i can't believe this -- grocery store content

[momma4fun]

i rarely take all 3 girls shopping with me.....i like to kill it all in one day and with the 2 of them being 1 and 3 years old, it's a hassle

well, today they all came

so i'm in line, thanking my lucky stars and knocking on wood that none of them has freaked out and am trying to calmly and quickly get all my groceries from the cart onto the belt.

i look up after being buried in the cart trying to reach the last item, and just as a store worker is running towards me with a horrified look on her face, i notice that my one year old, who is strapped into the cart seat has pried open the lid of the fresh chicken livers and is dipping her fingers in the juice and sucking it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THERE WAS A LADY STANDING IN LINE BEHIND US THE WHOLE TIME WHO DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME!!!!!!!!

Now, I eat raw liver occasionally, and i sometimes make raw liver pate for the girls, but i always add a good amount of vinegar or lemon juice when i do. they love it, which is all kind of beyond the point, because this was the
NON-ORGANIC livers I was buying for the dog.

And the lady said nothing. It could have made a huuuuuge mess, notwithstanding the fact that my one year old was sucking down liver juice of dubious origins.

All said, I wasn't too worried about her getting sick. I feel pretty confident about our gut health. And in a way, a very very small way, it was kinda cool that the lady just sat back and didn't try to interfere......but really it was across the line.

I have decided I will interfere when I see a baby about to make a huge mess in the grocery store, just like I'd interfere if someone was hitting their child in a grocery store.

We're talking a quart sized container filled with lots of slimy little chicken livers floating in liver juice, or whatever it was.......

[Aliviasmom]

I'm honestly not really sure what I would have done in her situation either. If I didn't know what it was, I don't want to "tattle" on the child for eating something they are allowed to eat, yk? Also, if it were my child, I'm not sure I would want someone stepping in either. It's just a mess. Now, if she had been eating something toxic, then I would have pried it away from her, stranger or no.

I'm kinda like that in all aspects of child behavior in public. Like if (who am I kidding, WHEN) my child runs away, I prefer people to point to which way she went. NOT stop her. Not their child, DON'T TOUCH. One time, a lady saw dd run away and was calling to Alivia "Honey, stop! Don't run away! Honey!" : Who the heck did she think she was?! You think that if a child isn't listening to their caregiver, that they are ACTUALLY going to stop for a STRANGER?!

Sorry. I was just trying to say that intervening on the lives/parenting of strangers is a very touchy subject. One of those things that every parent is going to react differently. Back to the regularaly scheduled thread...

[AutumnMama]

I can understand not saying something if your DC was eating crackers or something, but RAW CHICKEN LIVERS???
I don't usually say things, but that seems extremely obviously NOT something a mother would let her child snack on.

[momma4fun]

Originally Posted by Aliviasmom

I'm honestly not really sure what I would have done in her situation either. If I didn't know what it was, I don't want to "tattle" on the child for eating something they are allowed to eat, yk? Also, if it were my child, I'm not sure I would want someone stepping in either. It's just a mess. Now, if she had been eating something toxic, then I would have pried it away from her, stranger or no.

I'm kinda like that in all aspects of child behavior in public. Like if (who am I kidding, WHEN) my child runs away, I prefer people to point to which way she went. NOT stop her. Not their child, DON'T TOUCH. One time, a lady saw dd run away and was calling to Alivia "Honey, stop! Don't run away! Honey!" : Who the heck did she think she was?! You think that if a child isn't listening to their caregiver, that they are ACTUALLY going to stop for a STRANGER?!

Sorry. I was just trying to say that intervening on the lives/parenting of strangers is a very touchy subject. One of those things that every parent is going to react differently. Back to the regularaly scheduled thread...

i totally agree with you HOWEVER

this was a white container with CHICKEN LIVERS written largely and clearly on the side

and, the top is kind of sealed -- meaning my 1 year old had to break the little plastic pieces off twith her teeth to get it open, so she was going at it for a while, probably, before she finally got it open

but yeah, i'm shocked she didn't intervene because i've expereinced "intervention" for much less obvious things

i don't totally hold it against her at all......i guess for all i know shes didn't even look at my kid once even though she was standing face to face with her

i posted this more tongue in cheek than as a complaint.

i think it's hilarious

[kl5]

I don't have an opinion on how the bystander should have acted, but can I just pipe up and say that you have one cool baby?!? I dream of children who would that think raw livers are the best, most irresistible treat...: Very funny story, thank you for posting it!

[littlemizflava]

if i seen it i would of peeped up just for the facts its raw meat and it will make a huge mess all over her clothing. i wouldnt of said something to the baby but i would of said "ummm do you know your child is opening that".... every easy "oh ya thats fine or oh my thanks"

[bigeyes]

I would have said something, but then, I'm the person who gets yelled at for gasping get that off your face! when some toddler is putting a plastic bag over their head. Instead you let the poor kid suffocate while you go searching for mom and hope you find her in time lest you accidentally parent someone else's child for them without permission.

It doesn't take a village anymore, most people are too afraid they'll offend someone.

[littlemizflava]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

I would have said something, but then, I'm the person who gets yelled at for gasping get that off your face! when some toddler is putting a plastic bag over their head. Instead you let the poor kid suffocate while you go searching for mom and hope you find her in time lest you accidentally parent someone else's child for them without permission.

