Family Forum / Parenting / Mothers / April 2005

It ended today.  Hurrah!  

Today's story:  Small child (3-4) in front of my table.  Reaching for
eggs; I told her that they were very fragile and she should not touch
them.  Her mom was maybe 3 feet away.

Few minutes later, small child picks up egg, fumbles it, drops it on
cement floor.  Egg does well in the free-fall but crashes on landing.

Mother chews out kid, apologizes, announces that it was an accident,
picks up pieces.  I calmly said that they cost $15.  Mother  astonished
-- "you don't expect me to pay for it?"  Said that I did, actually.  
Mother says it was an accident.  I tell her I understand that.  Mother
indignantly repeats that she won't pay for it, can't pay for it, and  
shouldn't have to because it was an accident.  I calmly said that I
cannot sell it broken.  She continues to say it was an accident and
therefore she should not be forced to pay for it and that *I should
expect that people will touch things.*

Well, I can't make her pay for it.  I (calmly, actually) said that I
understand that it can be a difficultplace with small kids and that I
hope she will keep an eye on small child during the rest of their visit
to the Festival.

Mother goes to where small child is (15 feet away) and child starts
screaming.  I have no idea what was said.

I lost $15 on that one. Now, here's the thing:  If the mother would
have accepted responsibility and would have immediately offered to pay
for the broken item, *I would not have accepted any money from her.*  
I regretted her attitude about "it's not my fault" and decided I
would not make it easy for her.

I was amazed at how calm and polite I was.  

My booth neighbor offered this when I told her about it (Booth neighbor
paints exquisite porcelain).  She said that when that happens to her
(it does), she asks the careless shopper to purchase something of the
same value as the broken item.  That way she gets a sale and the
breaker gets something for the money.  I like that idea.  She says that
occasionally people refuse to do it.  

"But it wasn't my fault."

The Festival was, as always, a good time.

IBePooped