Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Wasn't Quite Expecting THAT Response...

So with the forecast claiming pretty warm weather soon, I gave in and went to Motherhood Maternity to buy a pair of shorts. While there, I listened to the sales associate brag on and on and on to various customers (she was rather loud with her voice so it was hard not to hear it all) about her grandbabies and all the clothes that she's been buying for her pregnant daughter, etc. Well, her loud ways continued when I got up there to check out...

Apparently, this particular store wants every possible bit of information just short of your SSN when you purchase something there. Every time she asked for another piece of info, I would answer her, then go back to searching through my purse. When she'd ask for something else -- phone number, email, due date, mailing address, etc. -- I would quickly answer, then go back to what I was doing. I didn't expect this to last as long as it did! When she got to my address, I was surprised to hear that she already had one on file. I've never bought anything from this store before...ever. Minus the few things I bought at Old Navy and Ross while preggo with Liv, the rest are hand-me-downs from my sister, Jen. So for her to have an address under my name, I couldn't help but ask what address she had. As it turns out, she had my parents' address in Indy. Weird! I would have never given that as my address. Heck, I can't even remember it off-hand when I'm mailing them a card -- let alone give it to a store while purchasing some clothes! Oh well, anyways...I said that must've been from a LONG time ago so we updated it. Her next question was what threw me off -- well...not the question, but how she handled my answer...

She asked me in a very loud, excited voice..."So, is this your FIRST?!?!"

***Let me just say that I HATE that question with a passion. People don't really want to hear the answer. When I say, "No, we've lost three." It kills the conversation. Yet, I can't simply just say, "No," by itself, or it would lead to more questions about my other kids, etc. I just hate it.***

After she asked that question...I paused, looked at her, and nicely said, "Um...hopefully our first healthy one." I left it at that and continued to look at the little credit card screen to sign my name. As I started to look down, she started laughing...hard -- as if I was a stand-up comedian and I had just told the most hilarious joke of the night. I stopped what I was doing, looked up at her and just thought, "How is that even funny?" I don't know what kind of response I expected out of that, but it sure wasn't a laugh. Maybe an awkward silence or just an, "oh, ok..." and we'd move on -- I had no interest in carrying on a conversation with her, but I was nicely answering her questions as they were asked. As she continued to laugh with a cheesy grin on her face, I grabbed my bag and left.

Maybe I was just super sensitive, but that was really disturbing to me on many levels. Why a laugh? What kind of response is that? Even if that wasn't implying previous loss, would you laugh at the hope of having a healthy kid?

Oh well. After dealing with that annoyance, I went to Target to run the rest of my errands and headed home. While I was there, I couldn't help but grab some clearance Peanut M&M's. I didn't think they would be such a weakness, but man...I can't put the bag down! At least one good thing came from that little shopping trip...

Does anyone else think of the scene in Tommy Boy when eating M&M's?

15 comments:

  1. That is sick AND disturbing!! Why would she LAUGH!!!?? Of all freaking things!

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  2. Yeah, that is definitely a weird response. You're totally justified in eating a lot of peanut M&Ms after that. Some people are so strange. What was she thinking?

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  3. Ok, seriously, how did you not go off on her? She would not have liked me after that. Kudos to you for keeping your composure! I'm sorry you had to deal with someone like that.

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  4. I don't understand that response at all. How awkward and inappropriate. I think you deserved those m&ms too! :) I hope you and Sam are enjoying each and every one! <3

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  5. I'm trying to think why someone would respond that way. Maybe she thought you were trying to be funny - like saying you have a handful of crazy kids or something. . . like this would be your first "sane" one. . . .but even that is weird and doesn't really make sense.

    I'm too scared to go back there and probably won't. I went when I was pregnant with Cale so know they have all my info and do not want to get a question like "pregnant again!?". . . ughh. . .I'm so sorry you had to deal with all of that!

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  6. I just don't understand her! You have so much patience!

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  7. That is just so wrong, you should have told her something because she will probably do that again to someone else. I hate how everyone assumes every baby is born healthy. I know it caught you off guard but if there is next time you go back you can tell the manager something. ((HUGS)) sorry you had such a bad experience there. M&M's look so good!

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  8. Was she the manager? If not, I would probably contact them. That wasn't just weird, it was rude. I really hate Motherhood for all the info they ask for. I got flooded with emails after I bought 2 tees from all sorts of different maternity sites.
    and mmmmmmmmm peanut M&M's!

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  9. She LAUGHED! I would have screamed at her. No lie. Or at the VERY least asked to speak to her manager. I mean honestly WTH! Hopefully the M&Ms helped you forget her stupidity!

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  10. To those that mentioned speaking with the manager...I think she WAS the manager. She was heading up the store both this time and the last time I was in there. My reason for just leaving was the mindset that you can't fix stupid. If she's going to be that oblivious and rude, it's not going to change after being confronted, so I didn't bother. I knew it would fire me up more if I said something and received another obnoxious response. The joys of it all... :)

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  11. Argh.
    When I called my drs office about the bill I had accrued with Ryan Elizabeth..the billing girl was sooo rude. I asked her to stop my monthly billing for labor and delivery. I had to pre pay..anyhow I said I delivered my baby already and would like to quit getting bills. She said how's the baby and I said I was only around 20 weeks and she said oh was it a boy or girl..I said girl and she said how is she and I said she died and no lie, she giggled. A nervous giggle. I Hung up and called back and talked to the ofc mgr. What is so funny??
    Anyhow, glad you're pregnancy is going well!!:))

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  12. What a jacka$$!! I would have had a hard time not confronting her, but like you said, you can't fix stupid! You should write a letter to corporate or something. I am sure that is not the type of person they want working in a maternity shop!

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  13. so effed up. i'm so sorry you had to deal with that. it takes me back to our tour of the dachau concentration camp. when the tour guide was telling us gruesome stories about people getting murdered this woman in our group would laugh hysterically. it's like she didn't know how to control her emotions and then she just confused them somehow? WTH is wrong with people.

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  14. First of all, I love peanut m&m's so much. Second...I DESPISE the motherhood maternity in our town. When I was carrying briar, knowing he was going to pass away....they would ALWAYS ask me a million questions about my baby...and I just wanted to punch them. :) We should go in there together and tell them a thing or two!!

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  15. You responded much better than I would have, and now I want some M&Ms...

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