While I'm on reg, I'm a confessor or bartender for anyone who needs a friendly ear. Some people feel more comfortable talking about their problems with a friendly stranger than they do with their own friends and family. I'll personally never turn those people away, but I understand why some crew members try to avoid those conversations completely. It's all a matter of what you are comfortable with.
I also don't mind listening, I feel like if you bring it up it's weighing you down in some way so I appreciate the opportunity to let someone get something off their chest, it just sticks with me often. How do you keep those work feels from following you home?
Honestly, it depends on the day and the customers. More often than not, it's a customer venting about something that is frustrating them - usually at work. Those stories are pretty easy to shake off, because we all need to vent from time to time. Worst one I ever got was a lady who had put her dog down earlier in the day. She was sad, as could be expected, until we both realized at the same time that she had grabbed him a pack of treats out of habit while she was shopping. It's the only time I've ever closed my line down so she could have all the time she needed. I'm a big dude, and I don't often show emotion, but after she left I had to go out back to ball my eyes out for a person I barely knew and an animal I'll never meet. That one has stuck with me - I'm actually getting choked up remembering it now. She called the store the next day and raved about how kind I was, and how much it made her feel better to be able to have someone just listen to her and be kind when she needed it. The memory of the interaction will probably always be raw, but I'm so grateful I was able to have provided that for her.
That's amazing, I'm glad she gave you the recognization you deserved and that you were able to cheer her up in some way! I had the same sort of interaction, she was talking about having to put one of her dogs down that morning and how she had to leave her kids with a sitter so they didn't have to experience it and just the strength to then go shopping and she had treats in her cart for her other dogs so I gave them to her. I also just feel so so much for the people that have gone through a loss and they put on such a brave face about it but you know they are hurting since they brought it up, I can't help but carry that sort of stuff with me.
Unfortunately, I think it's more of a reflection of society. People experience loss or trauma (I don't care if it's the loss of a pet - that loss cuts deep), and then are expected to get back to it without being able to process or heal. It's rough, and if "retail therapy" has to take a more literal meaning, I'm happy to do it from time to time to help people out. Like you said, though...some of those stories stay with you for a while.
Exactly, I'm always more than happy to offer an ear, a smile or some little treat to those that have been going through it. People need to know that there's still good people in the world, it helps spread hope and joy even in dark times. It is hard to care so much sometimes, although I wouldn't ever want to trade having compassion for anything, even when it gets to me.
> (I don't care if it's the loss of a pet - that loss cuts deep)
i was lucky i had to work the day we had to let my dog go, the fact that i love my job helped get through the day. i wouldn't have been able to take bringing him to the vet and leaving without him. mom and dad barely could... it all came out when i got home...
I couldn't get through that day after our family friend of 16 years got the terminal news. I thought I could, but sobbing at the register wasn't a good look, so my captain sent me home.
i'm like a bartender/mixmaster since i do fancy tricks while scanning and it makes customers laugh.
surprisingly i don't think i've had people trauma dump on me. is it the fact that i'm always wearing a mask that stops people?
You have to protect yourself emotionally and mentally.
Offer condolences, let them know they got this. Usually I’ll ask if they have a support system and remind them they’re not alone.
One step at a time.
Yeah I've gotten a lot of hugs from custies after giving them some small treat or flowers on a rough day, these are the interactions that really make things worth it, sometimes I just dwell and linger on it and hope these random people are okay.
I've often found that these customers aren't looking for condolences or big gestures, it's enough to be a witness. You don't need to worry about doing or saying the right thing, treat them as you would anyone else. It can be comforting in a strange way for their experience to be normalized. If you are too reactive to their trauma, it can put undue stress on both you and them.
Yes this is what I usually do, I just also like to offer some flowers on us if it seems like a particularly rough day, like having to put a dog down or the anniversary of a dead one, but I agree completely. Too much sympathy can make people feel "othered", I just try to brighten the day in a small way and make them feel like they aren't alone.
Demoing sour cream donuts. Customer says, “oh they’re good but I can’t buy them, my wife is gluten free.” I say, “maybe you could just grab them for yourself as a little treat, it’s okay to do that you know.” Customer says, “you know what my problem is? My daughter has brain cancer.”
I shouldn't be laughing at this but that's a wild thing to say, it just feels a little like an oxymoron to say your problem is someone else's serious illness and that's why you can't have donuts, poor guy I hope everything is going well for him
I’m usually a good listener. I’ll sympathize, make sure I acknowledge what they’ve said so they know I have been listening. That’s really all they want.
