Received Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I had an unfortunate encounter with two young children and their caregiver at the Target in Stamford, Ct yesterday, (8/14). I was shopping for school supplies with my own 6 y.o. child who requested to 'just look' at the toys. I accompanied him to the toy aisle. Within 4 seconds, two children ripped around the corner running and carrying on. They had toys in their hands, one a large ball which he bounced directly off of my child. My son was shocked, not hurt and the two boys ran to the next aisle, shouting and from the sounds of things throwing other objects, the large ball included. The boys were just bigger and just smaller than my own, so I will put them at 5 & 7. They were white children with broad faces, military haircuts and dressed in summer clothing with tennis shoes and no socks. We leave the toy aisle and head to the cash registers, when something on an end aisle catches my attention. I stop and am looking at the cleaners. 10 seconds later my heels are jammed in to by who, but one of those same children. The older of the two. Next we pay for our merchandise and leave the store, load it in the car and are about to back up. A grocery cart comes flying past the back of my car and it is the same older child, now riding the cart as his brother is chasing him. They are yelling at the top of their lungs, "brush you teeth, brush your teeth, brush your G-ddamn teeth" over and over again. Next to pass the rear of my car is the caregiver of the children. She is an attractive Hispanic woman with curly hair, wearing a plain khaki t-shirt, black crop pants and talking and laughing in to her cell phone. I wait for her to pass and back up. As I am leaving the parking lot, I see her opening up a late model, dark red SUV. It had 4 doors, tinted windows and was a nice looking. I am not 100% certain but I think it was an Acura. The boys put the purchases in the car. The caregiver continued chatting away. She pointed to the cart collection station and without saying a word, the smaller of the two returned the cart. She got in the car before the children. I wasn't surprised she didn't watch them in the parking lot, she hadn't watched them the whole time. With regard to anything else distinguishing, her hair was curly and styled, she was well groomed and she carried a metallic looking slouch purse.
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ReplyDeleteThe minute you realised that you almost backed up into child, you should have put the car in park, secure your 6year old(take him with you) and confront the caregiver in a polite way. State to her that you almost backed into child and that the parking lot is a dangerous place and we(adults) need to carefully supervise them in this setting. You could have brought up the story of the mother who negligently ran over her child in Long Island because she was on the phone. I used to be a caregiver and when my charges were that age, they walked with me. Never let them run ahead of me nor allowed them to trail behind me unless we were in the park.
ReplyDeleteI would have said something to her the second those kids came running through the aisles basically assulting my child.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you let this go on for so long. At the very least you should have told those kids to stop running or alerted a store employee.
Since you had time to encounter them two more times, surely there would have been time for a manager or security to find her and tell her to control the chilren if you were too cowardly to do it yourself...even though both you and your child were physically affected by this.
10:48 I hope you will say something next time.
ReplyDeleteI have said things to misbehaving kids in stores and given them my death ray glare. It seems to work.
ReplyDeleteI thought jd was going to delete all posts in caps?
ReplyDeleteI think in this instance since the children were effecting you and your child I would have said something. As far as almost backing in to the child, good think OP has fast reflexes, but you know you can't go around stopping and confronting parents/nannies every time something like this happens. I live in a city and even in the best of neighborhoods children run out into the street and run through parking lots unattended. All the more reason to be a very careful driver.
ReplyDeleteOP I only saw the caregiver once. I didn't particularly like the looks of her or her charges. I cannot even say I necessarily say I care about the children, but surely someone must.
ReplyDeleteI had zero interest in saying anything. Target and the likes that frequent Target are a necessary evil as we prepare for the return to school.
a little harsh, aren't you, OP? But not harsh enough to lambaste that incompent nanny or her misbehaving charges.
ReplyDeleteWow OP.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to know that there are adults out there who
1-Don't like the LOOKS of young children and go brodcasting the fact
and
2- Don't care about children who are obviously in danger of being kidnapped or runover.
I sure hope your kid gets your wonderful compasion.
OP...you comment that the likes of those that frequent target are a necessary evil, yet you were there? And not just school shopping, but letting your child browse the toy section. Clearly you've been there before and if you are so above shopping target, isn't there another store near where you live. Perhaps a kmart would serve you better.
ReplyDeleteTo the OP: If you don't care about these children, then why did you post this? To see yourself on the internet? There are other ways.
ReplyDeleteYou obviously don't care much about your own child either if you wouldn't even confront them or call a store employee for his benefit.
I don't get it.
"necessary evil"
ReplyDelete"someone must care about them"
ReplyDeleteOp seems to be speaking straight instead of feigning false concern. I appreciate that.
4:08...good point, but still disgusting. Why bothing posting it at all then.
ReplyDelete4:08: If something is not a direct quote. It does not go in quotation marks.
ReplyDeleteThe OP's obnoxious comments aside, this is still a valid bad nanny sighting. Since the child was yelling brush your G-d teeth, I'm guessing the parents aren't prize winners either. (They did hire a sub standard nanny.) I feel sorry for these boys. It looks like maybe no one cares about them, including the OP.
