. Mitigating circumstances like a person’s childcare situation are only mitigating circumstances because there was irresponsibility in the first place to mitigate. It’s still irresponsibility.

I took the cart into the store to shop with my cognitively disabled child. This was a responsible decision.

Due to my child’s medical disability and changing circumstances resulting in a behavior meltdown, I had to take him back to the car and stay with him, to prevent elopement that could put him and others at risk. This was a responsible decision. Due to the changing circumstances, I can’t return the shopping cart to a particular location.

At no point do I abdicate responsibility. My first responsibility is to the safety of my child, and others who might suffer if he elopes. If you think I’m a bad person who “gives zero shits” because I put that first, then I call that error.

If you want to live in you self-righteous bubble and judge people from afar without knowing jack squat about their circumstances, I call that error. I’m sure my situation is not unique; issues must come up all the time with children, pets, the elderly that necessitate putting a shopping cart aside and attending to the needs of others, and it’s not always possible to return the shopping cart.

I can’t stop you from making an error, of course, but I’d hope than when the error is explained to you, you’d commit to avoiding it.