Bless your heart.
Thats what a lady told me today in Target while my youngest was on the ground screaming on top of her lungs. She too was a mom of younger kids probably around 6 years of age.
It all started with a stupid cart. I no longer like carts. I dislike carts now or maybe dislike is to settle of a word; I hate carts. I know I shouldn't say the word "hate" because I teach my own kids not to use such a harsh word. Helen did not want to sit in the cart, therefore I strapped here in nice and tightly so she couldn't slither out and stand up. Let the screaming rage begin. Usually once we walk in the store she is distracted enough and settles down. Well, that was far from the case today.
We keep about in the store trying and stop in the shoe isle where Helen then decided to throw herself on the floor and have a total melt down. Nothing at this point was going to satisfy her. I couldn't even touch her with out her bellowing out an ear piercing scream. She no longer even wanted to walk; which is what she wanted to do in the first place! I tried and tried and tried again for what seemed to be 10 minutes and maybe to others around us as well, but in all reality more like 3 minutes of being in the store. People stared at us, literally looked around the isles, and a nice lady then said, "bless your heart." Little did that the nice lady know I was about to have a melt down myself as a parent. I grabbed Helen up off the floor and the 2 oldest followed behind as tears started falling.
For the first time in my life as a parent I officially felt defeated. Ultimately defeated like I was stomped on and someone had put a big sign in front of my face saying, "you lose!" There have been moments where I've felt defeated as a parent, but nothing compared to this. Not with an audience in public.
Once we arrived back to the car, I sat Helen in her car seat. In a firm voice I had a little chat with her. I think she understood what she did was naughty and hurtful to Mommy. She leaned over and gave me a hug and melted my heart. We tried again and this time I choose to let her walk. The second time around she was calm held tightly on my finger as we walked through Target. I'm sure people might have been confused if she were the same child. Ha ha.
After all I felt accomplished. I overcame being defeated. I as a parent won the battle.
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7 comments
I am glad your ordeal ended with a sweet hug. We don't always get lots of thank yous and often it seems like we are not fully appreciated. Hang in there. One day our children will fully understand what we went through as mothers, especially when they have their own. The we will be MiMi or Grans, they throw tantrums and we can give their children back to them. :)
Whenever a mother is dealing with a toddler who is having a meltdown, I try to smile at them. In the moment it feels like everyone is staring, judging - we've all been there. Then they calm down and - like you said - it's like they're a completely different child! I like how Mary-andering Creatively put it.:)
oh I have been there a ton of times. I recently wrote about a time when both of my girls were screaming in Target and all the pregnant women were giving me the "that won't be my child" look. Being a parent is not easy! Thank you for linking up with Favorite Thing Friday!
Thank you. You are right now. My mother often tells me, "this is pay backs." I sympathize what I put her through now. Ha ha!
Continue those smiles! I know when another mother smiles at me it helps. Unlike those other parents staring with judgment.
My heart is with you! I love when pregnant women give them looks! Little do they know what is headed their way...only time will show them. :)
I totally used to be one of those pregnant women.... not anymore........ Braylon taught me different lol
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