As the coronavirus pandemic accelerates across the country, retailers are implementing ways they believe will help customers maintain social distancing. But some of those new rules are not settling well with people and they are surprisingly lashing out at parents, particularly single moms.
Their rants aren’t helpful; they’re hurtful. But one single mom is speaking out
Many stores have affixed giant arrows on their floors to direct traffic so that people are less apt to be closer than six feet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommend everyone stay at least that distance away from others to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus. That’s understandable.
The CDC also wants people to wear face coverings when out in public. But not everyone is happy about that either and some people have violated President Trump’s rule to not gather in groups of more than 10 to hold protests about having to wear facemasks and being in quarantine.
Big box stores, as well as small businesses, are capping how many people can be present inside the store and make others stand in line, six feet apart, outside the facility and wait their turn.
Numerous stores are posting signs prohibiting children younger than 16 from entering, such as the Wisconsin-based Menards. Menards even plans to ID patrons who look younger than 16 just to be safe. They’ve made disinfecting wipes available for wiping down carts, too.
In fact, Menards spokesman Jeff Abbott told KVRR Local News, a North Dakota station, that it will take shoppers’ and employees’ temperatures before allowing them to go in. Amazon, Walmart and Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Home Depot also are taking employees’ temperatures before they can start a shift.
“We absolutely love families, but need to lessen the number of people shopping in our stores, and I think it goes without saying that children need to be protected from people.”
Other retailers are limiting the number of shoppers from each family and only one shopper per cart. All of these guidelines irk numerous shoppers who are targeting parents with their anger.
But some single moms insist they just can’t follow these rules. In Newington, Connecticut, one single mom claims she was told by a store employee that the police would be called if she tried to shop at the Walmart there with her child.
Single mom MaryAnn Fausey Resendez, 41, from Texas, feared how she and her five-year-old daughter would be treated when they headed to the grocery store. She knew that people would speak out against her, even with her young daughter present.
To ward off any negativity and hurtful comments hurled her way, MaryAnn took proactive measures to protect her daughter. She made a sign and affixed it to the back of her daughter’s shirt, then headed off to the store. The sign read:
“I am only five. I can’t stay home alone so I have to buy groceries with mommy. Before you start judging, stay back six feet.”
