(no subject)
A little family was in my store yesterday. (actually there were lots of people in the store yesterday, it was a very profitable day).
There was mom, grandma, and two girls, one about 6, one about 11. They walked in and the mom and the grandma are all over the 6 year old saying, "don't touch anything". 6y pretty much ignores them with no consequence except more entreaties to not touch.
She finds the bin of sticky stones, which are magnatized hematite rocks and starts playing with them, like most people who come into the store. The rocks are right next to my counter, and I'm pretty familiar with 6 year old girls so we're talking and laughing and having fun while mom & grandma shop. M & G leave, someone else comes to the counter to pay and I'm momentarily distracted. 6y follows her family quickly, and I say "bye!"
Five minutes later mom and 6y come back in, mom pushing 6y along saying, "You put those back and you apologize to that lady!". 6y has pouty face and whispers "sorry" in very tiny voice. I told her I accepted her apology but that I was very disappointed since we'd been having such a nice time. 6y sits on bench and pouts while M&G shop some more. (maybe buying to assuage guilt of 6y's attempted theft?)
M then calls 6y over and has her pick out a cute little necklace.
Now, is this ok? or can it be construed as a reward. I think I would have waited. I didn't think it was terribly appropriate. but I took the money and smiled.
There was mom, grandma, and two girls, one about 6, one about 11. They walked in and the mom and the grandma are all over the 6 year old saying, "don't touch anything". 6y pretty much ignores them with no consequence except more entreaties to not touch.
She finds the bin of sticky stones, which are magnatized hematite rocks and starts playing with them, like most people who come into the store. The rocks are right next to my counter, and I'm pretty familiar with 6 year old girls so we're talking and laughing and having fun while mom & grandma shop. M & G leave, someone else comes to the counter to pay and I'm momentarily distracted. 6y follows her family quickly, and I say "bye!"
Five minutes later mom and 6y come back in, mom pushing 6y along saying, "You put those back and you apologize to that lady!". 6y has pouty face and whispers "sorry" in very tiny voice. I told her I accepted her apology but that I was very disappointed since we'd been having such a nice time. 6y sits on bench and pouts while M&G shop some more. (maybe buying to assuage guilt of 6y's attempted theft?)
M then calls 6y over and has her pick out a cute little necklace.
Now, is this ok? or can it be construed as a reward. I think I would have waited. I didn't think it was terribly appropriate. but I took the money and smiled.