she seriously leaving her baby there for anyone to come take?!

She left again while I was paying for more items and I saw her leave again as I was walking out the door.

Would you have said something to her about

1- doing item by item shopping in the checkout that is supposed to be faster- thereby causing the line to get backed up?

2- Leaving her child alone in the checkout while she left for a minute at a time?

I made a comment to the girl supervising the checkouts, but she was too busy socializing with a friend so she just said "ok." and went back to her conversation.

I told DH I was tempted to wheel the child away to teach her a lesson, but I'd probably get arrested.

He said, maybe she was looking for someone to steal the baby...I think she was just oblivious.

WWYD?

Message edited 4/27/2008 10:30:21 AM.

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

I have no patience when it come to stupid people. I would have told her to cancel her order and take her kid to finish shopping.

I hate hate hate when people do this. I say something even if they AREN'T leaving a baby alone at the register to finish picking things up.

I always make sure I have everything I need before I go to the checkout. If I forgot something, I wil get it later or another day OR step off the line and let the people behind me go first.

People these days either think they're better than everyone else or they are just utterly dumb.

Can you tell I just got mad at this lady for you? lol

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

I would've wanted to say something... but I probably wouldn't have. Its always a sticky situation when you want to say something to a parent.... holding up the line to shop item by item would've drove me nuts!!

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

unfreakingbelievable...

I'm a wimp with confrontation so sadly I wouldn't have said something but I woulda kept a close eye on the baby to make sure it wasn't kidnapped!

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

something like this happened to me too recently.. in walmart... this mom had a baby girl in a stroller and a little boy i would say about a year and 1/2.. the little boy starts running to another aisle, so instead of wheeling the stroller after him she just leaves the baby in the middle of the store where i was shopping and runs after the boy... she comes back like 2-3 minutes later!! so i stood there and watched her baby for her... and kept her calm... but i could NOT believe someone would do that! i think people are just oblivious sometimes. i didnt say anything to her when she came back though.. i was just glad i was there to watch her baby so she didnt get hurt or kidnapped. when she came back i walked away.

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

Using the self checkout wouldn't have bothered me. My grocery store has 2 for regular shoppers and 2 for express.

I would have commented on leaving the baby. Probably a loud passive aggressive comment to someone else on line while she was walking by about how unsafe it is, how another baby was almost snatched in a grocery store on LI recently.

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

I wouldn't have said anything, clearly she saw nothing wrong with it so it probally wouldn't have gotten you very far.

But thats really sad that she thought nothing of it

edited for spelling error

Message edited 4/28/2008 6:23:29 PM.

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

Wow - I don't know what I would have said, but if I reach for something from the produce section and my eyes have to be off cailen for a nano second, I still keep my hand on his foot or a part of his body so he won't get taken!!! I saw some movie once where this mom reached for an onion and her son was kidnapped. Ever since then, I never take my eyes or hands off of him!!!!

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

Re: Would you have said something LONG (this has nothing to do with dogs...)

It amazes me how careless some people are with their children. When I was at the outlets the other day I saw a mom wheel her baby into the middle of the road, leave the stroller there and then go back to the sidewalk for her other child. The stoller very easily could have been hit by a driver not paying attention. It is a very busy parking lot!!!

To answer your question I probably would have said something very loudly under my breath