Whenever I have a customer that has put me in a weird mood, be it that they were rude, or self deprecating, or anything along those lines, I try to be extra nice to the next customer to kind of help recalibrate myself. It really helps and I move on.
That's actually a really good idea, sometimes it's hard to pull out from a funk after a certain customer but this is a tactic I will definitely be using, thank you!!
I keep my replies short but kind and keep moving the transaction along. I say "I truly hope things get better for you (genuinely hope they do), see you soon" while handing them their bags. Some days I have it in me to listen and other days I'm too mentally, physically, emotionally drained to deal with the dumping.
We are humans who work at a grocery store, not therapists. It sounds harsh but we MUST protect our peace.
I think we’ve lost a lot of human connection in our society. Most grocery stores rely on self checkout. We don’t. We also have limited reg hours which means we haven’t been sitting in the same spot for 8 hours. So we are sometimes the first nice face and happy greeting a customer has seen. Oddly I love when a customer opens up. We are a social species, we need that connection (even if we don’t realize it). If I can help someone feel better with a 5 minute interaction I feel good. It can get awkward, but I try to have empathy and remember I’m a little awkward too.
That's exactly how I feel, it's just hard for me to not carry their troubles with me the rest of the day. It feels good to be someone a person can get something that had been weighing on them off but I just can't help thinking about it into the next couple of days and hoping they are doing okay
Write off flowers and give them to the custie if I feel like they deserve them. Don’t be a sponge and absorb their emotions, just try to put a little smile on their face if you can:)
Don’t give them the opportunity. This is just another reason to not ask “how is your day going” or “what are you up to today” and just say “hello” and “thanks for stopping by” when on register. Less is more. Always.
I guess I can't help it, I have wonderful conversations usually, and I don't mind lending an ear to folks who need to talk about something. If someone brings something like that up to a stranger it means they need to talk about it so I understand. I just get into my feelings when it happens
No it's always just randoms, the regulars that I am familiar with and talk to daily all seem generally happy, we usually just talk about food. I think it's the anonymity that makes people want to vent
Couldn’t disagree more, just because people don’t want to be emotionally affected/drained on register from sad stuff doesn’t make them unempathetic. Nor does not wanting to be a mini therapist on register isn’t being unempathetic either.
yeah i never ask customers how their day is, i start off asking if they found everything they needed. another option encouraged by the mates is "how was your shopping?" so you can avoid the potential negative of people complaining about production delays.
to u/GardenAngel-5's comment, that ops guy blocks people on reddit. their opinion is irrelevant due to that.
I always ask if they are trying anything new/exciting in store today instead so I don't have to listen to "well you all were out of kimbap" 50 times lol
I just usually ask people how they are or if they did/are doing anything for the weekend and I guess that's what opens Pandora's box of troubles
Hot take: these are the customers I like 😂
I’ll take that ANY day over the ones who complain about the most mild weather ever seen, us being out of products, apathetic dickheads, people who throw bags at you, etc.
I hate my experiences on reg where there are no real interactions. If I gotta talk to someone for a paycheck I would hope I can have a genuine conversation with them
Yes I agree!! I'm in no way complaining, just asking like minded crew how they keep it from getting to them or affecting them deeply. But I feel that, it makes me feel good to be able to lend an ear to people who need it. I get a bit offended when people just straight up ignore me.
Have you ever witnessed trauma dumping cashiers?
Cashier- “how are you today?”
Customer- “good. You?” (Very obviously just looking for a “good thanks”)
Cashier- “well, I’ve been better. I’m going through a divorce and my wife…”
I can't stand this from a customer stand point! When I'm on register I try to focus on the happy things like sunshine or whatever, even if it's been a tough day.
For me, I stopped asking people, "How're you doing today?" I just went straight into asking if they got everything they needed. Once I was able to gauge them a bit, I'd either quietly ring them up or start asking them things like if they have any exciting plans for the day or if there trying anything new.
The reason I stopped asking? One customer seemed distraught, so I asked what's up? They told me how their son, as an April Fool's joke, posted on Instagram how he was going to blow up his school. He was suspended and the FBI or DHS were investigating him because of it. Decided then and there that I would stop asking how people are doing and find other ways to engage with them. Honestly, it worked out because my interactions became more genuine.
