Nicole and I went to the mall tonight. Of course it was crowded, but we were ok with that. Heck, we expected it to be crowded now that we are less than a week out from Christmas. So, it is not the crowds that bother me. It is not even the shopping itself. I don't really mind it at all. Those pesky salesmen who stand out in the walking area and try to stop you and talk you into buying a ugly picture that is suppose to look like Dick Clark are pretty annoying; but even this is not what bothers me the most. It is not rude store employees or the messy food court.
The number one thing that I hate the most about going to the mall is not something you would think. I may even upset some people who depend on the very thing that drives me crazy. This all started way back in April, right after Nicole and I got married and went to Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. Maybe it was the fact of being married that I was looking at life differently, or maybe I just got scared, I'm not sure. What I do know is that every since then I have had a huge problem with this one certain thing and it plagues me each time I go to the mall. Now with it being this close to Christmas, the problem is multiplied 10 fold.
So what is it already?
That's right, it is the strollers.
These things are out of control. Every where I went tonight, a stroller was in my way. We were walking down the middle of the mall and a baby makes a noise and every stroller in the place stops right where it is so the concerned parent can make sure things are ok. I had 4 different people think they should make sure junior was strapped in or something and stop right in front if me, in the middle of the mall. No one pushed the mammoth cart to the side. Not only that, but why do people decide to loiter in front of a store with the stroller on both entering and leaving the store. I guess the name "stroller" lends people to think if they are pushing one of these things they don't have to be in any hurry. We had 3 ladies strolling side by side, taking up the whole walking area. Anyone wanting to walk at a normal speed had to work their way around them.
Now only are they always in the way, but these things have coffee holders. I was held up once tonight because the stroller in front of me decide they needed at drink of coffee and I guess the brake next to the cup holder must automatically engage when the coffee is out of the holder because I have never seen anyone drink and walk at the same time. It is always, exit the store, stop and check on junior, get a drink, look both ways for the biggest group of people to get in front of, and then the stroller and the stroller are off to stroll. Now, it does not just stop at cup holders, there are shopping bags hanging from them, and usually inside them. Where is the poor kid? I hardly ever see a kid actually inside the stroller. There are racks on the bottom for more things, hangers and pockets on the back and all of theses spaces are always completely full. These people are not going on vacation, it is just a trip to the mall! How many hours does it take them to get all of this packed? Anyway, when all of this is added on, a stroller that is already too big becomes a monster determined to ruin the day of all of the non-strollers.
Dumb thing to get annoyed about? You bet. Does is still drive me crazy? Every time.
i'd just like to say that strollers are like seatbelts and the mall is like a busy highway. If this is the case, then Kylee is a speed deamon whose license should be revoked. If she could she'd line up her stroller at one end of the mall and race the other toddlers there. There's one thing you have to watch out for about owning a stroller - the little red button on the handle. DON'T PUSH IT WITH YOUR KID IN THE STROLLER!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will put it into collapse mode. Strollers are actually life savers when it comes to shopping. I don't know how many times I've stood in the middle of a department store spinning it around in a circle. it is also fun to push as fast as you can while weaving in and out of clothes racks - you were probably referring to people like me in your article. But its not the people like me who give strollers a bad name - it's those who use "rent-a-stroller" in the mall. You know, the 4 foot strollers shaped like a train, plane or automobile! Not only are they enormous, but there is no way to pass a mom pushing one of these - especially the ones made to hold 12 kids complete with emergency breast pump and diaper changing station. In Pine Bluff, the "rent-a-strollers" have "spinny" wheels and hydraulics. No wonder there is a traffic jam! Anyway, someday Justin Ross, you'll have a stroller.
Posted by: Stephen Harrison | December 20, 2005 at 08:34 PM
OH.... I forgot to write I saw a girl fold her kid up in the stroller, in the middle of the mall walkway. That was so funny, but I tried not to let her see I was laughing. I don't think I did a good job.
You take Kylee to the Pines Mall in a stroller without hydraulics and spinny wheels? I bet she is so embarassed.
Posted by: -Justin- | December 21, 2005 at 12:53 AM