I would like to nominate ...

[sherrardk]

... the customers in M & S's food hall (Hereford) for being the most judgemental and po-faced bunch of miseries I have encountered. Youngest boy was having a minor melt-down in there today (just a small amount of temper-induced crying) - you could have sworn that he was going round telling them all to fleck off or something. Aaarrrrgghh (sorry - rant over.)

[joeluke]

There's nowt worse than someones kid playing up in a shop

[Bobbisox]

I hope they see this Sherr, it must be difficult enough shopping with small children it tow without these people looking at you like that

[anneasquith]

children eh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[B00]

nope, or if you're a shop worker there's always the fear that someone's little darling will barrel into stock leaving you the crap to pick up after they've (the mums) have shrugged their shoulders and given you "kids will be kids smile eh?" then sodded off.

[DTCwordfan]

you mean Misery and Shi-ts, sherrard?

[sherrardk]

Yes there's is - old dears walking round like they own the bloody place. Looking down there noses at anyone who isn't of pensionable age or anyone with more than two children. Quite obviously making snap judgements about others - you could almost hear them tutting before the boy started crying (and he was only crying as he can't talk and so couldn't tell me what the problem was).

[karenmac60]

Stuck up old moos Sher - just remember, you'll get loads of cuddles from your kids while they are sitting aloof and alone with their superiority complexes to keep them company :)

[B00]

now to be fair- your child's "meltdown" might be excusable and justifiable to you, but to anyone else, and if im being honest me included, its an annoying bloody racket that i/we could do without when we're shopping. I dislike shopping and a child tantrum will not improve that experience for me.

[albaqwerty]

Why do some people rush to judgement on another, especially a 3yr old child beggars belief.

Use your words to them next time it happens sherr x

[China Doll]

One of my bug bears is kids who start screaming randomly in my vicinity for temper tantrum purposes as opposed to pain, hunger etc... I'm not proud sherrardk but I think I would have been one of those people tutting, especially if it happened on my brief lunch break... I'll apologise now.

(In other mitigating circumstances, I do work for child protection so I'm not a complete monster!)

[classylady60]

Perhaps they remember a time when children were taught to behave when out shopping and didn't bother other shoppers or wreck the shop. This is not indicating that your children are like that but I guess there are many who are the opposite so of course people have enough of it and tar them all with the same brush. A shame really but that's the way life is today.

[sherrardk]

To be fair, I agree that a child having a tantrum doesn't exactly add to the whole shopping experience (although he wasn't exactly on the floor chucking a strop - it doesn't help that he can't talk so he gets frustrated) and I didn't notice one of them thank myself or any of the children for moving to one side to let them pass so they could continue with their shopping. (Obviously I am completely biased but my children receive a lot of praise for their manners so when they are viewed badly I take it to heart.)

[classylady60]

Can understand that sherrard...I would feel the same way too..it just has to be these moments that people don't understand.

[B00]

i have to be truthful and say that I agree with andy (think it was andy anyway) and say I love hearing about your family life Sherr, it always sounds proper family orientated and fuzzy and warm, well toddler tantrums aside anyway.

I'm sure it was summet and nowt today in M&S today, but like CD no doubt i'd have been a scowler in your direction if i was actually there- incidently....shopping in M&S? Made of money or summet? ;-)

[jno]

but how do you expect strangers to react when your boy has a tizz? Give him a boot up the rear? Buy him an ice cream and smile at him? Or what? How are you supposed to react to other people's children, good or bad?

[mazie]

Kids have tantrums, Mum's have to go shopping..People have to live with it. Don't feel bad sher, there's worse things that your kids could do. Kids having tantrums always makes me smile and think "Thank god, I dont have to deal with that anymore"

[Chaffinch]

I rember very well what that felt like Sherrardk, its not easy :)

However mums should sometimes give a little consideration to us middle-aged or pensioners. Tesco are currently giving away those vouchers for schools, I always take them and as I walk out ( I do a very latge monthly shop), offer them to a mum with children, twice now I've been snubbed and looked at as if I were a loony!!

Perhaps its just food shopping makes us all tetchy!

[tamborine]

nowt worse than shoppers who think only M&S food is real food !

[sherrardk]

I am probably super-sensitive as we attract a lot of attention when we are out and about (seem to have got past the stage where people count my children now).

Boo - I was in there getting a prawn sandwich as a reward for going to town and letting the youngest walk (on reins).

Chaffinch - I always stop to talk to people who express an interest in the children (who doesnt like hearing nice things about their children?). If you had given us your vouchers, the children would have said thank you (I would make sure of that) and the non-talker would have said it in sign language.