Case study on how to handle rude people

Every time I think of the rude lady behind me in her pickup truck, I chuckle to myself at her reaction to what I did.

I had all five of my kids in the back of my vehicle as I pulled up to the McDonald’s drive-thru. I turned around to get everyone’s order, and suddenly a blaring noise made it impossible to hear my kids.

I realized I had not moved up when the car in front of me pulled forward, and I was holding up the line.

I looked through the back window to see a large lady leaning on her horn with a look on her face like she had just smelled something rancid. As we locked eyes, her middle finger snapped up for all to see.

My youngest started crying.

My first reaction was to flip my finger right back at her and mouth a few swear words, but I had my kids in the car. I thought quickly and decided to confront her.

I unlatched my seatbelt and got out of my car.

The lady straightened up taller in her seat and puffed out her chest a little, maybe preparing for a fight?

She rolled down her window ready to fire some obscenities I assumed, but I started talking first.

“I am SO sorry for holding up the line; it’s totally my fault. Do you want to pull ahead of me?”

“What?!?” she looked confused.

“You must be in a real hurry to get somewhere…my kids and I can pull over and let you through. Our order might take a while….you know how much five hungry kids can eat…”

“No”, she shook her head and slumped back down in her seat, her face flushed.

“Wait,” I said, “"That WAS you honking, wasn't it?”

“Um, yeah…that was an accident.”

“Okay, just checking…I don't want to make you late.”

I went back in my vehicle, and slowly moved forward.

My daughter, thinking she may be on to something, said, “Mom, I don’t think that honk was an accident.”

“You’re right, Honey, she meant to honk that horn.”

“So why did she SAY it was an accident?”

“Because, I was killing her with kindness and she didn't know how to respond.”

“OH! So THAT’S what that means!”