'Nothing you say could make me move': Woman goes full ‘mama bear’ when a Karen tries to steal her table at the food court; puts her in her place by standing her ground

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 16, 2023 1:00 PM EST

'First come, first serve' has been the mantra of many over the decades– in particular, siblings fighting over the shower, kids vying for toys at recess, and cousins loading up their plates at the family buffet. Generally, people tend to respect this little rule we've made for society, but apparently, some folks feel entitled to whatever they want in the world, ignoring the laws that separate humanity from that of the animals.

Without 'first come, first serve', we're nothing but beasts. 

Advertisement

  • In our next story, a rogue Karen in the wild certainly defines what I mean by ‘beast’. Although we are at the top of the food chain as humans, we're also slaves to the rules that deem us a part of humanity. When a screeching Karen refuses to abide by social norms, they're going to get a swift wake up call from anyone stern enough to stand up to their fiery breath. 

  • And is there anyone more qualified to mitigate a massive public tantrum more than a mother of 2 young children? Scroll for the entire story of how a mother of two epically clapped back at a total rude Karen who insisted on stealing their family's table at the mall's food court. Fat chance, lady– first come, first serve. 

  • After this, here's another story of a Karen on the loose where a woman refused a discount over a cashier technicality, making herself look like a fool in the process. 

  • 01
    "She thought you'd be an easy target"
    via u/canva
  • 02
    r/AmItheA u/throwaway2e1 AITA for not giving up a table? Not the . Posted by 19 hours ago I took my kids out to the mall the other day. My husband took the car to work so my brother dropped us off and my husband was going to pick us up.
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 03
    We were there for a couple hours and the kids had loads of fun. But they're 5 and 3 and were exhausted by the time my husband had to pick us up. I was also extremely tired. I ordered them some fries and then we sat at one of the tables at the food court. After a bit, I gave my oldest my phone to watch something while my younger one was napping in my arms. My husband was stuck in traffic so he was going to be late by an hour so yeah.
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 04
    When we first sat down, the food court was pretty empty but it filled up fast. A young woman and her mother approached us and asked if we were done with the table. I apologized and said no. The younger lady got annoyed and said we clearly aren't eating anything and that I've been
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 05
    sitting at the table doing nothing for 20 minutes now. I apologized and said she could ask someone else. She then started to guilt trip me about her mother being old and tired and how my kids and I are still young so we should be able to give up our table. I said I'm sorry but there's nothing you could say to make me move, please ask someone else.
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 06
    She then got closer and started yelling about how disrespectful and I'm being towards her sick mother. It was very loud and other people started looking. My oldest got scared and my younger one who was napping woke up upset. I immediately asked her to be quiet as she's scaring my kids. She rolled her eyes at me and said my kids are in public and aren't entitled to quiet. I just said you and your mother aren't entitled to a table either.
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 07
    She got mad and said it's entirely different but a security guard approached us. We explained what happened and he told her that she was causing a scene and she left after calling me and entitled. The security guard then told me that I should've just given up the table but it's none of his business and walked away.
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 08
    My husband said I did good but his coworker that was with him privately told me I couldn't have been that tired and that I'm in public and should have some awareness. He said older people need to sit down more than little kids do and definitely more than I do. AITA?
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 09
    Edit: No, the young lady and her mother didn't have food with them. The table I was sitting on was just one small table and two chairs, my oldest on one seat, me and my youngest on the other. I've also been to this mall countless times for years now and no one has ever been told to leave a table unless it's closing time. It's a popular hang out spot for teenagers as well.
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 10
    IamIrene 19 hr. ago Craptain [196] Uh...no. You had every right to stay at that table for as long as you needed to. You were a customer of the mall/food court, you purchased food, sat down and ate. Unless there is a posted policy in the food court, you could have camped out there all day long. That woman was pushy and and used to getting her way. I'm so very glad you denied them, lol. NTA.
    via u/IamIrene
  • 11
    throwaway2e1 OP 19 hr. ago There's no policy or anything. I didn't even need to order food but the kids wanted fries which is why I did. I saw several teens sitting on tables just chatting with each other so I don't know why she was so stuck on me moving when she could've asked them.
    via u/throwaway2e1
  • 12
    IamIrene 19 hr. ago Craptain [196] I don't know why she was so stuck on me moving when she could've asked them. She thought you were an easy target. She thought wrong, lol. :)
    via u/IamIrene
  • 13
    HellaShelle 17 hr. ago Colo-rectal Surgeon [33] Yeah I think the lady figured the teenagers would tell her to but the mom with kids would look for another place to sit. I'm not sure why the screamy lady brought up the fact that OP and her kids were done eating when she and her mom didn't have any food at all
    via u/HellaShelle
  • 14
    christopherdac 3 hr. ago Right? As if there aren't benches scattered throughout the mall! Screamy lady just HAD to harrass a young family in the food court. SMH. 473 Reply Share Springtime912. 3 hr. ago Maybe screaming lady would find a place to sit and then go get their food.
    via u/christopherdac
  • 15
    JJQuantum 17 hr. ago This. So much this. She saw a lady with 2 small kids and a bunch of teens and thought you'd be easier to bully. Good for you. Reply Share 330 ... Apprehensive-Bed9699 13 hr. ago That's so funny I definitely would have asked the teens first. Real nicely say hey can my granny here sit with you she is so tired. They would have left. Mama with two kids one sleeping? She ain't going nowhere...
    via u/JJQuantum
  • 16
    lilithskitchen 16 hr. ago . This she know the teens wouldn't move and thought you would be an easier target. Good for you you stood your ground. I mean come on you had a sleeping kid in your arm only an AH would ask you to move. You are so NTA in this scenario.
    via u/lillithskitchen
  • 17
    islandlalala 13 hr. ago Yeah the teens could've taken her apart and she wasn't setting herself up for that lol. Sorry you got bs advice from a security guard (!) and your husband's coworker needs to stay in his lane. I'll tell him for you if the teens are busy. NTA.
    via u/islandlalala
  • 18
    bustaboo71 16 hr. ago Because she thought you would be an easy target. NTA Reply Share 7 ↓ swillshop 15 hr. ago Aficionado [12] Wow. ... You had every right to stay there and your own needs to address. I care about that elderly woman, but you and the table you were at did not have to be THE one and only solution. That young woman cared more about picking a fight with you than she did about helping her mother.
    via u/bustaboo71
  • 19
    blah61ah 4 hr. ago NTA. Perhaps you could have called her bluff and offered a seat to her mother but not her. Would have been interesting to see if she was truly going all entitled AH on behalf of her elderly mum, or whether it was really about her wanting a seat for herself
    via u/blah61ah
  • 20
    Brilliant_Jewel1924 18 hr. ago Partassipant [1] OP was, in fact, a paying customer so she had every right to sit there.
    via u/Brilliant_Jewel1924
  • 21
    Commentthrowaway6 19 hr. ago ΝΤΑ Yeah, you could have given up your table, but as a mom of a 2 and 4yo, I totally get wanting to stay seated after hours at the mall. Especially while holding the little one while they slept. Maybe if the other lady had had a better attitude, you'd have offered to share the table so her mother could also sit, but she came off super and entitled, so you owe her nothing. Not to mention the fact that she was scaring your kids. I'd have gone all mama bear on her and w
    via u/Commentthrowaway6

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

karens mall aita drama mother parenting food court entitled put in her place Reddit mom karen parents
Scroll Down For The Next Article