Do people use their kids as an excuse?

[UrsulasShadow]

I'm not sure what this thread is...is it about shopping carts, or using your kids as an excuse? When my kids were small, I used them as excuses constantly...for social engagements, mostly. Now that they're older, THEY use ME as an excuse ("sorry, my mom won't let me, she's so rotten"). I'd much prefer that to the alternative...peers pressuring them into doing things they'd rather not. So I guess I have taught my children well, eh?

As to shopping carts, it's a real pet peeve of mine around here. NOBODY (parents or otherwise) returns shopping carts to the corrals, of which there's an abundance in my town. NO excuses, folks, return your carts if you have corrals, or otherwise secure them so they don't roll or obstruct. Simple courtesy, and you don't have to abandon children to do it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow! When a big wind comes along (as often happens in your neck of the woods) that shopping cart you carelessly left in the lot will be blown into a car and cause damage. Let's just call it what it is, Lazy!

They dont' always cause damage. Hubby had a runaway cart this weekend as he was unloading groceries--it ran into 2 vehicles..one with a driver in it. After all the DIS threads I'm thinking all heck is going to break loose as I witness my first ever upset b/c a cart got into my car person. But NOPE. The guy busted out laughing. First a snicker as the cart started rolling and then a full out when my hubby hightailed it like a mad man after it.

No damage on the cars.

Which is very interesting to me. I think the whole damage thing is overrated.


As for me--yes I use my kids as the excuse--when they ARE the excuse.

Just as you call in sick to work and the excuse is--YOU ARE sick.

Or I had to use the electric cart at the grocery store--b/c I had knee surgery and couldn't walk.


Or I was late getting home--b/c there was a dead man lying in the middle of the street who was killed b/c he jaywalked. It was a good excuse for me beign late---but there is no excuse in the world legitimate enough for it to cost the man his life by not walking 10 feet further and waiting for a cross walk.




There are legitimate reasons to which children cause XYZ to happen. IF there is a pattern of repeat problems---well..then it is time to work around the issue (i.e. chronically late due to the children--well time to get a new routine).

It isn't the kid card. It is life.

How many use the elderly parent "card", the injury "card", the illness "card".

There are no cards if the reasons are legitimate.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I wonder why that is. I know a few people have said that there are stores where attendants are there to bring carts in. Here in PA, they send baggers out to collect carts, but not all the time. And the parking lots are far from flat! As a kid (and I confess, sometimes as an adult ), I would stand on a cart and let it take me to my car because the parking lots are always sloped. You just can't leave a cart unattended around here.

1. Flat lots (for the most part)

2. Carryout service--so employees are constantly going out to the lot either to carry your groceries--or to fetch carts.

3. Lack of cart corrals. This one baffles me. But they are lacking around here.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I see lots of rationalizations for not returning carts to the cart coral or to the store. Teach your children well.

NAH--I'd rather teach them that we must pay for items before eating them. . You know--pick my parenting battles that I have been wisely advised to do on the DIS.

 

[Marseeya]

NAH--I'd rather teach them that we must pay for items before eating them. . You know--pick my parenting battles that I have been wisely advised to do on the DIS.

DINGDINGDING!!! We have a winner, folks!