ReplyDelete5:07, I can assure you somebody cares about them. That sitting in my chair right now.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that I haven't even seen these children and I care for their well being more than the OP who actually looked into their faces, maybe even looked into their eyes.
Great point last two commenters. These children are the victim here...probably of the parents and the nanny. Maybe someone outside of the parents will see this. it is sad.
ReplyDeleteIf this happens in the future, it would probably be a good idea to stop and write down the licence plate # of the car.
ReplyDeleteWhy would she write down the license plate number, when she plainly stated that she didn't care about these children?!
ReplyDeleteI would admire your honesty OP, but to be quite honest myself, I'm too busy being disgusted by what your true egocentric feelings are to feel any sense of admiration towards you. A word of advice my friend, next time fake it, so you don't look like such a bitch.
I guess, I learned yet another lesson today on ISYN, apparently "poor" children, who shop at the store Target don't deserve to be protected. I guess we are only "saving" the rich these days! Thanks for the bulletin...here I was ignorant enough to think all children were special or at least deserved qaulity care! Let's be real here, poor or rich, trashy or sophisticated, it's not these little boys fault that they shop are Target (oooh God, call the authorities hah), we can't exactly choose our parents folks. AND please don't get me started on what a hypocrit you are OP, at least when I "diss" a store, I don't bother to shop there! If these were in fact, "bad little boys" look to the ADULTS (such as yourself, who don't give a shit.) You are what's wrong with society (pompous, cold hearted, self centered. Not small children, who know no better.) Ugh, end rant.
7:06, you said it. While this is definitely a horrible nanny sighting, the OP has shown herself to be at least as bad as the nanny, complaining about what she had to put up with from these awful children who clutter up Target when SHE'S trying to shop there, and flat out admits she doesn't care about their well being. Maybe she is the same "mom" who requires her nanny to brown bag their food for the day.
ReplyDeletePerfectly put 7:06 and Cali Mom. Nothing really left to say.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to defend OP here. What's she going to do, park her car and confront the nanny? To what end? For what payoff? This it "takes a village to raise a child" chorus on here is bizarre.
ReplyDeleteWhy does everyone have to confront bad nannies while they have their own small child with them? Not everyone is confrontational. I for one would not like to set that example in front of my young child and possibly expose him/her to an unknown. If I were alone, I might confront.
I'd like to draw an analogy: Once I witnessed someone rear end someone and take off. I took off after them and got their license place and returned the scene. I didn't particularly like the rear ended victims when I met them. But, hey, I think I did the right thing. I think OP's posting is comparable. Isn't that why this blog exists? I mean every sighting is IRL, and therefore open to confrontation.
Clearly there are cases when the authorities need to be called (boy left in park), this isn't one of them. So what if she didn't particularly care about the kids? She obviously empathizes with the situation enough to post. You make her sound like a German civilian during WW II who did nothing to stop the holocaust. Let's be realistic and understand there is a spectrum when it comes to "when to intervene". BTW, I provide my nanny all the food she wants and spending money when she goes out with my kid. I'm also a realist.
She should have confronted them ,if for no other reason (like their safety), because her son was a victim of their unruly behavior. Let someone or their unruly kids potentially injure my child and see if I don't at least say something!
ReplyDeleteDo you have children Allie...children of your own? If you wouldn't at least stand up for them, then I pity them.
CORRECTION OF ABOVE COMMENT:
ReplyDeleteSorry, Allie. I see you do have children as you mention having a nanny.
So I stand corrected. I should have said you must be one of those parents who lets their nanny raise their children for them.
I don't think this woman particularly wished to mingle with the riff raff but probably was familiar with this board and thought she'd gripe about her experience while doing the right thing, so to speak, if very begrudgingly.
ReplyDeleteop didn't know this was a nanny problem until she was in the parking lot. and even then, i am sure it wasn't an immediate revelation. the nanny was walking behind the children. and the op never said poor people go to target. she said she didnt like the looks of the kids. maybe because one threw something at hers and ran over her foot? At that point, they just look like 2 brats.
ReplyDeletei would have sympathy for them in the parking lot though. the nanny seems to have made those boys her bitches. pointing to the cart return. not even talking to the children or watching out for them?
7:18..the OP made an update here int he comments clearly stating she did care for the type of people she had to encounter at Target or the store itself (although she was shopping there), calling them a necassary evil. Read back in the comments. You'll see it. Whether she knew this was anny issue or not, something should have been said at least to the boys when he son was involved. She also said in her comment that she did not care about the boys.
ReplyDeleteSorry...typo ^^^^^^. Should say "a nanny" issue.
ReplyDeleteShe didn't call the children a necessarry evil, she called Target a necessary evil. I think you need to check your reading comprehension.
ReplyDeleteOP was probably pissed that the brats hit her kid. If another child hit your kid, wouldn't you be pissed?
