Mum shamed for 'disgraceful' supermarket act with toddler

"I don't think it's your job to be giving your opinion. My child is really unwell," the distraught mum fired back.

Nama Winston

3 min read

June 18, 2024 - 3:47PM

Parenting

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A mum has revealed how she was left in tears at the supermarket checkout after being 'shamed' by a member of staff.

TikToker Samantha said she has never felt "so judged" after she finished her grocery shop.

The mum explained she had gone shopping with her little boy Jack, who hadn't been feeling well - and thus barely eaten - the week prior.

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"I've never felt so judged"

So when Samantha's son Jack picked up a pouch of baby food and a yoghurt from the trolley, she opened it for him and let him enjoy.

But when she approached the checkout, the mum discovered that the cashier was not amused.

Samantha explained in a clip to TikTok: "I've never felt in one moment, so judged by somebody. And I'll be honest, I snapped, and I very rarely snap back at anybody.

"So basically, we went to Tesco to get a few bits. Jack's not been very well. He's not eating for basically a week, pretty much properly.

“And on the way round the food shop, I bring snacks with us. He wasn't interested in any of the snacks that I bought. He took a shine to one of these baby pouches that I put in the trolley."

He hadn't finished by the time it came to pay, so Samantha handed the items directly to the cashier. But the member of staff was 'disgusted' and threw them straight in the bin.

“They weren't actually finished. I hadn't passed them to her to have them put in the bin. I passed them to her to try and be polite so they could be scanned," Samantha continued.

After explaining this to the staff member, Samantha says she started tutting and huffing about the situation.

"I haven't meant to upset you or put you out. I just passed them to you because I wanted to make sure you could scan them, and I just wanted to let you know that we'd had them on the way around so that you understood,'" Samantha told her.

Source:: TikTok/@samanthamary1989

But the mum was left gutted when the cashier explained she didn't think it was 'right' to let kids eat from the food shop on their way around.

Samantha explained that the member of staff had "pushed her mum button" and she ended up bursting into tears, telling her: " 'I don't really think it is your job to be giving your opinion on what you think. My child is really unwell'."

The mum explained that once the cashier saw that she was so upset, she gave a 'half apology' explaining that she was sorry her little boy was unwell and that she had been there herself.

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"Not an all you can eat buffet"

After sharing her experience on TikTok, viewers were divided.

Some sympathised with Samantha, with one writing: "I always let my son eat on the way round! Crisps, sandwich, yogurt, drinks! Couldn’t care less, he’s happy!"

And another said: "From a former employee, we're literally told to be kind in these situations. As long as she's honest and pays for it, it shouldn't be a big deal."

Others were more understanding of the cashier, with many feeling that she wasn't in the wrong at all - and that what Samantha allowed was "disgraceful".

One said: "You are absolutely in the wrong. It isn't an all you can eat buffet."

And another agreed, writing: "I agree with the cashier. Especially if you're not carrying cash... if your card declines and you can't pay it's definitely theft. Pay then eat."

This article was originally published in January 2024 and was updated in June 2024.