Monday, March 1, 2010

those mothers

I became one of them today. One of those mothers. You know the ones. They’ve got kids hanging on the cart at the grocery store who are whiny and disrespectful and they snarl at their children to BE QUIET and STOP IT and FOR GOODNESS SAKE NOT RIGHT NOW.

It all started with an ill-timed trip to Target for Twin A. to pick up the New Super Mario Bros. with his birthday money. Never mind that it was almost time to start making dinner and—oh yeah—Twin B. is still grounded from his DSi. (I know, this trip sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it?)

Actually, the shopping itself was fine. We even picked out a birthday present for a friend’s party coming up. It was all good until the checkout aisle when the preschooler asked for a pack of gum.

And I said no.

(I know…the nerve.)

You see, we’d been grocery shopping earlier this morning and I had already bought him a pack of gum. I explained this to him, but three-year olds use about as much logic for their purchases as lizards, which is to say, none. So he escalated his request. “No, no, no, that gum is from ALDI. I want gum from TARGET.”

The tantrum was interspersed with a carefully rehearsed speech from Twin B. that maybe he could POSTPONE being grounded from his DSi until, you know, he got tired of playing with Twin A.'s new game.

Right.

And so it was that I found myself in the parking lot half dragging a crying preschooler screaming for gum and arguing with an eight-year old and yelling at everyone to just GET IN THE VAN when I noticed a young couple without kids holding hands and glancing my way, giving me the look. You know the look. The when-I-have-kids-I-will-never-ever-talk-to-them-that-way look. My children will always be polite and respectful and they will never beg for gum because I will teach them to behave better than that.

To which I can only say…yeah. Me too.

12 comments:

Patty Kyrlach said...

Cracking up, Llama Mama. Some days are just like that. I've seen that look. . . .

Sues said...

YES! YES! YES! I have so been that mom... Yay for supportive commiseration!!!

Leslie said...

I've been that mom. Oh, I've been that mom.

I think it's worse to be the mom who gives in, but to be honest, I've been her, too.

Anonymous said...

guilty of being that mom. also guilty of giving (before I ever had kids, of course) of giving the look. guilty as charged. sigh. suzy

Learning Daily - Kiya said...

So true- I have been that mom dragging my kiddos out of the store to get stares and comments from others as they continue to have a tantrum. But the great part is that this doesn't happen very often!!!

Lara said...

I got that look just the other morning before school as I was headed back into my own house dragging one of my crying children. Only it was the look with the added and I know where you live raised eyebrow. I wondered whether I should be putting on coffee for DCFS or not.

Sarah said...

Oh, that has never happened to me. I know you don't believe me, and you shouldn't! HUGS!

megs @ whadusay said...

Oh I SO hear you on this, I hate those spectacle mom moments. Ah, the joys of motherhood! :)

ChosenRebel said...

I think I was that Dad a couple of times. Good post at aholyexperience.com today. Take a look.

Llama Momma said...

Chosen Rebel -- LOVED Ann's post. She's spot on, as usual.

Liberty said...

I was such a good mom before I had kids!

Elizabeth said...

...and I was never going to walk away from my child while they had their tantrum in the middle of the aisle at Jewel, either....yeah, right! Been there, done that! You're a GREAT Mom, LM!!