My son recently started a part-time job at our local grocery store, working after school and on weekends to save for a car—or perhaps just for Chipotle (I can see the transactions on our linked accounts!). Most of his time there is spent ringing up customers, but sometimes he also bags groceries or collects carts from the parking lot.
Last night, he was behind the register when you and your husband came through his line. The conversation seemed friendly; as his shift was wrapping up, I’m sure he appreciated the pleasant exchange with you both. After all, ending the day on a high note is something we all cherish.
Once your groceries were bagged and your transaction completed, you could have simply walked away and let him finish his shift. As a 16-year-old, Saturday nights are like blank canvases waiting to be filled with adventure. But instead, you turned back to him after he wished you well and made a comment that stopped him in his tracks. You touched your face and remarked, “Wow, you have quite a bit of acne.” Then, you pulled out a business card and handed it to him, declaring, “I sell products that can help with that. In six months, it’ll be gone!”
My son accepted your card, thanked you, and politely declined your offer. He was raised to be courteous, after all, but he also knows how to stand up for himself and maintain his pride.
When I picked him up shortly after, we had a heart-to-heart. As a single mom of four, I spend a lot of my time driving my kids around, which leads to valuable conversations. Last night, we talked about you.
Your words, regardless of your intentions, stung my son. He shared the story with me as the glow of his phone illuminated his face, and in that moment, he expressed something that broke my heart: “I was having such a good day until that moment, Mom.”
You, unfortunately, ruined his evening.
I tend to analyze situations deeply, trying to understand the reasons behind people’s actions. I don’t want to believe that anyone is truly malicious. I suggested to my son that maybe you had a few drinks and were less inhibited. Perhaps you were trying to help him based on your own past experiences. Or maybe you were just desperate for sales and thought targeting a teenage cashier was a good idea.
Of course, I also thought, but didn’t say: “Maybe you’re just inconsiderate and lack basic social skills.”
Yet somehow, my son managed to smile again. Whether it was my reassurances or a funny text from a friend, I felt relieved that he was moving past the negativity you had thrust into his day.
My son is a wonderful kid—smart, charismatic, and confident. He’s well-liked and has a sense of humor that fills me with pride. He might not be perfect (I jokingly call him Eric Cartman at times), but he is genuinely kind.
While he does struggle with skin issues, as many teens do, he knows it without needing a stranger to point it out. We have products at home like ProActiv and Neutrogena, and I try to provide organic food when possible, believing it’s better for his skin. However, he certainly doesn’t need a reminder of his acne, especially while he’s busy working at his job.
You could have left the store without making him feel self-conscious or uncomfortable, but for some reason, you thought it was appropriate to comment on his appearance to promote your business.
And let me tell you: it wasn’t a good move.
I still have your card, and as I write this, I’m reflecting on how to respond. As someone who has navigated a tough divorce, I know that some messages benefit from a cooling-off period. I wanted to reach out to you immediately, to express how wrong your actions were. The protective instinct in me wanted to let you know just how deeply you affected my son.
However, I’ve decided to wait until the anger subsides. I will certainly send you a message, as you need to understand the impact of your words. But I will do so when I can articulate my thoughts without the sharpness of my “mama bear” instincts overwhelming me.
My son won’t forget your comment, nor will he forget how it felt to have to suppress his pride while politely accepting your business card. You inadvertently taught him a valuable lesson about the power of words—the importance of recognizing what’s appropriate to say to strangers.
You helped me strengthen his resilience. He’s now a little tougher and better prepared to navigate a world that includes people like you.
So, to the MLM representative, I hope you take this to heart: the next time you feel the urge to promote your products, pause and consider your audience. Think before you speak, and if that’s a challenge for you, perhaps you should explore what options are available to help with that. For more information about home insemination kits that can aid in family planning, visit this resource, and if you’re looking for authoritative advice on the topic, check out this site on the best home insemination kits available. For additional insights, consider reviewing this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, your thoughtlessness affected my son, but it also provided him with an important lesson on how to handle unsolicited comments. You may have intended to sell something, but instead, you inadvertently equipped him with tools for resilience in a world that can be tough.