Yea, on Friday, that Mom was ME.
We went to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. It was super fun, and great, most of the day. We played with baby kangaroos, we held Lemurs from Madagascar. We saw 5 week old Bengal tigers. And there were very few people there. My friend, Nanaette and her two wonderful children came with us, and it was great.
Until the afternoon heat hit. Then Little Dude was done. Or hyped up on energy from his peanut butter sandwich at lunch. Somehow he converted it all to sugar and reved his engine up 100%. Maybe 200%.
He ran in circles around me. He ran ahead on the trail. He took his shirt off and refused to put it back on. He jumped and screamed and wouldn't stay in the bird area while we were there; instead he ran circles around the small bird building. (It was a totally caged aviary, so I could see him running around the building the whole time-he was never out of my sight). But I have to admit I didn't want to go after him and expose myself as the Mom of the crazy, screaming, dirt-covered-shirtless toddler pretending to be an airplane. Eventually I had to, since we were moving on to the deer area.
He was sweet and shared some of a blue slushy with his brother, for a few seconds. Then Little Dude poured it on JR. As Nanette and I tried to wash JR off so he wasn't sticky, we realized that whatever dye was in the slushy drink WAS NOT COMING OFF JR'S SKIN.
So I had a blue baby wobbling around and a crazy laughing toddler sprinting circles through the zoo and ignoring my pleads/yells to COME HERE NOW.
I noticed one young couple watching me, and it hit me.
I was THAT Mom. I had just ensured they would not be having kids for a few more years. Their faces said it all; they were rather horrified.
And in that moment, though I was embarrassed and at a loss at how to get control back from my toddlers, I realized something important.
Sometimes, THAT Mom, is just simply having a tough few minutes, or in my case, a bad hour in the hot hot sun. And though it LOOKS like she is a completely irresponsible, not-on-top-of-parenting parent, just keep watching. Eventually the toddler will come over and say he is sorry, and the baby will start rubbing sand on himself, making the blue skin not as noticeable (or sticky) and he will slow down from exhaustion so he can be captured and placed back in the carrier.
And all will be right with the world. At least until tomorrow.
9 comments:
Michelle, I had to laugh while reading this post. And only because I've been there too! Oh, those moments are awful when the kids are going crazy and everyone is staring - or at least it feels that way. I just remind myself that I used to be one of those young, childless couples shaking my head at the irresponsible mother. One day, they too will realize that even the best parents of the most wonderful children, have their really bad moments. And most of the time, those moments are in public. Oh the fun!
I know my first "that" mom moment made me realize how horrible I was for judging those other moms. Don't worry, that couple will eventually have kids and will have their own moment.
Did you at least get a picture of the blue baby so you can laugh about it later?
-Abby
PS- Definitely want to meet-up at Marbles. I'll shoot you an email soon.
I think that we've all been in that situation. I know that I certainly have been!!!
I've been that mom and probably worse! Those days are def. memorable. maybe one day we'll look back and laugh.
No, I don't judge moms who have such moments, because I know all too well, what such moments feel like. If I see a mom who is having trouble I offer a friendly smile... or a hand. :) Yes, I'm really that nice. :)
Thank you for this post....last night John and I went out to dinner and happened to be sitting a table over from two obviously new parents. Their baby couldn't have been more than a month or two, and about halfway through dinner, he began to scream. The parents frantically tried to shush him, to no avail, looking around frantically because they were worried about offending the other diners, but unable to get the baby quiet. It made me think of this post, and how sometimes those of us without kids can be pretty judgemental of you guys when they go crazy in public. Never again! :)
no worries...we have all been that mom :)
i think we are all that Mom at one time or another. Some of us more than others. ;)
Nell
Oh that just stinks being THAT mom. But then again, I am thinking of just getting a tatoo with it on there. I was THAT mom three different times today. Once with a screaming toddler laying on the floor of Walgreens. Another when he knocked over a bottle of juice at the store & it busted open all over the isle. And again at a restaurant when he decided to scream and throw things. Yeah, THAT mom is me. Welcome to the club.
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