You know that store? The one that rhymes with Shmall-tart?
I don’t like it.
I despise their business practices and their negative effect on the take home pay of retail workers (see the high cost of low prices in this movie). The uneducated who need jobs can usually find them there, but many still need some sort of public assistance to make ends meet. These are primarily decent, hard-working folks, and it’s just not fair.
So yesterday, I was in Walmart (Hello? Hypocrite, much?) because I had to return something that someone else had purchased there(Have I redeemed myself now?) and I overheard a conversation that left me shaking my head in wonder. I try hard not to judge other parents about their parenting choices and I’m really not a sancti-mommy (I said I try, okay? I’m not always successful.) but sometimes I wonder why we allow just anyone to have a child without forcing at least some type of parenting and children’s health education upon them. I’m sure there are many lovely, healthy patrons of this store, but every time I go (which is increasingly rare) I encounter at least one person or family similar to this:
Mom: Do you want the supersize Mr. Big or the supersize Oh Henry?
Child 1 (5-ish years old): I want the Mr. Big (grabs it and adds it to the cart full of chips and other crapola).
Child 2 (3-ish years old): I want the other one (grabs it and adds it to the cart full of “health”). It will be yummy after my fries and gravy at bowling.
Mom: (In a very mean-toned voice) No, we’re not having fries and gravy for supper tonight. We’re having these instead. (At which point, she roughly grabbed her younger child and tossed her into their cart.)
I’d like to think that this was an exception to the rule. Even we health-crazy parents have a cheat-day now and then. It might even be a good thing. Teaching flexibility and all that. However, it was rather apparent that this plan for dinner was not the exception, but the rule. The mother was morbidly obese and both children were well on their way. (Dad was rail thin. Why is that?) I’m sure this woman was being the best mother she knew how to be. She must have been, because who would ruin their child’s health on purpose? But really, come on! You have to know that a chocolate bar does not a supper make.
So, I’m curious…
Answer honestly. Clarify in comments if you like. I admit, I go sometimes. About 3-4 times a year. I like to save money with the best of them, but I’d much rather support a local store owner or at least a company that’s a little smaller and a little less corrupt. We vote with our wallets, after all.
New post, with freebie, up at MMO!
Congrats to Marcee, my most recent winner!
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