Vent..

StefaniePace

So.. I work in a salon and I am constantly surrounded by woman. The past couple weeks I have been ultra sensitive. I just HATE when woman who have never been pregnant or had kids like to give me advice. Most of the time I am polite and just nod and move on in the conversation but by the end of the day I find myself saying "yea, ok thanks" and walking away.

MOST of the time these unwanted opinions are not even from my own clients. I had a lady (who was not my client) come up to me at 10 weeks and say oh is the baby moving? you know you should really start talking to the baby, it can hear you.. UM No it cant! And no I do not feel it moving...

Another example was yesterday I was at our water tank getting some water and a client asked how I told her I was feeling tired and a bit achy.  She immediately goes into saying that I am anemic and need to eat more iron. That I need to eat more greens and start taking an iron pill... but to eat more fiber too so I dont get constipated. UUUUggg. No B I am just tired.. 

I know I am being ultra sensitive but I really think I am trapped in this hell of a situation at work. What would you do? I am seriously contemplating saying something at our next salon meeting... Something along the lines of "This is a very exciting time for me and I know your clients mean well, but I would really like if you could let them know that I am not open to their opinions" 

I just dont think I can keep my happy face on for much longer and I am REALLY trying to not be rude to them.. But it feels amazing to VENT wheew 

 

MrsBoike

Well I work in a salon also and unfortunately that is just part of being in a customer service field dominated by women. It is not your co-workers fault that their clients say comments to you nor can they control that. You are there to make clients happy and sometimes you just have to smile and continue with your day.

StefaniePace

LOL So basically there is no way to get away from this? I would like to come up with a nice but slightly snappy comment to these very irritating woman... Most of them I can handle and smile off but the really irritating ones I would like to say something to. Like "well when you get pregnant you will see" something like that.. or "thanks for your opinion but no thanks" in the most sickeningly sweet voice I could muster up... 

Uwannalala

Honestly, I think your being ultrasensitive. Neither of the comments those women made were particularly rude.  Did they sound like know it alls and do they not know what they are talking about? Absolutely. But they are probably just excited to see a pregnant lady and want to help. Since "the customer is always right" I think its best you just grin and bare it or your going to look like the bad guy here.

PrincessLinLin

Next time someone asks you how you're feeling just respond with a big smile and an "I feel fantastic, thanks for asking"

miaomi

Uwannalala:

Honestly, I think your being ultrasensitive. Neither of the comments those women made were particularly rude.  Did they sound like know it alls and do they not know what they are talking about? Absolutely. But they are probably just excited to see a pregnant lady and want to help. Since "the customer is always right" I think its best you just grin and bare it or your going to look like the bad guy here.

This. But I completly understand.  And the thing is..it doesn't stop once you have your baby.  It only gets worse.  Then, everyone under the sun wants to know if you are bf'ing, when you'll wean, what you are feeding LO, what the baby's sleep schedule is...and the proceed to tell you what you are doing wrong (everything) and how to fix it.

Sigh.  It's tough.  We own a restaurant and I'm constantly getting unwanted advice from employee's and customers.  It's really hard, but from customer's...just smile and nod.  With fellow employee's you can mention at a neutral time how all the advice drives you nuts and hope they don't partake.  Other then that..make sure you are taking time for yourself when you aren't working.  Get a massage, ect.  And when you are at work, make your breaks count.  Go outside and enjoy some quiet, have a nice cup of tea, ect.

 

SailorGray

Yea, it's annoying, but it happens pretty much to everyone no matter where you work.  Just say you feel fine and move on. My aunts, who never have had kids, were telling me how I can't drink coffee or dye my hair or lift anything, etc. I finally told them that I am not dead and can do all of those things.  I also reminded them I am probably the person who is most protective of this little baby growing inside of me and would not do anything that could harm it. That shut them up. 

Plus, I think it would be really bad business and put your co-workers in a bad spot if they felt they had to silence their customers. 

MrsO_53

I don't really have any advice, just wanted to say I know how you feel!  My coworker is this way, and she's never been married, never had kids, but constantly knows "exactly what I'm feeling" and how I should be in my relationship with DH.  ugh.  I don't know why people think they know. 

megd06

Uwannalala:

Honestly, I think your being ultrasensitive. Neither of the comments those women made were particularly rude.  Did they sound like know it alls and do they not know what they are talking about? Absolutely. But they are probably just excited to see a pregnant lady and want to help. Since "the customer is always right" I think its best you just grin and bare it or your going to look like the bad guy here.

This. This is a fact of life--if it wasn't the salon it'd be someone in the grocery store. Just wait until you are a miserable 39 wks pregnant, and people feel the need to ask the obvious question "Have you had that baby yet??". Water off a duck's back.

ajmasl

I know how you feel. I had a client of mine tell me not to cross my legs bc i cuts off my circulation... really?? I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Then I went to pick something up from the floor and she says: "oh no, don't do that, you'll squish the baby" UGGGHHHH I wanted to scream and tell her to mind her own damn business but of course I just smiled noded and said, "oh I never heard that. thanks!" and just let it go. I'm bound to see her either weekly or every other week and since she has 5 kids she of course says she's an expert with pregnancy. I'm sure she'll give me some other unsolicited weird advice in the weeks to come but I'll just have to continue to nod and brush off politely. That's prob what you'll have to do with your clients. I know it sux!