I’m female, and my dad said the same thing to me! Kept me from over-dramatizing. He’s a retired career Marine, and my mom is every bit as tough as he is. I’m thankful now that they didn’t put up with much.
I did this in the Waffle House. Left the bathroom, walked clear across the restaurant to stand by my hubby while he paid, then clear back across the restaurant to the door, before hubby saw it and told me.
That’s a good solution. I put a safety pin on one side.