Parenting Over Parents

Is it just for my benefit, or does every sales associate, or check-out-clerk find the need to parent every child that is not their own?

Sahara and I had a day planned of fun, today. We went out to eat and then made our way to Ta.rget to buy Sahara some much needed new fall/winter clothes. It was just us two girls, Ja's checkbook, and a missed nap that went along.

What I had envisioned as fun, soon turned into a nightmare. Our fast food choice was crammed with people inside, so instead we ate in the car...not the best idea in the world.

Our shopping spree was more like me racing around grabbing clothes and throwing them in the cart while trying to convince Sahara to sit in the cart. She had none of that and soon was crawling around where they keep the boxes of strollers and highchairs. It then turned into me trying not to yell, but trying to get her out with the knowledge that if she didn't, she was getting a spank. This is not easy to do, because now-a-days, you look like a horrible mother if you spank your kids in public, and get followed around by evil looks making sure you aren't abusive to your toddler who is screaming, and kicking and misbehaving. (I don't like to spank in public, in fact, I never do. She gets one in the car or a quick flick or something taken away in public because I do think it's pretty embarrassing to the child and those around.)

I finally caught her and finished my shopping and headed for the check out. Sahara had finally calmed down and was squatting and holding onto the cart and was happy. The man at the check out decided that was not good enough and told her to sit down. At this point, I had had it. I was actually just happy she was in the cart, who cared what she was doing or how she was sitting! Sahara just stared at the man and didn't change position. I think this was when I was supposed to intervene and make her sit. I didn't. I didn't care that she wasn't sitting on her bottom. She was fine. Why do they think it's their job to parent my kids?! They certainly have their butts covered with all the warnings posted on the carts. I'm not going to sue them if my kid falls out. And, since I was just fine with how she was sitting, I wasn't going to make her sit any other way, no matter what that man wanted her to do. So, I said nothing and just smiled at Sahara and continued to let her sit that way. It was either that or start going off on the man to leave her alone. And, I guess that man didn't like my parenting skills because he didn't speak to me the rest of the time he scanned my items. Yeah, it was a bit awkward. But, honestly, I was done. I could have cared less about what he thought or wanted. I just wanted out of there. And, since this was not the first time he has told Sahara to sit down, I am, from now on, staying away from his lane.

Do you seem to have the same problem? How do you handle it?