No Shoes, No Shirt, No service

Yesterday the kids and I were invited to Amy's mom's house for a swim.  So we loaded up and headed out.  After a super relaxing afternoon I stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up a jug of milk and return an air mattress I had purchased for camp but didn't use. 

The boys had on swim trunks, socks, shoes and a slight sun burn.  Brennan had reservations about going into Wally World sans shirt but I encouraged him we'd be brief and it wasn't a big deal.

When we walked in a familiar old man scanned the air mattress and motioned us towards customer service.  I returned the mattress without difficulty and summoned the kids to follow me to the back of the store where the milk resides.  We were walking rather quickly since Jared was home sick and he had alerted me that Anneliese had awoken from her nap.

Halfway down the main walkway I heard a rather raspy, yet firm voice yelling, "Ma'am! Ma'am! Ma'am!"  When it continued I looked just to make sure it wasn't directed at me.  There was that familiar old face again only this time it was agitated.  He firmly informs me that my children cannot be in the store without shirts on.  

Stunned and bewildered I pleaded with him.  I told him I just needed milk and had no intention of wandering around the store and that we had just gone swimming.  I was so close, just steps away from the cooler.  He informed me that I needed to leave my children with him or leave the store.  I just looked at him a bit wild eyed and said, "I am not leaving my children with you.  They are too young and I just need milk!"

I had and internal debate going on.  Do I ignore the old man and go ahead with grabbing my groceries or do I obey?  I tell my kids all the time that they are to obey anyone older than them and respect their elders.  Here I was in the middle of Wal-Mart with this crotchety old man yelling at me demanding my children or demanding I leave.  I wanted to get the milk just out of defiance but instead I left flabbergasted and spent my money else where.

As I exited the store I looked on the door for a No Shoes/No Shirt/No Service sign and there was not one.  I can't help but think of all the times I've been in Wal-Mart and seen babies in just diapers, women with their cleavage and rear ends hanging out.  Men and boys alike with their pants barely on their rears, underwear exposed and my 4 little boys in swim trunks was somehow unacceptable?!

Wal-Mart security footage is infamous online due to what people will wear while shopping.  Jared said I needed to yell for a manager stating this man was insisting on taking my kids.  I was honestly too shocked and discombobulated to come up with anything other than leaving stunned.