As Parents, being judged can be really hard to deal with.
Before kids, I judged a LOT!
I remember one time specifically I saw a mom down the cereal
aisle. A toddler – 3 or 4 years old, sat in the cart
screaming and crying and making a huge racket.
And I thought – Why doesn’t that mother do something! I don’t need to hear this!
Little did I know that a few years down the road, I would be
THAT mom! And I would come to realize doing nothing – is all you can do in that
situation.
I am the one with the Toddler in the cart screaming and
doing my best to get the grocery shopping done.
And as I pass another mom in the
store, instead of judging – I give a knowing smile. The smile that says: Yep! I’m
that mom, too!
One of the things I had a hard time with –even after my
oldest was walking – was the child leash thing.
I mean really? You are putting your kid on a leash!?!?!
My oldest NEVER ran far, and to this day she STILL holds
onto a hand, the stroller or the cart when we are out and about. She is NEVER more than a few feet from
me. Even at the playground, if she can’t
see me she gets upset.
#2, on the other hand!
DAMN! I can’t keep the kid in the
stroller, much less holding my hand.
And she has super powers - she runs faster
than a cheetah!
Last weekend we had a picnic at
Dance. I turned my back for literally 30
seconds and when I turned back she was GONE!
The panic set in, the tears started and I could feel the paralyzing fear
slowly creep through my body!
Scared me to death.
Luckily, another dad in the group
caught her before she ran into the road!
First thing I did when we got home…
I went on Amazon.com and bought my daughter a leash!
So yes, now I am THAT mom!
I let my kids scream through the store while
I am shopping.
And I WILL be that mom, the one with the kid on the leash at Disney World
next month.
But you know what I won’t be?
I won’t be the mom at Disney sending out a
search party to find Bekah.
