Eckerd's Hell
I’d like to take this time to talk about the little trip the boys and I took in the early evening Friday, November 3, 2006. It started out as a nice little adventure to the Eckerds drive thru pharmacy. Once again our Eckerds was closed and there had been no warning on the refill call in line. I made the pharmacy tech who was on her way out feel bad and she called the Eckerds down the road and was able to get them to fill out the 2 prescriptions Charlie & I needed.
We then proceeded to the Food Lion without much trouble and took John Christian inside Pizza Hut. Earlier in the week when John Christian was sick with the stomach bug he asked me, “Mom, can I have some pizza and some Oreos?” He was very sad and didn’t understand why he couldn’t have these foods. I promised him when he was better I would get him whatever he wanted. So, pizza it was! The boys were great in Pizza Hut and we headed off to get the medicine.
When we got to Eckerds the line at the drive thru was really long. John Christian and I remembered that we forgot to purchase batteries for the new ride on toy. I decided since they were both in decent moods it would be safe to take them inside Eckerds for batteries and medicine. How hard could that be? HA!!
First , I would like to note that the people in this particular Eckerds have never been that friendly. I don’t really like going in there. Once inside there were no available buggies. They were all were filled with holiday junk. Right in front of the entrance there was also a big display with plastic trains and cars. We were barely in the door when John Christian had a complete breakdown because I told him we weren’t buying toys. I should have left the store right then and gone back to the drive thru. Instead, I picked up the boys and headed to the back of the store. What was I thinking?
The pharmacy had one prescription filled, but the tech said she would have to look for the other one. What she should have said is I would have to wait for nearly 30 minutes in the store while she had it filled!! I love my boys I really do, but on this particular night they truly tested my patience and abilities as a mother.
Charlie kicked, screamed, and head butted me because he wanted to get down and run around. I didn’t want him to get down because he wasn’t wearing shoes & I knew he’d pull things off the shelves. The tech tried to be nice and got me a buggy, but the straps didn’t work. Charlie stood up in the buggy and nearly jumped head first onto the floor. I grabbed him in time. I caved and put Charlie on the ground. He ran around and started pulling things off the shelves. John Christian thought this was a fun game and began to do the same thing. I picked up Charlie which made him scream and tried to sit in one of the pharmacy’s chairs.
Just when I thought it would be ok John Christian began pulling on the little buggy. I had already warned him that the buggy could hurt him, but he had his ears turned off. It started to fall over on him. He began this horrible cry mainly because it scared him. I jerked him up and put him in the chair. I told him I didn’t feel sorry for him because I had warned him what would happen. In fact I warn him of the dangers of buggies nearly every time we enter a store. He began to cry louder and everyone in the store was staring at me. At this point I became one of those mothers. You know the kind. The ones you look at because you think they can’t control their children and if the mother had better parenting skills her children would not be screaming in the store. Yes, I was that mother & I was irritated with the people in the store for looking at me as if they questioned my abilities as a parent. "They have a lot of nerve!", I thought to myself. When what I really wanted to do was tell them to mind their own business.
There were 2 older women who were also sitting in chairs. One reached out for Charlie and actually took him from me while asking to hold him at the same time. I think I was in shock and just let her take him. I really didn’t know what else to do because both of the boys were screaming at the top of their lungs. If Charlie hadn’t needed the medicine so much I would have just walked out.
I had a nice little chat with John Christian and left him sitting in the chair whimpering. I picked up Charlie which made him scream yet again & I tried to push through the now even longer line to the counter. I told the pharmacist that I didn’t care about the medicine for me. I asked them to give me Charlie’s and let me go. They told me to wait one more minute because they almost had it filled. You have no idea how badly I wanted to curse these people. Could they not see I was about to loose my mind, but instead I calmly walked away to check on John Christian who was sitting quiet as a mouse. I hugged John Christian and told him I was very proud of him for sitting in the chair like I’d asked him to. Charlie was still fussing, but at least one child was still and calm..... for the moment!
I finally got the medicine and batteries and we headed for the van. I couldn't wait to run out of there before someone called the police on me. John Christian cried again when we passed by the display of junk cars and trains. I again became one of those parents carrying one child under my arm screaming and the other being dragged by the arm. I put both of the boys in the car, but they were still crying.
Now get this: A woman came out of the store and walked up to my van. She had the audacity to ask me if the boys could have some candy. That’s right CANDY! She pulled it out of her bag, showed it to me, and tried to tell me it was for her husband, but if it would make my boys happy they could have it. I just cannot believe the nerve of some people! Assuming that my children’s tears are my fault and that I don’t care about them. UGH!
I again sucked it up and as politely as I could declined the candy for the boys. I explained that #1 the boys were not following instructions in the store and should not be rewarded for throwing tantrums. #2 the boys were sick getting over a stomach bug, ear infections, and a horrible cold that had caused both boys’ asthma to flair up. That long explanation finally got the woman to leave me alone and take her candy with her.
