Reply #175: Could there have been extenuating circumstances of which you weren't aware

[MediumBrownDog]

I'm a little sensitive to this because yesterday I was the mother with the screaming child in the grocery store, and there was absolutely, positively, NOTHING I could do about it. My 1 year old son had a 102 fever and we had just come from the pediatrician. Ear infection. The little guy was feeling like crap, in pain, and in no mood for the grocery store. However, since we get our prescriptions filled at the pharmacy inside the store, we had to stop there. I went in, dropped off the prescription, and was told it would be 10 or 15 minutes. So, the crying (progressing to screaming) baby and I wandered around the store as I tried to distract him. I got plenty of "looks" and, in one case, rolled eyes. I was almost in tears myself.

Take him outside? Nope. We live in Virginia and it was 96 degrees, with a heat index of 105, and I was listening for the pharmacist to call me on the PA system.

Usually, in this situation, I'd leave him with my mother and go get the prescription filled, but she's out of the country. My other friends were working or had small children who didn't need to be exposed to this. My husband is out of town. So, what exactly should I have done? The last thing on my mind was the comfort and serenity of the other patrons in the store as they perused the leeks. I do generally get out as quickly as possible if he has a meltdown, but yesterday, I was stuck.

(On a positive note, I was saved by a grandfatherly butcher who made faces at the baby from behind the glass and then came out and made animals out of cling wrap. "I've got 12 grandchildren, I can spot a sick baby a mile away" he said.) O8)