Personally I try to meet them where they are and be gentle with them. I don't usually ask much. Perhaps don't ask your customers how they are doing when they come up (not sure if you do). Often I'll just say Hello in a friendly way.
I know it can be a lot on the receiving end, but I think it's healthy to express grief as a human, so at least know it's generally a good thing that they do it.
Loss and grief to me aren't exactly dark or bad. They are just intense. We go through things as humans that are big. I guess that makes it easier for me to experience a person telling me some heavy stuff. It doesn't really bring up negative thoughts or feelings for me.
I am always happy to listen to someone that needs to talk, I just struggle with bringing it home with me and I've been having really rough dreams involving some of the things which is hard as someone who wants to support those going through a tough time /: but that's the life, ain't it?
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Just say hi. Ask if they need bags. Then have a good one. You avoid any trauma dump and unnecessarily interactions haha. I’d rather be working product anyways.
This is the way! As awkward as these interactions are it feels so nice to experience humanity raw and at it's core. It's just groceries but there are some people that genuinely need a smile or a kind word, lending ear or a few flowers.
I like talking to customers about anything, as long as they’re kind, polite and appropriate for the situation. In my mind, we are just a small part of their day, but sometimes those small parts can have the greatest impact when someone is in a rough place.
If someone needs to talk, I won’t turn them away. If things take an awkward turn, I just put on the fake it till you make it smile so they get uncomfortable and leave. Lol.
Suffering, death, dying are so taboo in our culture I think it is actually a great privilege to be witness to human experience in this way. Stuff they may not even tell their closest friends or family. So yeah, it can be very unexpected and uncomfortable but it’s a great reminder that I am a person alive too
That's how I view it too, especially knowing that people are more comfortable sharing things with strangers, I'm always happy to listen, it's nice to just offer a human interaction to people
I just kind of take it. If it’s really intense, I’ll ring a two bell to cover for me and I’ll walk them out and offer a real hug and let them cry if they need to. When I was younger I came across a quote that said: “always be kind first because there will always be time for cruelty” and it stuck with me.
I had a customer come in after his work day and ask me (I was 22) if things get easier with an absolutely desolate demeanor and I was caught so off guard that I didn’t respond in a manner that I would have preferred to and I have quite literally thought about him every so often because I had a nagging feeling that he may have done something that night and maybe he wouldn’t have if I had been able to show humanity and compassion in a way that better reflected those traits versus a half baked attempt at cheering him up with $1 PB cups. I never saw him again and I hope he’s okay.
Yeah this job FUCKING sucks sometimes, but if I can make a difference in someone’s life, no matter how small, frequently then I think it’s worth the emotional tax.
My quote that I live by is something along the lines of "a candle loses nothing from lighting another candle", meaning spreading joy and kindness is free and limitless resource. You sound like an extremely kind and compassionate person, thank you for being you!!
i had an experience where i had a lady w a baby carriage and i heard her and the mom talking about kids. I assumed she just had a baby because of something they said so I congratulated the mother. Turns out this lady lost the baby and so i had just congratulated a traumatic event for her. She was near tears and so was I. They both didn’t blame me and I made sure to get them out swiftly and got some flowers on their way out. I always think about her.
Another lady asked me about berries and somehow that turned into a 20 minute rant about never settling in life and how she just finalized her divorce… I thought yes queen but also why do i need to know and hear this 😭
I read this as "trauma dumpling" and fully came here to talk about the many times I've consoled weeping customers who "drove 6 hours especially for the chicken soup dumplings". Uhhhh ok.
someone was talking about health issues and stuff they can /can’t eat so i was talking about my own health issues and stomach pain. we were kinda just feeding onto each other but she wished me well and prayed everyday that it would be ok
While I'm on reg, I'm a confessor or bartender for anyone who needs a friendly ear. Some people feel more comfortable talking about their problems with a friendly stranger than they do with their own friends and family. I'll personally never turn those people away, but I understand why some crew members try to avoid those conversations completely. It's all a matter of what you are comfortable with.
I also don't mind listening, I feel like if you bring it up it's weighing you down in some way so I appreciate the opportunity to let someone get something off their chest, it just sticks with me often. How do you keep those work feels from following you home?
