The other day I got up really early and took T (my honorary Goddaughter) and E to the mall when they first opened. They are looking for summer jobs and I thought it made sense for them to practice their approach while I was around to critique them knowing that they wouldn't be actually looking for a job in that particular mall. It ended up being a really great thing because getting there super early meant they weren't busy and we met some REALLY great managers who were really awesome sports about the whole thing. This one guy in particular at Lucky was SO AMAZING! I mean...he gave them really good feedback. Told them what to do and what not to do and told them what he honestly looks for.
Dude was AWESOME! So much so that I'm going to write a letter to corporate and tell them just how amazing that was.
So the kids were feeling good and getting some really good practice in. They did 5 stores each and got a good cadence down.
Ask for the manager.
Shake their hand and introduce themselves.
Look them in the eye.
Don't cross their arms in front of them.
Be engaging.
Ask questions about the hiring process.
Say something about the products and the store.
Smile.
Smile.
SMILE CHILD HELL WHATCHU GOT TO BE GLOOMY ABOUT?
So it went really well and I was proud of them. After two stores in each I hung way back out of their way.
One guy in a store noticed us all come in. It was E's turn so he was asking for the manager. The other guy, an employee, came over to me and asked what we were doing. I explained that the kids were practicing looking for a job for the first time and that we were just hoping to run into some store managers who were good sports. Then...dude started staring at T.
Him: She is so beautiful. I mean look at her. And her lashes are so perfect they look fake. Man she's gorgeous.
Me: She's a very SMART sixteen year old CHILD and if we don't make a big deal out of her beauty then a grown azz man shouldn't either.
SIP: MF'WHAT??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He had the grace to look embarrassed and stopped staring at the child but BAAAAAAAAAAABY I WAS FLIPPING PISSED AND HIS SKANK AZZ KNEW IT!
And I started feeling some kinda way. I mean...hell...she has to be out and about in the world without her Elders you know? So she's got to deal with this shit already?????? AT AGE SIXTEEN?
She might need a bodyguard and I am sooooooooooooo serious.
I was a late bloomer so I know nothing about this. Hell...I'll be 45 this year and I'm still waiting to fill out a bit. This was never my struggle so yeah...my thoughts are immediately of the violent nature because I haven't had to learn how to deal with it calmly. I wanna jack folks up.
Were you harassed by grown men as a teenager? Are your daughters? How did/do you handle?
