Sweet, Unnecessary, and Yet Inadequate

Ethan received a free toy today from a store manager hoping to avoid a lawsuit.

We had decided after several minutes of shopping to go back and get a cart. It was raining outside so the concrete floor was slippery, and there was a wet floor sign right in front of the carts. Ethan's daddy was trying to get a cart, stumbled over the wet floor sign, and bumped right into Ethan who had sidled up behind him, sending him crashing to the floor, where he hit the back of his head. Now, when Ethan falls, he usually doesn't react in the slightest. But when he hits the back of his head, he absolutely loses it. So of course, he began his ear-piercing scream that is punctuated by silence as he ceases to breathe in between cries. We grabbed him up immediately, and I held him to my shoulder as I comforted and shushed him. He burrowed in, I checked his eyes for signs of a concussion, and he calmed down when we offered to let him push the cart. So within minutes, he was happily charging around the store again, but his fall and subsequent screams had drawn a fair bit of attention.

While he was still screaming, a manager came up to us, having been alerted to the events by a cashier. We assured her that he was just fine, mostly just scared, and that we appreciated her concern. Assuming that was the end of it, we continued our shopping. A few minutes later, the manager returned again and extended Ethan two cars, one with Cookie Monster driving and one with Elmo, telling him to pick one. Well, you know you can't offer a toddler two of something and expect him to just reach for one, but he eventually settled on Elmo and happily began vrooming him around on the floor. We thanked the manager profusely and assured her again that he was just fine.

As we continued shopping, my husband turned to me and said, "I know she's just doing what she can to be nice and ensure that we don't start thinking about filing a lawsuit, even if they could be held liable for his fall. But if we were of the mindset to sue, does she really think a $3 Sesame Street toy will make up for a million-dollar settlement?"

And that is how Ethan's new Elmo car is sweet, unnecessary, and yet inadequate, all at once.