From the Park Slope Moms Files… I was checking out at - TopicsExpress

From the Park Slope Moms Files… I was checking out at Lowe’s this morning and, as the cashier tells me the total, I turn to swipe my card in the card swiper. As I do this the Park Slope Mom (PSM) behind me, nudges the card swiper back so that she can place the toddler she was carrying on the checkout counter, perfectly between the card swiper and me. I stood there stunned as I have never seen this particular move before. Sensing my hesitation and using her brilliant PSM’s power of deduction, she figured out my problem, “Oh don’t worry, he can’t read your PIN code, he’s only two!” It doesn’t stop there, “Unless he is a MIDGET and he’s actually 40 and this is how we scam people!” She was delighted with her hilarious commentary. In less than 30 seconds, this PSM has provided me with riddle upon riddle of human(ish?) behavior: Who shoves their toddler onto the checkout counter? Her silent husband behind her had a cart with a perfectly empty child seat. But, nope, she chose to jam the kid onto the counter, clearly unconcerned that I would now have to lean over and around her child just to swipe my card. Hope your kid enjoys an armpit to the face because that’s now happening, lady. Next, I love how her assumption is that I’m so self-involved that I’m PANICKED that a 2 year old is stealing my PIN. Not that I was baffled by who would put a child there, let alone in front of another human being who is just trying to pay and get out. And then let’s jump into her use of the M-word. God knows I’m not the PC police, but I am cognizant that little people hate that word and find it extraordinarily hurtful so I ain’t yelling it out at Lowe’s. The PSM’s handbook must not cover that one. And folks wonder why I’m virtually a shut-in.