I didn't particularly like the looks of her or her charges. I cannot even say I necessarily say I care about the children, but surely someone must.
ReplyDeleteI had zero interest in saying anything. Target and the likes that frequent Target are a necessary evil as we prepare for the return to school.
That was copied and pasted right from the OP's 3:26 comment. Who needs to check their reading comprhension now????
11:37:
ReplyDeleteIf a another kid hit my kid, I would confront and demand to see the adult in charge of them, NOT just go home and bitch about it online.
I have met kids that I thought looked like brats, acted like brats and left me not feeling all warm and fuzzy about them. And if you live in a big city or heavy crime area, it is not always wise to speak up. I spoke up once about some people that were harming animals and by filing the police report and those guys going through the system, they had access to my address and name. These same people with weapons had access. I've spoke up to people in parking lots and had a guy jump out of his car at me. It's not always safe and you have to judge for yourself whether you should or shouldn't speak up.
ReplyDeleteChildren and animals are not the same thing and no one suggested she called the police in this case. Only that she would at the very least speak up for her own child.
ReplyDeleteI also doubt this was a high crime area based on the OP's uppity attitude.
5:35 you sound a bit uppity and uptight yourself. Why don't you expand your mind and open it up for the possibility for other outlooks on things than your own.
ReplyDeleteI get you think the person should have spoke up, being all hostile and unfriendly isn't the way to go about expressing that.
7:40:
ReplyDeleteWow...I don't think I was hostile or unfriendly at all. Sorry you saw it that way. I very calmly and clearly disagreed with 3:17's opinion. Nothing else.
I wonder if you are the OP and getting defensive now. I am one of MANY on here who thought the OP was wrong. Read back before you attack someone.
For the record, not that it matters what you think, but I am probably the least uppity person you will ever meet. I love Target. I even have their charge card!
Jeez...look up "hostile" and "unfriendly" in the dictionary. It just might have your picture. Try "bitter" while you're at it too.
Okay, now calling you bitter was unfriendly, but at least I am not too uppity to admit it! :)~
Looks like SOMEONE upset the Tarrjay crowd....
ReplyDeleteyou people rrrrrr too funny
ReplyDeleteWhat is so bad about Target? I am an affluent person who lives on the UES of Manhattan. I love that store. The only reason I don't shop there more is that it's too far away.
ReplyDeleteJust what is it you are buying there? It's all relative.
ReplyDelete9:58 everything's in 1 clean store what's not to like
ReplyDeleteis this a blog about nanny sightings or debating the good & evil of Target???!!!
ReplyDeletefor 330-
ReplyDeleteSometimes after a nanny sighting is reported on this blog, side issues arise with the comments on the sighting. This time it seems to be the merit of Target! Sometimes the side issues get very interesting! As for me, I like Target. Their intimate apparel is of a very fine quality. A Truck Driver told me he picks up stuff for Victoria's Secret from the same warehouse he picks up stuff for Target!
5:48 that just means they are HOUSED in the same warehouse!
ReplyDelete5:48 this reminds me of a certain bread plant in Florida. A friend of my bro works there. It is all the same bread, but every so often the lines will stop and the supervisor will call out a different brand and the bags get changed. So basically your $3 Butternut is the exact same bread as your 89 cent grocery store brand.
ReplyDeleteI could never defend this OP. My husband and I are working class and although we are not rich like some of the posters on this site, we take very good care of our baby. We are good parents and good people and we shop at target every week: most of our food and baby supplies are target brand. People who spend more when they don't have to are foolish, and people who put down others for shopping at discount stores are snobs and I am glad I don't know them. I feel sorry for them and their children, or future children.
ReplyDeletePosts like these make me want to never visit this site again. It is very disgusting to me.
Target Shopper,
ReplyDeleteTake it with a grain of salt. In my experience, the people most likely to act outwardly like snobs, put down people who drive "regular cars" or vacation or shop at "common destinations" are the least likely to be financially secure. Look at the condition of our economy. There are a whole lot of people out there that are feigning affluence. A big tip off is when someone goes out of their way to insult another. This reflects only on their financial insecurity or their piss poor self esteem.
Signed,
Wonderfully Blessed and Financially Secure Mother of 2 who loves shopping at Target.
Like those people who talk about sex all of the time, it's rather unlikely they are having any. The same goes for people who talk and are obsessed about how much money other people have or where they shop. They aren't having any either!
ReplyDeleteThe richest person I know is from money and grew up with money and she talks to the housekeeper with the same sincerity and regard as she speaks to her aquaintances.
I never talk about sex anymore, it seems-- now that I'm not having any. Yet, when I was having a lot of it, I did talk about it a lot.
ReplyDeletePeople who possess financial confidence don't mock people who need to shop at discount stores just like people who are truly beautiful don't mock the ugly.
ReplyDelete12:27,
ReplyDeleteWell said! :)
12:10...TMI
ReplyDelete