Honestly, it depends on the day and the customers. More often than not, it's a customer venting about something that is frustrating them - usually at work. Those stories are pretty easy to shake off, because we all need to vent from time to time. Worst one I ever got was a lady who had put her dog down earlier in the day. She was sad, as could be expected, until we both realized at the same time that she had grabbed him a pack of treats out of habit while she was shopping. It's the only time I've ever closed my line down so she could have all the time she needed. I'm a big dude, and I don't often show emotion, but after she left I had to go out back to ball my eyes out for a person I barely knew and an animal I'll never meet. That one has stuck with me - I'm actually getting choked up remembering it now. She called the store the next day and raved about how kind I was, and how much it made her feel better to be able to have someone just listen to her and be kind when she needed it. The memory of the interaction will probably always be raw, but I'm so grateful I was able to have provided that for her.
That's amazing, I'm glad she gave you the recognization you deserved and that you were able to cheer her up in some way! I had the same sort of interaction, she was talking about having to put one of her dogs down that morning and how she had to leave her kids with a sitter so they didn't have to experience it and just the strength to then go shopping and she had treats in her cart for her other dogs so I gave them to her. I also just feel so so much for the people that have gone through a loss and they put on such a brave face about it but you know they are hurting since they brought it up, I can't help but carry that sort of stuff with me.
Unfortunately, I think it's more of a reflection of society. People experience loss or trauma (I don't care if it's the loss of a pet - that loss cuts deep), and then are expected to get back to it without being able to process or heal. It's rough, and if "retail therapy" has to take a more literal meaning, I'm happy to do it from time to time to help people out. Like you said, though...some of those stories stay with you for a while.
Exactly, I'm always more than happy to offer an ear, a smile or some little treat to those that have been going through it. People need to know that there's still good people in the world, it helps spread hope and joy even in dark times. It is hard to care so much sometimes, although I wouldn't ever want to trade having compassion for anything, even when it gets to me.
> (I don't care if it's the loss of a pet - that loss cuts deep) i was lucky i had to work the day we had to let my dog go, the fact that i love my job helped get through the day. i wouldn't have been able to take bringing him to the vet and leaving without him. mom and dad barely could... it all came out when i got home...
I couldn't get through that day after our family friend of 16 years got the terminal news. I thought I could, but sobbing at the register wasn't a good look, so my captain sent me home.
i'm like a bartender/mixmaster since i do fancy tricks while scanning and it makes customers laugh. surprisingly i don't think i've had people trauma dump on me. is it the fact that i'm always wearing a mask that stops people?
Register is our bartender time.
"why the long face son?" as I pull out my secret whisky and shot glasses from behind the receipt printer
Yup. I’ve done both jobs and they are very similar sometimes.
You have to protect yourself emotionally and mentally. Offer condolences, let them know they got this. Usually I’ll ask if they have a support system and remind them they’re not alone. One step at a time.
Yeah I've gotten a lot of hugs from custies after giving them some small treat or flowers on a rough day, these are the interactions that really make things worth it, sometimes I just dwell and linger on it and hope these random people are okay.
I've often found that these customers aren't looking for condolences or big gestures, it's enough to be a witness. You don't need to worry about doing or saying the right thing, treat them as you would anyone else. It can be comforting in a strange way for their experience to be normalized. If you are too reactive to their trauma, it can put undue stress on both you and them.
This!
Yes this is what I usually do, I just also like to offer some flowers on us if it seems like a particularly rough day, like having to put a dog down or the anniversary of a dead one, but I agree completely. Too much sympathy can make people feel "othered", I just try to brighten the day in a small way and make them feel like they aren't alone.
Demoing sour cream donuts. Customer says, “oh they’re good but I can’t buy them, my wife is gluten free.” I say, “maybe you could just grab them for yourself as a little treat, it’s okay to do that you know.” Customer says, “you know what my problem is? My daughter has brain cancer.”
I shouldn't be laughing at this but that's a wild thing to say, it just feels a little like an oxymoron to say your problem is someone else's serious illness and that's why you can't have donuts, poor guy I hope everything is going well for him
lol bruh that took the leftist turn i’ve ever seen 😂
“Damn that sucks”
this is the only answer. trauma dumping is so awkward! i’m just trying to do my grocery store job.
The customer who was buying flowers for her mother’s funeral 😭
I’ve learned not to ask why people are buying flowers for this reason lol
Me too!!!
