I'm pretty sure I'm someone's Facebook status tonight. "OMG I just saw the worst mom ever! She was screaming at her kid in the parking lot at the park! Some people just shouldn't have children!" I mean, haven't we all seen and judged someone similarly? I do it. I hate myself for it too. My daughter darted into the parking lot this evening, trying to catch a friend. At the same time, a van was backing up. In that moment, I became a screaming lunatic. I think Jonathan Goldsmith said it best, "I don't always scream at my child, but when I do, it's in a public place where everyone can hear me." I'm pretty sure he said that, anyway.
After we both calmed down, there were tears and hugs and kisses and kind friends making sure we were both ok. It sort of ruined my night though. All I could think about was what other people must have thought. Then it occurred to me, it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks. They don't know what happened and it reminded me of that Plato quote, 'Be kind; everyone you meet is fighing a hard battle.'
Lets be kind to one another. Lets not judge another mom for her mothering. For her kid's clothes, shoes, food, toys, bedtime, traditions, rules......fill in the blank. That's not to say we shouldn't hold each other accountable to growing and becoming the women God created us to be.
Tonight I'm grateful for God's protection of my little girl and for Ben and Jerry's.
