Preschool lessons originally published November 28, 2008, on DC Metro Moms.
I admit it: I went out this morning for Black Friday. I only went to one store to get just one item. One of the big box stores had a great deal on a gadget I’ve been eyeing, so I left The Husband and kids snoozing peacefully in their beds earlier than should be legal. I got to the store at 4:45 AM, plenty of time to make it for their 5 AM opening. So I thought.
I was shocked by the numbers of people who were lined up outside the store. I mean, I didn’t expect to be able to saunter up to the door easily. But the crowd! The line stretched across the fronts of three other stores in the strip mall where it is located. Thankfully, people were behaving properly and not cutting the line. Maybe it was because it was too cold for anyone to become that squirrely. Maybe it was because of the turkey-induced stupor that we were still under. Maybe it was because of the three news vans and heavy police presence outside the store.
Once the doors opened and the immense crowd began moving into the store, the story changed a bit. There was a lot of shoving and pushing as anxious shoppers tried to reach the departments that had their desired merchandise. I made it to the electronics department to be met with a crush of people trying to find the correct queues for their items. I eventually flagged down an associate and asked if I was in the correct line. He went up to the front of the line to check, and returned to say that I was indeed in the right place. He then mentioned that he didn’t know if I’d be able to get the item since there were many people cutting the line near the register. The associate said that he tried to stop them, but they’d forged ahead anyway.
I was incensed. Here I was, following the correct protocol and yet others were taking advantage of littler people at the front of the line. I observed two men got into a heated exchange over who was there first. Exasperated, one of the men finally asked, “Is it really worth $50 for you to butt in line? I mean, look at all these other people. Is $50 worth it for you to bully them all?”
Apparently it was, since that guy remained where he was and got his merchandise before us all. Soon the associates who had been corralling the crowds outside moved indoors and stationed themselves around the electronics department. Line cutting stopped. I was able to get my gadget after many many (many!) minutes of waiting.
Get in line. Wait your turn. Be courteous and kind. Isn’t this what my kids are currently learning in preschool?
This is an original post to DC Metro Moms Blog….
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Note: This post is re-posted here with permission from Silicon Valley Moms Group upon the announcement of their dissolution.