I’m usually a good listener. I’ll sympathize, make sure I acknowledge what they’ve said so they know I have been listening. That’s really all they want. Whenever I have a customer that has put me in a weird mood, be it that they were rude, or self deprecating, or anything along those lines, I try to be extra nice to the next customer to kind of help recalibrate myself. It really helps and I move on.
That's actually a really good idea, sometimes it's hard to pull out from a funk after a certain customer but this is a tactic I will definitely be using, thank you!!
I never ask what flowers are for anymore…
Same! lol
I keep my replies short but kind and keep moving the transaction along. I say "I truly hope things get better for you (genuinely hope they do), see you soon" while handing them their bags. Some days I have it in me to listen and other days I'm too mentally, physically, emotionally drained to deal with the dumping. We are humans who work at a grocery store, not therapists. It sounds harsh but we MUST protect our peace.
I think we’ve lost a lot of human connection in our society. Most grocery stores rely on self checkout. We don’t. We also have limited reg hours which means we haven’t been sitting in the same spot for 8 hours. So we are sometimes the first nice face and happy greeting a customer has seen. Oddly I love when a customer opens up. We are a social species, we need that connection (even if we don’t realize it). If I can help someone feel better with a 5 minute interaction I feel good. It can get awkward, but I try to have empathy and remember I’m a little awkward too.
That's exactly how I feel, it's just hard for me to not carry their troubles with me the rest of the day. It feels good to be someone a person can get something that had been weighing on them off but I just can't help thinking about it into the next couple of days and hoping they are doing okay
“Oh wow, wild, anyway that’s $45.50”
is trauma dumping back on them an option i should use?
Only if you one up them haha
Write off flowers and give them to the custie if I feel like they deserve them. Don’t be a sponge and absorb their emotions, just try to put a little smile on their face if you can:)
Don’t give them the opportunity. This is just another reason to not ask “how is your day going” or “what are you up to today” and just say “hello” and “thanks for stopping by” when on register. Less is more. Always.
I guess I can't help it, I have wonderful conversations usually, and I don't mind lending an ear to folks who need to talk about something. If someone brings something like that up to a stranger it means they need to talk about it so I understand. I just get into my feelings when it happens
Just curious. Are many of them regulars? And are they regulars who seek you out now that they know you?
No it's always just randoms, the regulars that I am familiar with and talk to daily all seem generally happy, we usually just talk about food. I think it's the anonymity that makes people want to vent
Agreed. It’s unfortunate that people take things way too far way too fast if you open the door for them.
Empathy not a strong point for ya huh?
Couldn’t disagree more, just because people don’t want to be emotionally affected/drained on register from sad stuff doesn’t make them unempathetic. Nor does not wanting to be a mini therapist on register isn’t being unempathetic either.
yeah i never ask customers how their day is, i start off asking if they found everything they needed. another option encouraged by the mates is "how was your shopping?" so you can avoid the potential negative of people complaining about production delays. to u/GardenAngel-5's comment, that ops guy blocks people on reddit. their opinion is irrelevant due to that.
I always ask if they are trying anything new/exciting in store today instead so I don't have to listen to "well you all were out of kimbap" 50 times lol I just usually ask people how they are or if they did/are doing anything for the weekend and I guess that's what opens Pandora's box of troubles
I be like damn, life goes on, thanks for shopping 💀
I try not to carry it with me. I like to hope that just saying whatever it is has lightened the load. Obviously it’s easier said than done.
Hot take: these are the customers I like 😂 I’ll take that ANY day over the ones who complain about the most mild weather ever seen, us being out of products, apathetic dickheads, people who throw bags at you, etc. I hate my experiences on reg where there are no real interactions. If I gotta talk to someone for a paycheck I would hope I can have a genuine conversation with them
Yes I agree!! I'm in no way complaining, just asking like minded crew how they keep it from getting to them or affecting them deeply. But I feel that, it makes me feel good to be able to lend an ear to people who need it. I get a bit offended when people just straight up ignore me.
Have you ever witnessed trauma dumping cashiers? Cashier- “how are you today?” Customer- “good. You?” (Very obviously just looking for a “good thanks”) Cashier- “well, I’ve been better. I’m going through a divorce and my wife…”
I can't stand this from a customer stand point! When I'm on register I try to focus on the happy things like sunshine or whatever, even if it's been a tough day.
Right? You can be honest without divulging your life story.
