family room...

if you have never gone to winners with a child in a stroller/cart, you have probably never used the "family room". there is only one. and there are many moms in winners during the day. i've waited my fair share of time to use the family room.

today, i waited 30 minutes. i came, was told it was in use, so i wandered around. i returned, was told it was in use. i wandered some more. i came back again and it was still occupied by the same person. the woman knocked on the door just to double check and it was yes, in use. i had no more browsing to do so i thought i would just wait. so i waited and waited. i asked if i could just go into the normal dressing room. no. i continued to wait. finally, i had to go. it was naptime.

i walked away from the dressing room and then thought, you know what? i should be able to try on these things. so i went back and said, "i'm going to try these on in the regular rooms." and i just started walking in. there was a flurry of panic. i said, "i have 5 items. i'll be right back." i walked in, found a room which was big enough (no problem big enough) for my cart and myself and a woman chased after me to give me my number. she said, "the family room is open now." i said (in my choked up way that you know if you know me), "it's too late. a person shouldn't have to wait half an hour to try something on so i'm trying these on here." the woman said, "it's a fire hazard." "okay." "i'll call management." "great." i closed the door.

needless to say, nothing fit.

i came out and the manager was waiting for me. "how did it go?" she asks. "fine. i fit my cart in here without a problem." her - "yada, yada, yada fire hazard" me - "i get it. but a person shouldn't have to wait half an hour for a room." her - "yada, yada, fire hazard." me - "there needs to be more rooms for people with children." her - "i'll make a note of that." me - "okay." i handed off my items and left.

okay, it was a little too much confrontation for a trip to winners and i should have just waited my turn or at least just went to the family room when it happened to open up as i stormed the gates. in the moment, i felt like i should take a stand. now, at home with my computer, i feel like that was a ridiculous episode.

and i'm thinking i won't be back to winners for quite some time...