Was I out of Line?

Question

I was in the Dollar Store with a friend and I overheard a rather loud talking woman complaining to the cashier." I am sick and tired of those God d@^^N Grandkids needing all of these school supplies all of the time! Those God d@^^n kids always need something. God D@^^n them!" I went up to the cashier and offered to pay. I looked at this woman and I told her that My grandson had been kept away from me for nearly 5 years and I would have given anything to have be able to see him and buy him school supplies! I told her that it was grandmothers like her that make it hard on the good ones! She threw the money back at me and she paid cashier. I went back to the part of the store I had been shopping in .But after she stomped out ( still cussing her grandchildren)several people in the store thanked me. My friend said I was out of line. I am hoping that I gave that Grandma something to think about.Do you think I was out of line?

No Gwendolen I did not deserve to have my Grandson kept away from me. My ex-Daughter-in-Law was just being spiteful. I was a good Mother-in-Law and she knew it. It took her 4 & 1/2 years to bring him around and to say "I'm sorry" We don't all deserve to have our grandkids kept from us.

Answer 1

No, I don't think you were out of line. I'd say that was what is called 'righteous indignation' and that woman needed to be made to think about her attitude. And you can be sure she will think about it. If she feels free to say those things to a complete stranger about her grandkids, I hate to think of the way she talks to them and treats them at home. Perhaps you could have left off your last comment to her, but God understands your heart and your anger at her. Ask Him to use that confrontation to help those grandchildren of hers, and to let her see past your anger and understand the point you were making.
And ignore the comments on here about your own situation with your grandson. They speak in ignorance of something they know nothing about.

Answer 2

No, I dont think you were out of line. You spoke out of personal conviction. When you feel compelled to speak, don't hold back truth. The truth is you did not volunteer any info. She made it a store meeting, when she decided to blast her grandchildren in public. You were a grandmother who felt just as passionate about having the opportunity to love and provide your grandchildren, as she had the right to rant. This goes to the old saying, you do better when you know better. Perhaps, you provided her an alternate view on what her current thought pattern was. You never know the difference you can make in a person's life just by the words that you speak.

Without Struggle, There is no Progress.

Answer 3

You go girl. You weren't out of line.

I had the same experience when a mom who was complaining how her 5 yr old was a momma's girl, how she was glingy, how it's been hard to work since she's been born on and on right in front of her daughter! I took her aside and quietly said, "My daughter has a life long disability and can barely talk at the age of 5, we don't know who will care for her when we are dead, you on the other hand have a healthy beautiful child who you are hurting with your words! Now it's time to thank God every single day and tell your daughter you love her each and every day, shame on you women!"
I was shaking I was so mad, She was red faced and thought I was a nut.
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Answer 4

I think the point needed to be made, but the way that you did it led to anger. With any luck she did think about it and hopefully gained some meaning from it.

On the other hand she may have just ranting about the school supplies while she was really annoyed about something completely different, in which case you didn't do her any good at all.

In either case, I'm sure the cashier was grateful, so my opinion is that you were not out of line.

Answer 5

You did the noble thing, I am sure the cashier would have loved to have said something to her, but her job kept her from it, she probably loved that you reacted in a nice manner but made your point at the same time. Next time ask management to escort her out the door. Anytime someone, a customer uses foul language, management can have them removed from the store. It is offensive to everyone around and considered at that point to be a public nuisance. I am sure you're friend was just embarrassed but she will get over it, I know you feel better. You did good.

Answer 6

I suppose it could have been handled a bit more diplomatically but of course you were right to remind her of the privilege of having grandkids. If you had conversed with her a bit you may have realized that she truly loved her grandkids and was simply frustrated about the never ending cycle of them needing school supplies. Her grandkids may be accustomed to this and know that even though she complains she will provide what they need.

Answer 7

Yes and no. I wouldn't have intruded on a complete stranger like that, but it was a nice gesture. However, if I was that woman I probably would've been offended, seeing as I would be shopping at the dollar store for school supplies and not somewhere else. Also, it's not a grandmother's responsibility to pay for that stuff. It should've been the mother's.

Answer 8

No and I applaud you!! Not that it has anything to do with religion but to me this type of action that you displayed is how I think of Spirituality. I believe in the goodness of each one of us and it saddens me when I meet some like the one you were talking about. To me spirituality has to do with doing the right thing and you did just that. Not God, not Satan, just us on this Earth doing the right thing for the right reasons. This probably does not make sense and I am sure I will get thumbs down votes but I still Give you a standing ovation

Answer 9

Well, your friend may have been woried about your safety. It takes guts to confront someone like that, speaking up like that may get you more trouble then you bargain for. But if the woman was so vocal about her situation she obviously had no expectation that people wouldn't hear her or judge her.
However, reminding people, including the rest of the people witnessing this confrontation, about what family is all about can be a good thing.

Answer 10

I'm kind of curious as to why Grandma was paying for the kid's school supplies to begin with. Thus I'd suggest that her being ungrateful for getting to pay for the kids items is based on something else; perhaps the relationship with her son or daughter?

That said, I think you were right to call out Grandma for blaming the children for what she felt put upon to do. It is not the grandchildren's fault that they require school supplies; and it shouldn't be Grandma's responsibility. She shouldn't have been cursing the children, though.

I do on the other hand, feel that you were wrong to offer to pay for the school supplies. So, whereas you were right to say something, you overstepped the line by offering to pay. I have to agree with your friend on that.