I promised. So here’s the story of how my family was asked to leave Value Village last week. I won’t lie – it left a really bad taste in my mouth, and I was rattled for a couple of days over it, just because of how strange it felt. I tried to type it out the next day, but we got a new baby and that beat out the weird VV experience. Anyway. I’m here now.
July 2nd, while Wavys birthday, was actually an incredibly challenging, disjointed day. Lots of things didn’t quite go as planned. It wasn’t all bad things, per se, but just unpredictable and lots of need to pivot and redirect. It wasn’t fun, but we rolled with it.
We had a longer stretch of time in the city that was unexpected and welcomed. I have quite a list of things I have my eye out for an Value Village, but the trips in are always rushed. That day, we had time! Wavy was with Cher, and Dekker is at camp, so I took the six in. Rowan had a cart with Spoons, and Solly pushed a cart with LD and Peanut.
If you’ve been out with us in public, you know I am very aware of my kids. I know kids get into mischief, and while some people love to say “let them be kids” and not teach them what is and isn’t socially acceptable, that is not how we do over here. As we walked down aisles, I was reminding kids not to touch everything they saw, to stay to one side when people came around, and to stay close. We went through the kitchen section, which I can really drag out. I picked up some pottery, and an electric frying pan for making roll kuchen. Decor is in the same area. Left most of that behind…
*ironic foreshadowing*
We made our way over to books, which we scoured through until we had read every title in the youth/childrens chapter books. I think we picked up 10ish books. We moved into blankets and toys, where we scope for specific things every time we go, and then over to shoes, where a couple of the kids eagerly looked for sandals. Rowan is fairly opinionated with shoes, so Value Village is great because there is always a wide variety. We finally found a pair he really liked that fit well, and they weren’t even crazy expensive. So into the cart they went!
As we went along, multiple people stopped us to engage with and compliment the kids and how well behaved they were. And I felt really proud of them, because I totally agreed! I kept them focused, but had to correct them very little. It was going smoother than usual.
At that point, I decided there was enough time left for us to head over to the activewear section so I could finally try to grab a few tank tops for the summer. I’ve tried a handful of times to no avail, because as you know, moms come last. But we had time this time!! So I walked over there. We went down the centre aisle through the clothing section, all the while reminding kids to stay close, please.
So here’s where it happened.
As I ushered the kids and carts into the aisle with me, an employee was part of the train of kids. She said something about driving, and my assumption was that she was referencing the kids being helpful, because that really seemed to be the theme that day. But when she repeated herself, she was loud and condescending, and said children were not permitted to push cart. She loudly, slowly said “YOU NEED TO BE DRIVING, MOM.”
I was quite surprised. I said to her “This is a policy? I have never heard of such a thing here, or anywhere else.”
“Yes, thats our policy” she barked back.
“Well. I have three babies, and your carts can only sit one. Can a person with three babies just not shop here?”
“Maybe!” she responded.
I was completely shocked. I looked at my kids, whose eyes were welling up out of total confusion, and I looked back at her. I said to her again “I have never heard of such a policy. We’ve never had a problem.”
And she raised her voice and waved her hand at us, loudly demanding we “take it to the front then!”
Looking at the kids, I knew there was no way I could make a scene with them. So I looked at our cart, and looked at the kids, and said “Well. I guess we have to leave then.”
“Great!” the cranky lady said, and promptly walked away from us.
Now, let’s pause for a second here.
I recognize that all parents think their kids are perfect, even when they’re being jerks.
I recognize that lots of parents are inattentive these days, and that lots of kids do come in and destroy stores. They make huge messes sometimes.
I recognize that people don’t always celebrate when a mom and 6-8 children enter a store.
I recognize that when you see enough bad, you stop seeing the good, and assume everyone sucks.
The thing is – my kids were not being jerks. They were not making a mess. They were not whipping around the aisles, riding carts, or pulling things off shelves and hangers. They weren’t being loud or disruptive. They were honestly just doing so unbelievably well, and I was watching it, SO impressed.
And then this lady came and just knocked them right down.
So I walked out of Value Village with my kids, tears streaming down most of their faces. We got to the van and everyone burst out crying. They were so upset. They couldn’t understand why this woman had been so mean and so mad at us. They were so obedient and somehow, still got punished.
They had their cry, and then I said it was time to call the manager. The kids were quiet instantly and waited eagerly. The store did not want to put me through to a manager, but they did it anyway. I spoke confidently and explained what had happened, and the managed was aghast. She was outwardly upset, and SO apologetic. She wanted to know what the employee looked like and what we remembered about her. I told her the section we had been in, and that it was literally within the last five minutes. I asked her directly if there was ANY policy about children pushing carts, and she said absolutely NOT. Not. At. All. She said never has anything resembling this issue come up, and it would not again. She promised me she was going to figure out who they were as soon as we were off the phone. She apologized again, and we hung up.
But then the kids remembered the stuff. Rowan wanted those sandals. And we had picked out awesome books. It was such a good haul to leave behind.
So I locked the van up with the AC on, and I went in. Our cart wasn’t cleaned up yet, so I grabbed it and zipped it through self check out. I didn’t look around. I just paid, packed, and left.
I got back in the van and the kids thanked me for going back for their things. We sat quiet for a minute, and I said I figured we should get lunch. Rowan sniffled from his spot and said “I’m feelin’ fries and shakes.” So thats what we did. McFlurry for me.
It was a VERY odd experience. I felt upset about this woman coming at us for literally no reason at all. But more than that, I felt SO protective of my children, and watching their confusion and hurt was devastating. Even once it was all resolved, Laela cried, and asked why this woman would say these things and want us to leave. She felt insulted, and it was so hard to watch.
Anyway. I hated it. I haven’t gone back. But its only been a week. I’m sure I’ll go back at some point. But it really rattled me, and its taken a little bit of time to come back from. I don’t think it will ever happen again, but I don’t desire to see that lady ever again either 😬 Was not our best day.
Luckily, its long gone already. But! Now you know!