It’s recently been brought to my attention that perhaps I should say less in public. You see, I will talk to anyone. Stranger or not.
I think I missed school the day the whole stranger/danger thing was being reviewed. Not only do I not mind talking to complete strangers as if I’ve known them forever, but there’s something about me that makes people think it’s OK to talk to me like this too. I can count on at least one random stranger encounter a week. My boys always find these exchanges between myself and these people we will never see again entertaining.
I don’t know if the boys are entertained by my uncanny ability to get people to talk to me, or if they’re amazed that people want to talk to me. Either way, they’re entertained.
But, one thing is for sure. I should think twice about telling people I smoke crack.
Let me elaborate.
Dramatic expressions are fun. For me, anyway.
My boys are obsessed with Skylanders. Whoever came up with that marketing scheme is a genius! These stupid little monsters are never in stock, and when they do make their way to the shelf, they’re gone in a flash! Naturally, every kid wants what they can’t have, so my boys are constantly watching to see which one comes out next, and they want then B.A.D.
After a rare find the other night the clerk and I got to talking during my check out.
Me: “My kids are crazy about these things.”
Clerk: Yeah, they sell fast.
Me: “I know! They’re like crack!”
As he stood behind the register agape, I thought for a moment that maybe that expression is inappropriate. Maybe.
I mean, maybe he smokes crack and he can’t believe I’m on to him? Maybe he has had the mistfotune of dealing with drug abuse within his family and he was offended. Or maybe it’s none of the above and he simply cannot believe I just said that.
Does it really matter why he was shocked? Not really.
Me: “Well, I wouldn’t actual know what crack is like, I’m just sayin’.”
Clerk:
In this brief moment of awkward silence I thought about all of the things I could say to make this go away. But, then I realized I should probably just quit while I was ahead, pay, and leave. And smile, of course.
Me: “Thanks for your help finding these. Have a good night.”
As I tucked my receipt in my wallet and started walking away, I got to thinking. Maybe I just found the one thing strangers don’t want to talk to me about?
Are you ever perplexed why strangers don’t want to talk to you about smoking crack?
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I can’t ever talk to strangers so if someone said ‘smoking crack’ to me, I’d probably look at them strangely too
I don’t have a problem talking about poop and the like online with people I’ve never met though, ahem.
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..The Second Time
I am also a “stranger talker” – but instead of my kids being entertained, they are mortified. I, of course, think I am hilarious and laugh hysterically at my own jokes that I am bouncing off my new “stranger/friend”. I am never sure what they think, but I hope they go home and smile when they think about how some weird lady was completely inappropriate. That would make my day! Missi
Missi at Havoc-to-Heaven recently posted..Planted My Pots!
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Haha! Missi, we will get along just fine! And yes, my kids are also often mortified!
I tried to teach Josiah the concept of stranger danger (without freaking him out) when he was a toddler. But the child is a born people person! So one day, while I was busy unloading the grocery cart, I overheard him chatting up the guy behind us, “Hi! Are you a stranger? … Mommy … is he a stranger? … I’m not supposed to talk to strangers!”
Beth Zimmerman recently posted..Tweaking
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Oh, the years of trying to balance not talking to strangers/talking to strangers. It’s so confusing!
We should just plan a secret meet-up, but not really. But kind of really….just so we can get our stranger chats out of the way. Because I am TOTALLY the same way and my kids don’t understand it. Just yesterday…”Mommy, do you know her?” “Well, no.” “Then why are you talking to her?” …
Needless to say, I completely relate. Although I tend to keep my drug usage personal. =)
jessiebee recently posted..Poop and Pajamas
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Haha! Yeah. My kids are always like, “Why are you talking to her?” Hee hee!
Twitter: AccidentalDesig
says:
I talk to strangers, too. I don’t like when unknown adults address themselves to my children and not to me, and I will check them.
I have had those experiences, as well, where the person I am talking to seems taken aback, as though I have said something completely over the line, when I am pretty sure I’m okay.
Maggie S. recently posted..Normal: An Accidental Guide for Prince Harry
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Well, I’m pretty sure in most cases their shock and dismay is right on. I’m notoriously saying inappropriate things.
Haha, that’s hilarious! I’ve said things too, to strangers that looked as though it offended them. People always want to come up and talk to me in stores…they always ask my opinion on which top the should purchase. It makes me nervous…because honestly, don’t buy either one.
Samantha recently posted..Nanner Puddin’, Pretend Picnics and Unexpected Accomplishments
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Haha! Tell them that. That’s what they want. Honesty.
You are not alone on this one. I often refer to baby einstein as crack because Will was totally addicted to it and now eli cannot take his eyes off the screen. And I have never used crack…guess we should be saying addiction instea?
Jenny recently posted..The 23rd . . .
Twitter: themommymess
says:
These comments are cracking me up! I had no idea I was surrounded by such good company!
Glad I’m not the only one. Baby Einstein freaks me out!
My favorite part of this is how you just kept talking to the guy…like eventually something would come out of your mouth that would make him go, “YEAH! RIGHT!!”
But that never happens to me, either.
And I am not even smoking crack.
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Oh, yes. I will just keep talking in an attempt to make it all better, but it never does.
I would have laughed my rear off if you had said that to me because I use that expression all the time. I think I even recently said on my blog that Black Cherry Propel was my own crack/cocaine.
I think I have a neon sign on my head that says, “Talk to me whether I want you to or not.” Glad I have company in this club.
AnnMarie recently posted..More Thoughts on 50 Shades of Grey
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Haha! I’m so glad I’m not the only one, AnnMarie!!