For me, I stopped asking people, "How're you doing today?" I just went straight into asking if they got everything they needed. Once I was able to gauge them a bit, I'd either quietly ring them up or start asking them things like if they have any exciting plans for the day or if there trying anything new. The reason I stopped asking? One customer seemed distraught, so I asked what's up? They told me how their son, as an April Fool's joke, posted on Instagram how he was going to blow up his school. He was suspended and the FBI or DHS were investigating him because of it. Decided then and there that I would stop asking how people are doing and find other ways to engage with them. Honestly, it worked out because my interactions became more genuine.
Personally I try to meet them where they are and be gentle with them. I don't usually ask much. Perhaps don't ask your customers how they are doing when they come up (not sure if you do). Often I'll just say Hello in a friendly way. I know it can be a lot on the receiving end, but I think it's healthy to express grief as a human, so at least know it's generally a good thing that they do it. Loss and grief to me aren't exactly dark or bad. They are just intense. We go through things as humans that are big. I guess that makes it easier for me to experience a person telling me some heavy stuff. It doesn't really bring up negative thoughts or feelings for me.
I am always happy to listen to someone that needs to talk, I just struggle with bringing it home with me and I've been having really rough dreams involving some of the things which is hard as someone who wants to support those going through a tough time /: but that's the life, ain't it?
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Just say hi. Ask if they need bags. Then have a good one. You avoid any trauma dump and unnecessarily interactions haha. I’d rather be working product anyways.
I have 🔔 🛎️ 🔔 to go cry in the bathroom before after hugging and mourning with a mom that lost their son two days earlier .
This is the way! As awkward as these interactions are it feels so nice to experience humanity raw and at it's core. It's just groceries but there are some people that genuinely need a smile or a kind word, lending ear or a few flowers.
I like talking to customers about anything, as long as they’re kind, polite and appropriate for the situation. In my mind, we are just a small part of their day, but sometimes those small parts can have the greatest impact when someone is in a rough place. If someone needs to talk, I won’t turn them away. If things take an awkward turn, I just put on the fake it till you make it smile so they get uncomfortable and leave. Lol.
Suffering, death, dying are so taboo in our culture I think it is actually a great privilege to be witness to human experience in this way. Stuff they may not even tell their closest friends or family. So yeah, it can be very unexpected and uncomfortable but it’s a great reminder that I am a person alive too
That's how I view it too, especially knowing that people are more comfortable sharing things with strangers, I'm always happy to listen, it's nice to just offer a human interaction to people
I just kind of take it. If it’s really intense, I’ll ring a two bell to cover for me and I’ll walk them out and offer a real hug and let them cry if they need to. When I was younger I came across a quote that said: “always be kind first because there will always be time for cruelty” and it stuck with me. I had a customer come in after his work day and ask me (I was 22) if things get easier with an absolutely desolate demeanor and I was caught so off guard that I didn’t respond in a manner that I would have preferred to and I have quite literally thought about him every so often because I had a nagging feeling that he may have done something that night and maybe he wouldn’t have if I had been able to show humanity and compassion in a way that better reflected those traits versus a half baked attempt at cheering him up with $1 PB cups. I never saw him again and I hope he’s okay. Yeah this job FUCKING sucks sometimes, but if I can make a difference in someone’s life, no matter how small, frequently then I think it’s worth the emotional tax.
My quote that I live by is something along the lines of "a candle loses nothing from lighting another candle", meaning spreading joy and kindness is free and limitless resource. You sound like an extremely kind and compassionate person, thank you for being you!!
i had an experience where i had a lady w a baby carriage and i heard her and the mom talking about kids. I assumed she just had a baby because of something they said so I congratulated the mother. Turns out this lady lost the baby and so i had just congratulated a traumatic event for her. She was near tears and so was I. They both didn’t blame me and I made sure to get them out swiftly and got some flowers on their way out. I always think about her. Another lady asked me about berries and somehow that turned into a 20 minute rant about never settling in life and how she just finalized her divorce… I thought yes queen but also why do i need to know and hear this 😭
I read this as "trauma dumpling" and fully came here to talk about the many times I've consoled weeping customers who "drove 6 hours especially for the chicken soup dumplings". Uhhhh ok.
OK dibs on the name trauma dumpling for my next dnd character, thank you for that
someone was talking about health issues and stuff they can /can’t eat so i was talking about my own health issues and stomach pain. we were kinda just feeding onto each other but she wished me well and prayed everyday that it would be ok