"I had him because I could!"

We have a couple who have been loan customers with us for several years. They are very ODD. I imagine she is with him because he's the only man who would have sex with her; he is probably with her because without her, his bills would not get paid and he'd just be another loser outrunning the creditors. Let's call them KC.

KC had a baby awhile back; he sure was cute. Then he started to walk, and they pretty much decided that it was ok to just let him go in our store while they ignored him. Now, our store is not kid friendly; it's that way for a reason. We don't sell anything for kids, the business is for adults, so there is no reason for kids to be set loose. We have tools, saw blades, sharp things like machetes, breakable items, etc. It is not a store where you turn your kids loose, like I see people do at family-centric retail stores. I am not a babysitter, you are responsible for the babies you birthed, so just watch them for chrissakes. That's all we ask!

Well, not KC. MomKC gets VERY UPSET if you tell her, or her husband, to watch their kid. She gets very unhappy when you have to physically retrieve her child FOR HER because she and her husband either cannot or will not hear you telling them to go get their kid, he has something sharp, don't climb the glass shelves, etc. It's like they are willfully ignorant you are all but screaming "GO GET YOUR KID!"

A few months ago KC couple come in and their kid is into everything, while they are ignoring him. He's two now. You don't turn your back on a two year old, ANYWHERE! But they apparently don't get it. Several times I've had to tell mom, and dad too, hey he's got this, he is climbing on that, go get him, etc. Every time, mom gives me this look like she's wanting to smack me. Hey fine, but get your kid first. I'm in the middle of trying to get a transaction done for her husband (who is off looking at movies while she is at the counter and the kid is running EVERYWHERE)....and I hear this shrieking wail. Her brat is behind our knife counter, clear back in the corner...how did he get that far back into a restricted area if a parent is watching?? Well, my very kid-friendly dog is within a few feet of him, the kid is stark terrified and screaming his head off. I've many times told his mom to keep him out from behind our counter because we do have a dog that hates kids and will bite if they come back there. I'm telling the kid to come out of there, he's standing and shrieking, so I picked him up and took him out to mom. She says angrily, "He's AFRAID OF DOGS!!!" I told her, well then watch him because he should not have been back behind my counter! She looks like she's about to start cussing.

Next time in, we have the kid literally running everywhere and touching everything again. Again, I have to say something to mom and dad, several times. They act like I'm some really mean harassing person and it's annoying the piss out of them that I keep pointing out to them that they have a child. I see the kid messing with our incense display (glass shelves); he's knocking fragile ceramics over left and right. I'm hollering "Don't touch that sweetie, put it down" and he looks RIGHT AT ME and keeps knocking stuff over. Mom is looking at me like I'm yelling "HI YA YA" , dad is ignoring all of this. ONE of us needs to do something, guess it's me, so I walk around and physically remove him from where he is standing. Next thing I know he's SCREAMING and climbing up me like I'm a tree. Mom finally snaps out of her fog and comes over; "He's scared of the dog!" My dog (who loves kids) had followed me out onto the floor when I ran out from behind the counter. The kid is clinging to me, yeah that's sweet but sheesh kid if you had been by your mom we would not be in this situation. (He really is a cute kid, but they are not doing him any favors here.) Mom snatches him back, and they leave after that.

Today, here they come again. Mom goes to the counter and turns her back on dad and kid; kid runs to the tool aisle and grabs a huge ratchet handle and starts swinging it around. Yes, there are glass displays right by there, we have other customers, other items that can be broken. Not to mention the parents would probably scream 'sue' if their precious little tyke hurt himself while they were willfully careless. Dad is nowhere to be found; he just can't be bothered, ever. I did the usual "Put that down sweetie, come over here by mom". Kid ignores me, swings harder, mom just stands there doing nothing. Dad is clueless. Finally I directly told the dad to go get his kid; he stands by him and watches him swinging the tool. I needed dad to sign something, so I called out for dad to come sign. He turns his back on the kid and starts to walk away from him! (WTH??) So I said, "Bring him with you when you sign this!" and only then does it occur to him to notice that he has a kid somewhere. I'm needing a drink by this point. (And I don't drink). Mom says, "It was so much easier when he was in a car seat!" YA THINK???? I'd like to strap his ass into one NOW!

Just seeing them coming into the store, I can feel my blood pressure spiking. Would it be rude to hand them a roll of duct tape as they enter? And why is it, the less likely someone is to raise a child properly, the more fertile they are????