Dear Lady at the Grocery Store -
The other day, as we were shopping, I wasn't expecting you to come up and verbally assault me...especially not in front of my kids. You see, we have been in that store and many others without a single problem, until you came along.
We were looking at oatmeal when you said to me that it is the law to wear masks in stores. Clearly my mask was on, and I have a problem putting masks on my kids. We had walked past numerous other people in the store as well as cashiers, but none of them mentioned putting masks on the kids. They never do. This wasn't our first time doing this.
As I walked past you and told you "thank you" for letting me know about their masks, you followed me. I then smiled at the manager who I've talked to many times in the past. You ran over to him, told him in broken Spanish to not let us break the law, and kept following me.
Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay
In the apple section, I looked at the manager who indicated that my older two children needed masks, but the other four did not. I got masks out for them and they put them on, but you still weren't happy. You then started yelling at me that we were getting all the local people sick. I got flustered trying to remain calm while you were yelling, bag apples, and deal with six kids.
I headed to the bread section, but you were on my tail. A random employee brought two masks over to the kids even though the "required" ones were masked up at that point. You yelled at the kids asking them why they were so special. I missed this, but, believe me, they heard you as they keep repeating it. I was trying to finish my shopping and was so flustered I ended up grabbing 5 loaves of bread. My only response to you was to mind your business since I was in there with my kids, but you didn't stop.
At that point, you started telling me I was a horrible person. When I didn't respond, you decided to yell at my kids that their mother is a horrible person. A horrible mother.
You then followed me as I went to the cashier, stood at the end of the aisle, and yelled at me to "go back to where I came from." Multiple times. I tried to ignore you as I tried to get the groceries paid for with shaking hands, keeping kids wrangled, and get out the door with six kids and three boxes of groceries.
Image by Alexander Droeger from Pixabay
Now when I mention going to the store, most of the kids bring you up and say they hope they won't see you...or that they don't want to go just in case you are there. You should be someone we are excited to see - a fellow expat living in a foreign country. We should have a sense of comradery, but we no longer do. Never have I been treated this way in Panama.
You see, the way you treated us was not ok. Telling kids their mom is a horrible person is not ok. I was not beating my children in public. They are actually very well cared for and loved. I am not a horrible person.
I have prayed for you. We all have. You were part of our homeschool lesson the other day. Loving our neighbor, praying for our enemies. May you find peace in your life. And if I see you again, I'm going to ask you if you know my best friend, Jesus. Perhaps He is what you need.
Sincerely,
A Panama Mama