Due to the current health crisis, my five-year-old daughter and I wear masks wherever we go, and I use hand sanitizer. However, due to a reaction the last time she used it, my daughter was deemed allergic to the stuff and I have had to resort to keeping her hands busy while in a store. She’s a thumb sucker, so it can be difficult, but I find that giving her my phone to watch videos on helps, and she washes her hands the second she gets home.
We go into a store where wearing masks is mandatory, and I fix hers on her, pick her up, and put her in the cart. I then give her my phone and get some sanitizer on my hands. Apparently, this rubs one lady the wrong way.
Me: “Okay, remember, don’t touch Mama’s hands. Don’t touch anything other than the phone, and do not put your thumb in your mouth.”
Daughter: “Okay, Mama. Love you!”
Me: “I love you, too, babe.”
Lady: “Hey! Hey! Why didn’t you put sanitizer on her hands, too?!”
Me: “Hmm? Uh… she’s allergic. She had a strong reaction last time she used it and her doctor has agreed with me that it was an allergic reaction.”
Lady: “That’s impossible!”
Me: “Um. No, it’s not. Whether or not such an allergy exists, my daughter reacts to the point of swollen, rashy, and itchy skin. I will not put her through that and she knows the routine by now. I need to do my shopping.”
The lady then steps right up to my cart, and I get between her and my daughter.
Me: “Please back up six feet! There is plenty of room, and it’s clear that you only intend to instigate the situation further!”
Lady: “She needs to have hand sanitizer!”
Me: “She is allergic! And due to that, you will not get any closer to her than what you are now!”
Lady: “Are you saying I’m infected? How dare you?!”
I have caught the attention of another worker, who quickly comes over to diffuse the situation.
Worker: “Hey, [My Name]. Everything okay?”
Me: “No, this lady is— What are you doing?!”
I see that she has hand sanitizer in her hand and has glopped some on her and is trying to get around me. I grab her hand, ruining her gloppy mess and pushing her back. The worker quickly gets a hold of the lady and pulls her away. I have no choice but to grab the cart with one hand and drag it to the hand sanitizer stand where the paper towels are and clean my hand, being sure to once again let my daughter know the rules.
Daughter: “Mama… that lady was weird.”
Me: “I know, hon.”
Worker: “Second time this week. I lost count for the month.”
Me: “It just started.”
Worker: “I know.”
I thanked the worker and got my shopping done. Seriously, I know that during these times, there are measures in place, but if someone really can’t use hand sanitizer, or even a mask, or has to, don’t put them down or try and force anything onto them; there is a reason. Thankfully, my daughter was fine, and the second she was home she washed her hands extra long and happily played with her toys while I washed mine. Some people…
