Double Take
Fri Dec 10 2004

Hubby had the day off, so before hitting the stores to do some Christmas shopping, we stopped at Denney’s for breakfast. A waitress there had her three small children, one an infant and the other two under 5, sitting at a booth while she worked her tables. I caught a few snippets of her conversation with another waitress and the manager about how she couldn’t afford child care for the kids, but her mom would be able to take them during the day. She just needed them there at work for a couple hours in the morning until her mom woke up.

I felt sympathy for her, and was strongly considering a good sized tip, until the time came for her to take her children to her mom’s. She took the children out to the parking lot right next to the door; put them into a 2005 Cadillac Escalade, and drove them to her mom’s. She came back about 15 minutes later in the Escalade, parked it again right by the front door and went back to work.

Is it wrong of me to reconsider leaving a tip for a woman who has purchased an almost $60,000 car, yet bitches about not being able to afford child care?

I don’t feel guilty about it.

10 Comments
  • From:
    02012000 (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Dec 11 2004
    Something wrong there indeed. Either she's full of it or there's more to the story than you knew. But I'd be with you, hard pressed to leave a tip after seeing her drive that.
  • From:
    Causingchaos (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Dec 11 2004
    Hmmm. In the world of ethics and morals there really aren't any true right and wrongs. If it was me I would have probably thought that as a waitress she could never get the loan for that car in the first place or qualify to lease it. So I would assume she is borrowing it. As for afording child care for that many kids it does get a little pricey per day. She might want to invest in some birth control.
  • From:
    Toxicepiphany (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Dec 11 2004
    My tip would've come in the form of a napkin saying, "You might be able to afford child care if you trade in your Escalade for a more affordable car. Obviously your priorities are out of order."

    Of course, you know I'd never show my face there again, and I'd leave before she got to my table.
  • From:
    ImNotLisa (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Dec 11 2004
    I don't blame you one bit. A $60,000 loaner? I find that really hard to believe no matter who loaned it to you.
  • From:
    PixieKitten (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Dec 11 2004
    after doing payroll for the factory workers for a few weeks I was stunned that so many "hard up" people, struggling week to week, hand to mouth, if you listen to them, earn more than I do!!!!

    In a lot of cases its not about what you earn but how you spend it and its usually the kids that suffer. Ive seen people standing in the welfare line wearing fancy brand gear that would pay my mortgage for a couple weeks while their kids are barefoot and scrappy. I provide free budgeting advice to anyone who needs it but in all honesty, people dont want to hear it. Sad but true.

    -pk-
  • From:
    Dreamerbooks2003 (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Dec 12 2004
    Different priorities than mine.. that's for sure..
    I guess it takes all kinds to make up this world
    But.. it does seem to be getting stranger by the moment.
    Hang in there.. fighting the shopping crowds.. Grrrr
  • From:
    Cinderrella (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Dec 12 2004
    It may have been a boyfriends car or her moms? Since her mom didnt come pick the kids up?
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 14 2004
    How can a waitress afford a car like that? Are her tips that good. Or maybe she has a sugar daddy.

    Well, I wouldn't leave a tip, not even a small one.

    Sheesh!!!
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 14 2004
    I am reminded of a case where a family complained of having no money for food so groceries were taken to them. Days later they were seen renting movies. It is all about priorities and many just do not have theirs straight.
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Dec 16 2004
    the big P

    (priorities)