What Would You Have Done?

[Raidra]

Let me set the scene..

You get up and get the kids ready to go out for your one year old's birthday pictures at JC Penney (yes, two months late). Your mother asks for a ride to work even though you're already running late. You rush out of the house, barely remembering to grab the summer outfit that you'll change your kid into when you get there. You drop your mother off at work and race to the mall, pulling into the parking lot 10 minutes before your appointment. Then you remember that you forgot the coupons. Oh, and the baby is asleep. So you drive to the Barnes & Noble near the mall, run in with the baby asleep on your shoulder and your three year old trying desperately to keep up, find a Parents magazine, flip through it to make sure there's a coupon, pay for the magazine, and get back into the car. The baby wakes up screaming.

Despite all this, you manage to make it to your appointment on time. The baby refuses to sit by himself for his pictures (to be honest, the woman taking his pictures is a bit scary looking), but after a good 20 minutes of acting like a fool, you get a few good shots.

You promised your three year old that he could eat lunch in the food court, but it's only 10:30am so you spend an hour walking around the mall. You get lunch but the kids are too busy climbing all over the stroller to eat. Then your three year old says he has a belly ache. So you throw away the food and head out to the car (parked a mile away).

You put your three year old in the carseat and as you're buckling him in, he asks for a toy. You say in a minute, and he asks again. You snap at him because you're hot, tired, and you have a killer headache. He bursts into tears and you feel like a jerk. After spending several minutes hugging and kissing him and apologizing to him, you distract him with a toy so you can get the baby in. Your one year old does not want to get in his carseat and starts screaming, which makes your three year old start crying again.

You go back to the stroller to unload all the crap from the basket, and you notice a baseball and mitt that your three year old swiped from the portrait studio.

So do you stop at the liquor store now, or do you hope you have some at home?



Seriously, though, would you have brought it back in, or would you have made a promise to yourself that you'd return it next time you were at the mall?

[candybomiller]

Do you have a drive through liquor store? ;)

After all that, I would just bring it back the next time I was there. Not worth the hassle of unstrapping two screaming, upset kiddos.

And, if you didn't get any pictures you loved from JCP, I would take some pics at home with the props. But I'm slightly evil.

[FiveLittleDucks]

Oh my word, what a day! First of all, you amaze me with your patience and tenacity. Secondly, in all honesty, I would bring the toy back to the mall the next time. I would be sure to make a big deal of it when we return it the next time by saying things like, "We couldn't bring it back right away, but we don't want to forget. I want to be honest," etc. etc.

[ribbit1019]

I call and let them know I had it and take it back next time I went in.

What a rough morning you had! Yikes! Hugs mama!

Christy
My Waterbabies
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/Yw0w.jpg http://b3.lilypie.com/0vphm4.png
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/iBmU.jpg http://bf.lilypie.com/uy3Mm4.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

[oliviasmomma]

Before or after I burst into tears? I'd drop it off later get myself home and pray for naptime!

Then I'd break open something--ice cream, beer, etc.

[slr]

I only have one child so I can't say for sure what I would have done with two crying kids. With one crying child, I would have brought the items back to the store in case they needed them for other photo sessions that day. I'm a bit biased as 1) I only have one child and have no idea how I would cope with two and 2) my son just got his pictures taken in a baseball jersey and we used a bat, baseball, and mitt as props for his pictures. I had seen other pictures from this studio, so I was expecting them to have these props for my son's pictures. Definitely would have been crying and drinking myself!

[maestramommy]

Well, in the interest of safety, I'd wait til I got home and pour out a couple fingers of scotch :-). Seriously, I can't believe the way you kept your head through such an insane morning!

I would call the studio and tell them about it, and say you'll bring them back when you go to look at the proofs.

[SnuggleBuggles]

If I had my cell phone I would have called the photo dept and told them you had their props by mistake and could they send someone out to the curb to meet you. That way you wouldn't have to walk back or get out of the car once you were there.

I hope the day goes better!

