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Clearly does not have children of her own

A few weeks ago Chris brought the kids to my office for a visit, and while they were here, Mallory asked to visit the ladies'. (This was after she said to my boss, "Is it okay with you if my mommy never comes to work again?") She went into a stall; I waited her off to the side; after about 30 seconds I heard a shriek and an "Excuse me!" coming from the stall next to her. Apparently Mallory had thought I was in there and had peeked under her wall to see me, surprising the actual occupant of the stall. I immediately told Mallory to stop what she was doing and added, "I'm so sorry," to the person within.

The woman emerged after another minute. It was someone I'd worked with on a few projects; we had a nod-and-smile-at-each-other-in-the-hallway kind of relationship. "Please excuse my daughter," I said to her. She grimaced in my direction, washed her hands, and left. And ever since, there is no more nodding and smiling when she sees me in the hall.

Am I right to think she's overreacting just a bit? I mean, clearly it's not nice to be peeked at in the bathroom, but then again, Mallory's a little kid. And I reprimanded her. And I apologized for her twice. Is there anything else I should have done to make things right?

Just wait til she has a 5-year-old. Then she'll understand.

Comments

H Noble said…
Clearly she's overreacting. It would surprise me too, but it was a little funny! And you handled it appropriately. Don't worry about non-children-comprehending-lady.
Holly
5:21 PM
Anonymous said…
Yes, she is definitely overreacting. If that's the worst thing that has ever happened to her in a restroom with a little kid, then she has led a charmed life!

Mom
8:44 PM
aimee said…
That happened to me once before I had kids. A little boys peeked under to look at who was in the stall next to him, I guess. His mother immediately told him to stop and while I was surprised, I thought he had the cutest face. He had no idea that what he was doing was taboo. What little kid would until they actually do it? You did enough. She needs to move on.
11:30 AM
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