If you're not familiar with part one you may want to skip back a few posts and brush up, that or skip today's post as it may be confusing otherwise.
I believe we left off with crazy lady yelling at me in the hall, she was yelling about the charter of rights and freedoms like it made sense to her and then I can only really describe it as she pretty much spat at me "your son is going to be a xxxxxx." As a note I may delete this post in a while for fear he ever read it, I can't even type it again. I'd be terribly upset as he is a dear little boy.
She says these terrible words and I gasp and stagger back about a mile. The woman who works at the gym is up the stairs and says "ladies this is inappropriate can we take this in the office" and I realize how inappropriate this really is. There are people and kids all around and I'm instantly more upset to even be a part of this. I said "Oh my gosh I am so sorry this is SO inappropriate, I can't be a part of it". and I leave. I didn't say in a nice calm way though, it just comes out that way in print. I also would like to note that I don't think I am not inappropriate, nor do I feel any blame whatsoever but as long as I was standing there participating she was going to get more and more worked up. I couldn't be a part of it anymore, this is where I bring my children, this is also my place of work, this
As I dashed away I could hear her screaming, just losing it screaming "What about my rights?! What about my rights?!" As if it made sense and someone was hurting her versus her screaming profanity and saying obscene things about small children. In hindsight we should have called the police.
From here on out the story is fairly anti drama. The man from the desk who blew me off in the beginning sought me out at swimming lessons and apologized so profusely, he hadn't understood the severity of what I was saying and honest to goodness was so genuine in his distress that I forgave him instantly. Who was to know THAT was happening. I almost had to ask him to stop appologizing and go back to work. A genuine sweet man.
The gym staff came and found me and we had a little meeting, three of us, in which they explained the limitations of what they could personally do, that they would document all and submit it and could I please follow up with the higher ups. I understand this was not her first incident but their hands were tied. I could tell that crazy lady had made the woman cry too. Just so much hatred in one little body.
I told husband who much the same as many of you thought this was going to be a funny story but flipped his lid a bit by the end and emailed his boss so fast that it shot up the chain and down the chain by the next work day. For those of you who don't work with us that's sometimes how it goes, up one side to the top adn then down teh other side to the bottom. I believe you will be familiar with the expression "shit rolls down hill" not classy but true and terrible. No one like to be on the downward slide.
I did received a call and an email from the gym management with apologies and promises to follow up. I have since heard that her membership was revoked but they never made contact again. I'm fairly disappointed.
I also contacted the military police. It turns out the gym staff had contacted them and made a report. It took me 4 days of leaving messages and asking to be phoned to speak to someone and another few days to discuss the incident in detail. I have never spoken to the officer investigating the issue. I was briefed that there was nothing illegal that occurred but I can't understand how there is nothing illegal about saying such terrible terrible things about children, it all seemed so wrong. An officer explained that behaving poorly isn't a crime and they couldn't very well go and see her and ask her to behave better. Perhaps that's the crummy truth of it but being that aggressive and threatening in a place where we bring so many of our children is just sad to me. She was apparently banned from the premises, and would be charged with trespassing if she came back, I'm not positive of this as I didn't hear it directly but when I went for the race last week she was there. I didn't see her but I was told she was there, so she can't be too worried about it.
And that's my disappointing little story. There are so many parts of it that made me sad beyond the crazy lady. My wish for all is that we step up when needed. Get involved when it's not your thing. Lend a hand. DON'T get yourself in trouble but go the extra mile and be a friend or be good stranger. I'm chalking this up to important life lessons and slaps in the face, also will be putting this in the how to be a better human manual.
Have a wonderful day, be peaceful and spread some joy for me.
love K
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 9:01PM 