From now on I will think twice before even wondering what is going on with a parent and their screaming child. My boys are generally happy well mannered little boys, but sometimes we all have our bad days. This was just one of them, but I don't think we'll be going to Eckerds anytime soon!
We then proceeded to the Food Lion without much trouble and took John Christian inside Pizza Hut. Earlier in the week when John Christian was sick with the stomach bug he asked me, “Mom, can I have some pizza and some Oreos?” He was very sad and didn’t understand why he couldn’t have these foods. I promised him when he was better I would get him whatever he wanted. So, pizza it was! The boys were great in Pizza Hut and we headed off to get the medicine.
When we got to Eckerds the line at the drive thru was really long. John Christian and I remembered that we forgot to purchase batteries for the new ride on toy. I decided since they were both in decent moods it would be safe to take them inside Eckerds for batteries and medicine. How hard could that be? HA!!
First , I would like to note that the people in this particular Eckerds have never been that friendly. I don’t really like going in there. Once inside there were no available buggies. They were all were filled with holiday junk. Right in front of the entrance there was also a big display with plastic trains and cars. We were barely in the door when John Christian had a complete breakdown because I told him we weren’t buying toys. I should have left the store right then and gone back to the drive thru. Instead, I picked up the boys and headed to the back of the store. What was I thinking?
The pharmacy had one prescription filled, but the tech said she would have to look for the other one. What she should have said is I would have to wait for nearly 30 minutes in the store while she had it filled!! I love my boys I really do, but on this particular night they truly tested my patience and abilities as a mother.
Charlie kicked, screamed, and head butted me because he wanted to get down and run around. I didn’t want him to get down because he wasn’t wearing shoes & I knew he’d pull things off the shelves. The tech tried to be nice and got me a buggy, but the straps didn’t work. Charlie stood up in the buggy and nearly jumped head first onto the floor. I grabbed him in time. I caved and put Charlie on the ground. He ran around and started pulling things off the shelves. John Christian thought this was a fun game and began to do the same thing. I picked up Charlie which made him scream and tried to sit in one of the pharmacy’s chairs.
Just when I thought it would be ok John Christian began pulling on the little buggy. I had already warned him that the buggy could hurt him, but he had his ears turned off. It started to fall over on him. He began this horrible cry mainly because it scared him. I jerked him up and put him in the chair. I told him I didn’t feel sorry for him because I had warned him what would happen. In fact I warn him of the dangers of buggies nearly every time we enter a store. He began to cry louder and everyone in the store was staring at me. At this point I became one of those mothers. You know the kind. The ones you look at because you think they can’t control their children and if the mother had better parenting skills her children would not be screaming in the store. Yes, I was that mother & I was irritated with the people in the store for looking at me as if they questioned my abilities as a parent. "They have a lot of nerve!", I thought to myself. When what I really wanted to do was tell them to mind their own business.
There were 2 older women who were also sitting in chairs. One reached out for Charlie and actually took him from me while asking to hold him at the same time. I think I was in shock and just let her take him. I really didn’t know what else to do because both of the boys were screaming at the top of their lungs. If Charlie hadn’t needed the medicine so much I would have just walked out.
I had a nice little chat with John Christian and left him sitting in the chair whimpering. I picked up Charlie which made him scream yet again & I tried to push through the now even longer line to the counter. I told the pharmacist that I didn’t care about the medicine for me. I asked them to give me Charlie’s and let me go. They told me to wait one more minute because they almost had it filled. You have no idea how badly I wanted to curse these people. Could they not see I was about to loose my mind, but instead I calmly walked away to check on John Christian who was sitting quiet as a mouse. I hugged John Christian and told him I was very proud of him for sitting in the chair like I’d asked him to. Charlie was still fussing, but at least one child was still and calm..... for the moment!
I finally got the medicine and batteries and we headed for the van. I couldn't wait to run out of there before someone called the police on me. John Christian cried again when we passed by the display of junk cars and trains. I again became one of those parents carrying one child under my arm screaming and the other being dragged by the arm. I put both of the boys in the car, but they were still crying.
Now get this: A woman came out of the store and walked up to my van. She had the audacity to ask me if the boys could have some candy. That’s right CANDY! She pulled it out of her bag, showed it to me, and tried to tell me it was for her husband, but if it would make my boys happy they could have it. I just cannot believe the nerve of some people! Assuming that my children’s tears are my fault and that I don’t care about them. UGH!
I again sucked it up and as politely as I could declined the candy for the boys. I explained that #1 the boys were not following instructions in the store and should not be rewarded for throwing tantrums. #2 the boys were sick getting over a stomach bug, ear infections, and a horrible cold that had caused both boys’ asthma to flair up. That long explanation finally got the woman to leave me alone and take her candy with her.
From now on I will think twice before even wondering what is going on with a parent and their screaming child. My boys are generally happy well mannered little boys, but sometimes we all have our bad days. This was just one of them, but I don't think we'll be going to Eckerds anytime soon!
posted by Rebecca at 5:16 AM
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