What a bitch!

[Lace Neil Singer]

Had just one SC today; but a real nasty one. -.- I was serving this woman, and she was buying Christmas presents. At the moment, there's a "buy 3 and get the cheapest one free" offer so that's not so bad. The SC moment wasn't a confusion about the offer tho.

I tried to initiate conversation as all of us have been ordered to do by the checkout manager; I said that since she was buying her presents now, she'd be able to relax over Christmas. From this seemingly harmless remark, the SC seemed to hear a huge insult; she replied, "I can tell you're not a mother; you know, you could always help your mother in the kitchen over Christmas."

Off the cuff, I replied to her with 1 truth and 1 lie, "I don't live with my parents. I live on my own and I do help my mother over Christmas. I don't have a family cuz I'm infertile and can't have children." *insert little tremor to voice*

Yes, the second part was a big fat lie, but it made the SC look suitably embarrassed and apologise for her nasty comment. Hopefully she'll think twice before attacking someone like that for no reason again, cuz one day, it could actually be true. I know someone who has had problems conceiving who would have burst into tears at a comment like that; I didn't stop to think about what I was saying at the time, but I'm glad I said it to the old cow.

[blas]

Because those of us who don't have children automatically means we don't have any right to enjoy the Holidays, and we should help with the grunt work because those who have children have FAMILIES.

Stupid bitch.

Sounds like this woman I used to work with at the grocery store. On most holidays, the high school kids were scheduled. She said something along the lines of "Thank God I got Thanksgiving off. Those of us with kids need holidays off."

I guess that means I don't have a family because I'm not a mother.

[South Texan]

Sounds like this woman I used to work with at the grocery store. On most holidays, the high school kids were scheduled. She said something along the lines of "Thank God I got Thanksgiving off. Those of us with kids need holidays off."

I guess that means I don't have a family because I'm not a mother.

May I offer another interpretation of her remark?

As a parent of school-age children, I can attest that holidays are a major headache as the kids are off from school, yet I am not off from work. Finding good childcare that will allow my children to enjoy the holiday (and not feel like I am just "dumping" them somewhere) is very hard to do and makes me feel incredibly guilty. If I were able to get school holidays off, it would be a blessing.

When I was single and without kids, I did not understand why people with children fought to get off on holidays. At the time I was known as the overtime whore who took all available shifts during holidays as they paid double time. Now as a parent, I never am able to take on the extra shifts and am the one asking for time off.

Please do not assume an insult toward single and/or childless people is intended by such a remark.

[flybye023]

I think that what some of us single people find hard is the assumption that since we are single, we are not as busy as those with families or have no obligations for the holidays. This is simply not true.

For example, I and my sister are both currently living at home with our parents and the rest of our family comes to us for the holidays. My mother and father both still work. Somehow between the four of us we still need to get the house ready, find entertainment for our guests, do the grocery shopping, prepare the meals, pick people up from the airport, etc. Why is our time less valuable than someone else's?

[Catwoman2965]

I think that what some of us single people find hard is the assumption that since we are single, we are not as busy as those with families or have no obligations for the holidays. This is simply not true.

For example, I and my sister are both currently living at home with our parents and the rest of our family comes to us for the holidays. My mother and father both still work. Somehow between the four of us we still need to get the house ready, find entertainment for our guests, do the grocery shopping, prepare the meals, pick people up from the airport, etc. Why is our time less valuable than someone else's?

I agree! I'm single, and my immediate family consists of my parents...who now live 400 miles away. So if I don't go to them, I sit at home alone, on the holidays. I've gone to them the last two turkey days and christmas, and I help out as much as I did when they lived here...getting the house ready, helping with errands, cooking, clean up, etc.

Fortunately, my part time job, retail, has no problem with me being gone for Black Friday and after Christmas, because I MORE than make up for it the rest of the year. and in spite of the fact between me and my two bosses, i don't have kids, thye are ok with me being out when they are as well....they realize we all need time off, but for different reasons.

[Lace Neil Singer]

My main problem with the SC was that she overreacted to my innocuous remark, and made a really nasty comment that if I was really infertile, I'd be really upset over. People should think before they open their big fat gobs, and not assume things.

[BookstoreEscapee]

"I can tell you're not a mother; you know, you could always help your mother in the kitchen over Christmas."

Because not having children = you don't help your mom with holiday dinners?

I think that what some of us single people find hard is the assumption that since we are single, we are not as busy as those with families or have no obligations for the holidays. This is simply not true.

Exactly. I totally understand why people with kids want the time off, but I have a problem when they feel entitled to it over the kid-less people just because they are parents. I have stuff going on, too, and family members I don't see much (or ever) the rest of the year. That is as important to me as being with your kids for the holiday is to you.

[Sparkticus]

My main problem with the SC was that she overreacted to my innocuous remark, and made a really nasty comment that if I was really infertile, I'd be really upset over. People should think before they open their big fat gobs, and not assume things.

I've got a friend who potentially is, and she has a tendancy to attract SC's... possibly 'cos they know they'd get a good fight... she's also one of the broodiest people (in terms of wanting a family) I've ever known...

I think if someone said that to HER, we'd be picking body parts out of our displays for a while!

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

As if those of us without children should work over the holidays and pretend that Christmas is just another day, because obviously it must not be important to us to celebrate such unimportant days.

We suck.

[rerant]

I think it's fair to say that everyone is busy during the holidays, which is why I think any time off work should be based on a first come, first serve basis. (emergencies excepted, of course)
That way everyone is on a fair playing field.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I'd agree with that. I tend tho to work on Christmas Eve mostly for the entertainment value; some of the customers get so stressy and insane that it's actually more funny than anything else. However, this year I've booked both New Year's Eve and Day off, cuz I'm sick of being too knackered from working New Year's Eve to really enjoy going out.

[wagegoth]

I have to agree with South Texan. When I didn't have kids I was happy to work all the holidays and overtime. Now, it isn't that I won't, it's that often I can't. My husband works holidays, which means I have to be home. I simply can't get daycare on holidays.

One school holiday was coming up and my coordinator was giving me a hard time because I told her that I had to take it off, after I was originally scheduled to work. The problem was that my in-laws backed out of watching the boys, I had no one else to take them, back-up daycare was full. What was I supposed to do, leave them home alone all day? I think the firm can survive one day without me. What if I had had to call in sick? I'd still be out, but there would have been no warning.

Frankly, I avoid my extended family and in-laws as much as possible, but my children do have needs that I can't always put aside for work.

Back on topic: Lace, that was beautiful! I wish I could have seen that woman's face.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Thanks. ^^ It was so priceless, even now I chuckle to imagine it. XD

[Retail Associate]

At my store it doesn't matter if your childless or have 13 kids. Everyone works Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas Eve. No exceptions. That way we're all miserable and don't pick at each other or whine to the manager if so-and-so got the day off.



.

[Nayeli_Sabia]

I think it's fair to say that everyone is busy during the holidays, which is why I think any time off work should be based on a first come, first serve basis. (emergencies excepted, of course)
That way everyone is on a fair playing field.

At my old work, they tried putting up a monthly calender, put it didn't work, these highschool brats would fill out every weekend the day it got put out(they filled it out for each other even) Only 3 names per day could call it off.

So they did a thing on the holidays where you had to request off a day and sign on for a day. first three where guaranteed the day off. after that, it was a maybe.

The calender, in the summer sucked. I'm sorry I don't make weekend plans a month ahead of time.