Dear Ma'am,
First of all, I'd like to say you handled it well. I appreciate you not calling names or yelling obscenities. Thank you for restricting yourself to asserting that your kids were doing just fine and saying I thought I owned the place.
Second, I'd like to apologize for hurting your daughter's feelings, and ruffling your maternal feathers.
Third, I would like to explain my position. The sign says, "No climbing on the outside of the equipment." This is for safety reasons, and I happen to think it's a pretty darn good rule. Which is why any time my daughters try to climb on it they are setting themselves up for a time-out. I also believe that there is nothing wrong with asking our nation's youth to behave and follow the rules.
There is no really good way to tell someone that they're breaking the rules, and you expect them to stop, but I gave it a try anyways. I kept my tone polite, and I tried to maintain even a modicum of a smile as I asked your daughter and her recruits repeatedly to climb down, even as your daughter ushered them on quietly from the sidelines. In case you're wondering, what I said to your daughter and her little sister that time that broke the camel's back was something like:
"Stop trying to break the rules, you're young ladies- act like it and stop trying to be obnoxious. Yes, I know you're kids. And you get to follow the rules just like everybody else. Act like young ladies. If you keep climbing on the equipment I will ask one of the employees to remove you from the play area."
You and she are probably wondering, "What's the big deal? You aren't the mom, and you aren't the one who'll be responsible for any bills in the event of a medical mishap."
That's true - this time. Can't you see that your beautiful young daughter is one of the "big kids" that little kids, like my girls, watch so carefully? After your daughter and her friends and loved ones set to work I had to warn my daughters repeatedly that they are not permitted to climb on the outside of the equipment. All I asked of your daughter is that she stop setting a poor example for mine.
So I'm sorry that I ruined your trip to Chick-fil-A. Especially on a nasty, wet, gray, dismal day like today. I hope your next trip there is pleasant and uneventful. And I hope that your daughter refrains from climbing on the play equipment.
Sincerely,
Karyn
