PicsOfKids/4kids2Today, I took the children to get their picture taken. I had a coupon for a free sitting and free 8×10.

Everything was fine until we got into the studio room. It was small, and the kids were afraid it was a doctor’s office.

They cried and cried. Finally, Troy (photographer) and I grabbed kids and just placed them where the needed to be. He had picked up Tab, and it made her especially upset (who can blame her?).

Anyway, I told them when we were done that they could go to the playground in the mall and go down the slide. “Picture yourself going down the big big slide really fast!” That cheered them up.

When he asked if I wanted to try a different pose, I said “NO! We’re done!” (More like,” are you insane?!”)

After playing on the playground and having lunch, we went back to get our pictures. It’s Easter week, and the place was packed. Lots of moms smoothing down stubborn hairs on the heads of upset children. “I hate this dress!”

We checked in and waited for about 20 minutes in the front of the store, and then went toward the back and sat down and waited for about 10 minutes more. My kids were getting antsy, by not crying.

Then, one of the guys there brought out our pictures.

A woman at the table next to us started yelling at him. “I was here first! Before that woman!” (I was that woman.) (This wasn’t true – she just couldn’t see us waiting in the front. I had actually seen her come in.) I looked at his name tag – Corey – and said, “Corey, we’re cool here. My kids and I can wait. She looks like she’s ready to lose it… go ahead and take care of her.”

She stomped away with him, and then came back to get her things a few moments later.

Her little girl had left her sippy cup on a chair. Tabitha picked up the cup to hand it to the lady.

The lady bent over and said, “That belongs to my little girl!” and yanked it out of Tab’s hand.

Tab’s lip started to quiver.

Loudly I said, “C’mon Tab.. I know you were just trying to help. Let’s stay away from the angry lady, ok? She’s mean!”

I would have paid to snap a picture of the look the lady gave me.

When I went up to the counter to get my pictures, Corey said, “I have never had a customer as nice as you”. He threw in another 8×10 print for free (that’s why there are two different shots) and two more free coupons.

Not too shabby.

As I was thinking about it, it’s usually the irate people that get free stuff.

Complain about the dinner, and it’s on the house.
Complain about the wait, and you get bumped up.

Why do people who are angry get rewarded?

Doesn’t make sense. It encourages the atrocious behavior the establishments resent. Do they like giving away free product or something?

Wouldn’t it be better if angry people were just asked to leave?

The customer isn’t always right.

Sometimes, they’re angry mean, ladies who make little children cry. They don’t need freebies, they need a spanking… and maybe even a nap, too.