Beth

[JTsMom]

OMG that line about the liquor store had me laughing so hard! I guess if the mitt and ball were a prop, I would have dragged everyone back in, but I would have sworn in my head the whole time.

What a morning you had! Hope the rest of the day goes better.

[Tondi G]

I would call them and let them know it's missing and that you will return it as soon as you can get back over there!

What a day! I've had days like that trying to get pics of my kiddo! I am such a bad mommy... we haven't braved the picture places yet and Aidan is 17 months!

~Tondi
Mommy to Mason 7/8/01 and Aidan 5/4/05

[tiapam]

Wow. Hopefully you have an emergency stash at home for these kinds of days.

I know it's too late to help you, but if you can find the latest kid's catalog in the JCP, the portrait coupons are usually in there, too.

-Pam

DD - Two years old!

[lizajane]

you forgot the option of deciding to return it next time you were at the mall and then completely forgetting about them and finding them in a closet 6 months later...

there is no way in H E double hockey sticks i would drag my screaming 3 year old and 1 year old back into the mall. i would take it back later. i might try to call and explain and apologize, but knowing me, i would forget to call.

and frankly, i bet this kind of thing happens all the time and they have more than one set of props.

and to be totally honest... i hate props. which would skew my decision.

[staramama]

Oh, bless you...
I am just dreading the portrait studio experience...I hate it, hate it, hate it.
DS turns 3 this week and DD turns 1 the week after, and I HAVE TO GO.
I am waiting for my parents' visit next week, so I can have extra troops along.
I do hope that you got some really great shots!
And about the props, yeah, return them sometime, but in the meanwhile I'm sure the studio has already forgotten about them.

[KBecks]

If I felt like superwoman, I'd have gone back, but since the kids were already in the car, I'd probably take the stuff back after DH got home and I could run back to Pennys ALONE! (assuming Pennys isn't far from the house).

[amp]

I probably would have kept it until my DH or I could take it back without the kids in tow. I might even call them and tell them I have it and will return it soon.

[Raidra]

When I have this little guy walking around the house?



http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/35878.jpg



Thanks for your responses, everyone.. I'm glad some of you got a laugh. ;)

[ribbit1019]

AAAAWWWWW!!


Christy
My Waterbabies
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/Yw0w.jpg http://b3.lilypie.com/0vphm4.png
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/iBmU.jpg http://bf.lilypie.com/uy3Mm4.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

[lisams]

I'd return it later, but try to at least within a few days (knowing me, I'd probably send DH later that evening to drop them off)

Hope you're day is getting better, sounds like you had a very busy morning!!

[chiqanita]

I did something similar but it was 2 books I walked out of Barnes and Noble with...I went back even though I had DSx2 in their seats.

Also, Ds took a baseball from the market once. I said I'd take it back next time since it was raining and we were in the car. I haven't been back since...it's been about a month.

Saying all that, I would do my best to return it next time.

Regarding the liquour store, stop right outside the door and phone your order in! Give them a tip if they'll bring it out to you! Hey Curbside Pick works for restaurants why not LS? ;)

[Aunt to sweet baby boy]

I don't even know. Avi is such a handful right now. I would like to say that i would call the store from my cell phone and say that if they want someone can come and get it from the store or i will bring it by next time. Maybe offer to drive around to the other side. In reality i would probably just go home and calm down and then call them and say that you have it accidentaly and that you will bring it by next time you are in the area or when you go to pick up the pictures.

Your son is so cute btw, i love the costume!

Ilana, aka Nana to my sweet nephew Avi

http://lilypie.com/pic/060826/Fsm6.jpg[/img]http://b2.lilypie.com/alzym7/.png[/img][/url]

[g-mama]

Awwwww...he's precious!

And don't feel bad at all. I still have the air hockey thing-a-ma-bob that my 3yo slipped into my diaper bag the last time I was at Pump It Up. Yes, I meant to return it the *next* time I went there, but of course, I did not remember it. This pales in comparison to the TWO times in the past 4 months I have gotten to the register at the grocery store, unloaded a huge cartful of food and then realized I did not have my wallet with me. *Sigh*.


