Maybe the moral is wear a shirt with some kind of evil saying splashed across it so no one would dare bother you!

I HATE those kiosk guys. I always feel like such a jerk, but I just completely ignore them.

This was supposed to prove your bad-mom-ness? Because all I see is a sad commentary on the state of our economy and a mother who is willing to drop everything to get her daughter what she needs (whether it be medical or retail therapy)

The moral of the story is that going shopping actually contributes to mental health crises in the end.

I can't stand it when salespeople even look at me, much less talk to me. I guess I'm kind of a loner that way...I prefer to do my own shopping. Alone. With no help. Thanks.

Who says stories need morals? Crimeny. That was just good readin'. And I'm at a loss as to how it proved you were a bad mother.

How does this prove you're a bad mother?! You're an EXCELLENT, attentive, loving mother!

Although, I would have slowed for a sexy accent too!

Thanks you guys but ten years from now when she's a whale in a band muumuu, we'll know who to blame. :)

Hey that is how MY mom solved all of my problems!!! That's great! LOL... I also follow through with that tradition!

And I always say no to the sales guys too... even if they are super cute! Sigh!

Clearly, the moral of the story is to never have a shortage of shirts/signs on hand that read "I'M FINE!" or "YOU'VE REACHED YOUR QUESTION QUOTA!". Ideally, they'd have an onslaught of well-placed punctuation marks in between (i.e. "I'M FINE, $#@!!!" since sarcasm takes more than three words in most cases.

:-)

I love stories that kind of end with a question mark. It's kind of like a choose-your-own-adventure book!

I like some of the ideas of what the moral to this story is too :)

Ugh drives me crazy those people who hunt you down to get your attention. Did you two have a good time together though eatin Sabarro? Mmm sounds tasty :)

I'm terrified of the kiosk people. The ONE time I actually expressed an interest in what they were selling, I walked away with 3 handcare kits (because if you buy 2 you get the 3rd for free - what a steal!)

~snigger~

I'm totally at a loss to see how this makes you a bad mom. I'm going for the very obvious thing that retail therapy may be cheaper the mental therapy and that I'm going to use it on myself when I'm blue next.

If I had retail therapy when I was younger, I wouldn't be in the mess I'm in now! Throw in Sbarros and I would have a permanent smile on my face! True story. You rock Heidi!

I hope your daughter feels better.

I know how you feel about the sales people. I only want them to talk to me when I want help. :)

Hee hee.
My trick? I dress so frumpily and look like a person who never buys anything. They don't even bother. Maybe I also twist my face up a little bit like I'm ready to lash out at the next unsuspecting kiosk.

I just don't ever make eye contact... also, I can look like a real bag a lot of the time so people tend to leave me alone hee hee hee!

You guys are so funny! Honestly, if there were more people there, I doubt they would have even noticed us. It was the fact that we were so exposed that we were on everyone's hit list. And hopefully you're right (for those of you who think retail therapy is a good idea) that it's cheaper than real therapy (though she's getting that, too, now). I figure no matter how good of a parent you are, at least one of your kids is going to end up in therapy from some honest mistake you made. sigh . . .There are worse things to be addicted to than Italian food and band t-shirts, huh?

I think retail therapy is the best. And I dont' think it makes you a bad mom.

I have so much to look forward to when my two girls become teenagers, right? Can't wait.

Hey, nobody ever smiles at me or asks how I'm doing when I'm at the mall. It must be the hair. Or maybe I'm shopping at the wrong mall.

P.S. I agree with everyone else. You are a great mother! Especially for having a 14 year-old that looks 17.

I bought a $39 bottle of cleaning stuff from the fast-talking Advantage guy the other day (literally fast-talking -- he kept saying "I'm not going to take up a lot of your time because I know how it is for busy moms -- and then went right on talking and taking up my time.) Don't tell my husband. I'm usually a much harder sell, but the guy said it will clean the hard water off my windows. (I'm sure my husband would have said to use vinegar, and I'm sure he'd have been right.)

On the other hand, I've never once stopped to listen to a kiosk salesperson. Who does stop? Or is their time at work an uninterrupted onslaught of rejection? (Shiver.)

I remember one of my missionary companions saying she was having such a hard time adjusting to temple garments, because in the past whenever she was down in the dumps, she would go out and buy sexy panties. At least pasta and t-shirts are forever...

Now, why would you think you would have been unnoticed if the crowds had been bigger?

A little consumer therapy really does do the trick sometimes, huh?

Actually I'm pretty sure this is more like proof that you are a good mom.

And if I had heard him the 2nd time, I fear eyes would have been scratched out. . .

What's up with Baldwins and ziti?

Time to branch out. Haven't you ever heard of barbina or fagottini? Fagioloni? Tempestina?

Reed--bwaaahhhaaahaaaaaa! Okay, wait, maybe those ARE real pastas. I do seem to recall you spent many long days standing in front of boxes and boxes of BOXES of obscure pastas . ...

I'm kind of starving right now, and the second I read Sbarro's in this post I really didn't get much of anything else.

Oh they be real alright.

Reed--I guess then, the answer to your question about Baldwin's and ziti would be this--Sbarro's only serves ziti, lasagne and spaghetti. Barbaloot--you're so funny! Thanks for all the comments you guys. I am off to take care of my family now. (meh)

Why do all the kiosk guys have accents? I think it's supposed to make us swoon and stop in our tracks.

You! Are an excellent mom.

I think this should have been a Friday NPSA posting. Not that is shows any sort of neglectful parenting skills because you were helping take care of the wee one and her issues. Just is a funny parenting posting, and we all know I am all about the funny parenting posts.

I was attacked my the kiosk guy once....well he grabbed my hand and started massaging it....it felt pretty good, but the twins started to run away and the hubby left me and I had to walk away.....

Retail therapy and yumtherapy are the best. Tell SWSRN that muumuus are very flattering and comfy too. Add a band logo and they're stylin' as well.

I just caught up on your blog. I'm sorry it's been so rough for you lately. For what it's worth, I think you are a fabulous mother and writer, and friend. I appreciate all the help, advice, and support you've given me. This blogging world can be quite stressful at times, we need all the love and support we can get. :) You're doing a great job!