The mother’s unashamed excuse for not returning the shopping cart, a social etiquette decision, drew harsh criticism on social media.
“I don’t return shopping carts. Criticize me all you want,” said Dr. Leslie Dobson, a married mother of two. Viral TikTok videos. “I’m not going to load the groceries in the car, get the kids in the car, and leave them in the car to return the cart, so if you’re going to give me a nasty look, get out.”
The video has garnered more than 11 million views, 387,700 likes and over 100,000 comments, but not all of the reactions have been positive.
One user shared an anonymous quote that went viral online a few years ago: “A shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test for whether a person has self-control. Returning a shopping cart is a simple and convenient task.”
A TikTok user and mother shared her thoughts on grocery cart etiquette.
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Another commenter argued that there is a way to return the cart without leaving the child alone.
“I’m a mom of a 6 year old, a 3 year old and a 9 month old. I simply put the grocery bags down, carry the cart with the kids back to the car and put the kids back in, the same way I would get out of the car,” the user wrote.
Dobson responded to the comment, saying, “I want women to have the power to trust their instincts and ignore judgement if they feel unsafe. It’s not worth the risk. Our lives are precious. I’ve seen lives destroyed. I hope that doesn’t happen to you,” she said, using the same response to multiple comments on the video.
in Follow-up Video On Friday, Dobson responded to millions of people who were “panicked” by refusing to return their shopping carts.
The return of the shopping cart has been touted by many social media users as a beacon of polite society. (Photo by Ramin Talaie/Corbis via Getty Images)
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“Last year, 265 children were abducted in parking lots in the United States, and half of those were sexually assaulted,” Dobson said. “Single mothers returning shopping carts are prime targets for criminals.”
Her number is Fact Sheet According to the group Kids & Car Safety, 265 cars were stolen with children inside in 2022, though they didn’t happen in parking lots. The group didn’t mention sexual assaults, but said in most cases, thieves don’t realize there are children inside the car and then abandon the car and child on the side of the road.
After warning viewers, Dobson offered advice on how to stay safe by being aware of your surroundings.
“If you feel unsafe, trust your gut, trust your instincts to keep yourself and your family safe,” she said.
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