Would you like to take off your coat?

I was shopping one day in a fairly large deparment store--similar to Macy's. I had been in the store for quite some time and chasing Natalee around warmed me up. So, I took my jacket off and put it in my cart. I wandered into the book deparment, walked away from my cart for a moment, and, before long, a woman approached me and asked if I knew where the children's Christmas books were. I said, no I'm sorry I don't. She replied with something I didn't completely understand, but I realized she was quite shocked that I didn't know. It occured to me that she thought I worked at the store. I wondered why. Then, I looked at the checkout line and saw every single person wearing their large winter coat...except for the cashier. So, because I was not wearing my coat, someone thought I worked there.


Do people not know that there is heating in the stores? Don't they know that if they take their coats off inside that they'll be warmer when they go back out into the winter air?


I now reluctantly wear my winter coat inside stores.

Germans also really bundle up their children. It could be only about 45 degrees outside and children are dressed like Eskimos. Infants--tucked every so snuggly into their covered strollers.

My rule of thumb has always been--if I am comfortable wearing something, then my children should also be just as comfortable. One day at the grocery store, Natalee's leg was exposed because her pants had ridden up and a stranger in the parking lot approached us and commented how cold Natalee must be.

I am now getting used to putting hats, gloves, scarves and boots on the girls even when its not overly cold.