Shopping with grandchildren

I was shopping in Sainsbury's, Clifton Down, recently with one of my wonderful grandchildren.
A 30ish attractive woman seemed interested in my trip and followed me round the shop.
It must have been obvious to her that I had my hands full, with the child screaming, "I want some sweets, Grumpy. I need a drink, Grumpy. Mummy didn't give me any pocket money this week, Grumpy. Where's Grannie, Grumpy, she always buys us treats".

I said quietly, as I always do, "It's OK. we won't be long . . .keep calm. Everything will be OK. We'll be home soon".

After another outburst, the lady must have heard me say something along the following lines, "It's okay, don't fret, just a couple more minutes and we'll be out of here".

At the checkout, the little terror was throwing items out of the trolley shouting, "Grumpy this" and, "Grumpy that", and I again said, in as controlled a voice as I could muster, "Keep calm, don't get upset. We'll be home in five minutes; stay cool".


She must have been very impressed, because she came up to me in the car park and said, in a very kind way,
"It's none of my business I know, but you were amazing in there. You are an inspiration. I don't know how you did it. That whole time you kept your composure, and no matter how loud and disruptive the child got, you just calmly kept saying that things would be okay. She is very lucky to have such a thoughtful grandpa. What a different world it would be if all grandparents were as lovely as you".

I was touched but felt I had to be honest with her.

I told her I was talking to myself not that horrible little brat.