It doesn't take a village anymore, most people are too afraid they'll offend someone.

been there and as far as i think atleast i said something if you dont like it bitch about it but i tried and it will always take a village :

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by littlemizflava

been there and as far as i think atleast i said something if you dont like it bitch about it but i tried and it will always take a village :

You can't win. Either you don't care because you didn't do anything, or you're a busybody who doesn't mind your own business.

[littlemizflava]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

You can't win. Either you don't care because you didn't do anything, or you're a busybody who doesn't mind your own business.

99% of the time i have my 2 kids with me so i just look like a over protective mom. i have no problem not minding my buisness or speaking my mind. i have been on both side and will continue to peep up when i feel needed:

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by littlemizflava

99% of the time i have my 2 kids with me so i just look like a over protective mom. i have no problem not minding my buisness or speaking my mind. i have been on both side and will continue to peep up when i feel needed:

Yeah, me too. What's the worst that could happen, some stranger gets pissed? Oooooh, scare me.

But I'll come here and rant about how idiotic they were after.

[Bohemian Squash]

Oh I would of said something! It's not tattling, it's being helpful! Gotta look out for eachother!

[EmeraldGardener]

I would have to at least mention that she was opening something-- but then I am the gal who has not once-- but twice- caught little ones who weren't buckled in properly when they decided to jump out of the cart and the mom was not looking that way. One child was about 1 1/2 and the mom thanked me, and the other was about 3 and that mom while glad that I caught him, said that I should have let him fall-- then he wouldn't have done it again! I am all for let them try things for themselves so that they can learn , but I draw the line at child endangerment.

[guestmama9904]

personally on the parenting front i believe strangers should be fully allowed to help me when my children are running away or being aggressive to other kids at the playground or eating chicken livers out of the carton unbeknownst to their mothers... i think its weird how in our culture no one is allowed or encouraged to help a parent out in public.

[Attached Mama]

No reason she shouldn't have said something. She could have simply said "Excuse me .... Just wanted to make sure you knew your daughter had gotten into that container. Not trying to be nosy or anything...." and left it at that. Then any reasonable persons response would have been "Oh she's ok, thanks tho" or "oh my! thank you"

[WildIris]

Originally Posted by arismama!

personally on the parenting front i believe strangers should be fully allowed to help me when my children are running away or being aggressive to other kids at the playground or eating chicken livers out of the carton unbeknownst to their mothers... i think its weird how in our culture no one is allowed or encouraged to help a parent out in public.

:

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by arismama!

personally on the parenting front i believe strangers should be fully allowed to help me when my children are running away or being aggressive to other kids at the playground or eating chicken livers out of the carton unbeknownst to their mothers... i think its weird how in our culture no one is allowed or encouraged to help a parent out in public.

I completely agree.

Help may not always come in the form we would like, but hey, don't shoot the messenger!
If my kids are misbehaving at the playground or not sharing and I am changing a diaper- then I want the other mom to try to settle things-within reason.
If my kids run away in a store, I wouldn't mind an older lady bringing them back by hand...every situation is so different.

In my experience, my kids usually feel sad about their action and stop the misbehavior if someone else not in the family steps up to the plate and helps out with the discipline. It's hard to have someone else you don't know tell you no. I think this is one benefit of the village mentality that I have noticed. One downside is that the majority of people who would want to help may not be of the same child-rearing beliefs that I am.


It's such a mixed bag. Some people say the stupidest things and interfere when it isn't needed while others stand back and watch everything. (I was walking past a bar in downtown the other day in the afternoon and an older man said as we walked past- "how the h%*l do you keep track of all three?" yeah, we ignored him. )
Not that eating chicken liver juice is all bad, but in a utopia the woman would have noticed that it was obviously meant for the dog and said something

[Missa]

Originally Posted by EmeraldGardener

I would have to at least mention that she was opening something-- but then I am the gal who has not once-- but twice- caught little ones who weren't buckled in properly when they decided to jump out of the cart and the mom was not looking that way. One child was about 1 1/2 and the mom thanked me, and the other was about 3 and that mom while glad that I caught him, said that I should have let him fall-- then he wouldn't have done it again! I am all for let them try things for themselves so that they can learn , but I draw the line at child endangerment.

I would have loved for you to have warned me....My littlest one fell out of the cart once Poor baby. She was 2 and had just figured out how to unbuckle. I was busy with my older two children helping them choose a toy and had my back turned but my hand was on the cart. She kinda flipped over my arm so she landed on her bum but it still hurt her alot.

[Aliviasmom]

Originally Posted by momma4fun

i totally agree with you HOWEVER

this was a white container with CHICKEN LIVERS written largely and clearly on the side

and, the top is kind of sealed -- meaning my 1 year old had to break the little plastic pieces off twith her teeth to get it open, so she was going at it for a while, probably, before she finally got it open

Cool. Didn't know it was labeled. That helps. But personally, I perceive them as gross regardless, so I'm not sure I would know that you don't eat them raw.



Glad to know it was tic though, and not a complaint!

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

I would have said something, but then, I'm the person who gets yelled at for gasping get that off your face! when some toddler is putting a plastic bag over their head. Instead you let the poor kid suffocate while you go searching for mom and hope you find her in time lest you accidentally parent someone else's child for them without permission.

It doesn't take a village anymore, most people are too afraid they'll offend someone.

I'd have totally said something too.