~Kristen

Paolo 11-00
Benjamin 8-03
Marco 12-05

[MommyAllison]

He is SOOO cute! I loooooove the ears :)

Allison
Mama to DD 11/05

[kijip]

I would likely be far too frazzled to even know what the heck the props were when I found them. I think I would be all the way home before it dawned on me where they needed to go back to. I can see myself sitting in the car, trying to tune out the screaming and going through a list of possibilities in my head:

"Are they something my dad gave him?"

"Are they Sam/Suzy/Ziah's stuff from our playdate last week?"

"I wonder if my brother gave these to him?"

"Perhaps J (husband) bought them and forgot to tell me?"

Then as I unloaded the car I would have a "Oh, &^%&^% he stole them from the picture place!" moment. Then I suppose I would drive them back when I could go alone.

I think they have more than one set of those sorts of small props, so while I would try and do it sooner rather than later, I would not feel worried about getting them back that very second for somebody else's pictures.

[brittone2]

How adorable!!

Sorry you had such a rough day. Those kinds of days fill my dreams right now as I think about parenting two kids...I'm scared!! ;)

I wouldn't have bothered to return the props. I likely would have called the store and told them we realized it at home and will return them the next day. I wouldn't want to hold the props hostage, but there's only so much a mama can do in a day.

I hope this evening is smoother sailing :)

[Fairy]

So, no one threw up, then? Cuz that's a plus.

The next thing you do is stick the pilfered items into your trunk, head to the Starbucks for a mocha, and plan another mall day soon to return it then.

[gatorsmom]

That sounds like my life exactly! In fact, when it gets to that point, usually it's just so circus-like, I start to giggle. Anyone watching would think Im' losing it. (they'd be right)


Keep the mitt and ball in the car and return them when you go to pick up the photos. Apologize and I"m sure that they'll just be happy you brought them back at all.

[janeybwild]

Rachel, we have ended up with several "unintended" items in our stroller over the past 3 years. A couple of times I've returned them at a later date, but twice I have just added the item to a charity pile. Bad mommy. I guess my main concern would be DD profiting from her light fingers!
Kuddos to you for sticking out the visit, my blood pressure rose just reading through it! Hope the pics are fab and have a stiff drink for me!

[janeybwild]

Rachel, we have ended up with several "unintended" items in our stroller over the past 3 years. A couple of times I've returned them at a later date, but twice I have just added the item to a charity pile. Bad mommy. I guess my main concern would be DD profiting from her light fingers!
Kuddos to you for sticking out the visit, my blood pressure rose just reading through it! Hope the pics are fab and have a stiff drink for me!

[spu]

oh your story is so real!!! I can totally feel for you! I have those days too. esp. with the mountain buggy, we've accidentally walked out with a few surprises, most of which I've returned. Depending on how the service was at Penny's I'd either keep it if the service was lousy, or return it if they were nice (and if you plan to go back again!) :) I wouldn't bother going back in after everyone is strapped into the car. that's an accomplishment in and of itself!

hope you have a better day today! (and don't these things just always happen on picture day!?)

susan

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_amethyst_36m.gif
nursed for 3 years!
http://sunger2.home.comcast.net/superpower.gif

charlotte + else

http://bd.lilypie.com/u2jym5.png
http://b4.lilypie.com/Bmr5m5.png

[spu]

oh your story is so real!!! I can totally feel for you! I have those days too. esp. with the mountain buggy, we've accidentally walked out with a few surprises, most of which I've returned. Depending on how the service was at Penny's I'd either keep it if the service was lousy, or return it if they were nice (and if you plan to go back again!) :) I wouldn't bother going back in after everyone is strapped into the car. that's an accomplishment in and of itself!

hope you have a better day today! (and don't these things just always happen on picture day!?)

susan

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_amethyst_36m.gif
nursed for 3 years!
http://sunger2.home.comcast.net/superpower.gif

charlotte + else

http://bd.lilypie.com/u2jym5.png
http://b4.lilypie.com/Bmr5m5.png