I was in utter shock.
I'd always promised myself to never, I mean never, allow my children to pitch a fit in public.
And then I had one of these precious creatures.
We got along just fine until she was 15 months old. And then something happened. She looked the same on the outside. But some shockingly loud and demanding creature had somehow taken up residence inside my little blue-eyed daughter.
Her peaches and cream complexion had suddenly become red, pinched and twisted. Her body was flailing on the ground with animal crackers spilled all around her.
She had wanted them now. I had said no. Then from out of nowhere the terrible two's made an early debut. In the grocery store check out line. With other Moms looking on.
Moms whose kids suddenly started shining their halos and rising up to call their mom blessed in the shadow of my child's most unfortunate behavior.
Perfectly airbrushed models from the magazine racks joined the others staring at me. They were dressed in clothes with no unsightly stains and wrinkles. Their makeup was smooth and flawless.
I stood in such stark contrast to all the onlookers.
I started sweating profusely as I leaned down to try and say something, anything, to take control of this situation. One of her kicking red keds then knocked my wallet out of my hand. Cards, receipts, and coins scattered about in an array of disorganized glory.
I just kept repeating one statement over and over in my head, "My number one job as a mom is to remain calm. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't freak out."
Many, many grocery trips later I stared into those same blue eyes. Only this time they were surrounded by mascared eyelashes on a teenager's face. Though she wasn't flailing about on the linoleum floor, her crossed arms and rigid stance brought back memories of the great animal cracker debacle from years before.
That very same statement popped into my head, "My number one job as a mom is to remain calm. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't freak out."
Oh how I wish I could claim to be an expert on this topic. One that has fool proof answer tucked in my back pocket that always helps me remain calm.
But the truth is, I'm a mom on a journey. A mom who doesn't have all the answers and a mom who doesn't always hold to my conviction to remain calm and not freak out.
However, that's the beauty of a journey. It allows for treasures to be accumulated along the way. And I've learned a thing or two.
I've learned to be aware of the triggers that chip away at my resolve. Triggers come in all forms. Too little sleep. Too many to-do's. Too tight of a time schedule. Too little planning. Things common for many moms. Being aware of these triggers and doing my best to eliminate them keeps my emotions from escalating and my temper from flaring.
I've also learned to be honest with my boundaries. Saying no can sometimes be the most positive answer. No one benefits from a worn out mama.
And I've learned when my kids make poor choices to let the consequences of those poor choices scream so I don't have to. I love reality discipline.
Which brings me to the reason that my precious blue-eyed teen was standing with crossed arms and a rigid stance. It's a bummer when you leave your lunch at home and you have to spend your own money to replace it on the way to school. Money which would have been more fun to spend on earrings.
Just for old times sake I thought about also making her buy ME some animal crackers. Because I'm sentimental like that.
Isn't fun to be a Mom? Keep your cool sister... and never let 'em see you sweat.
I'd always promised myself to never, I mean never, allow my children to pitch a fit in public.
And then I had one of these precious creatures.
We got along just fine until she was 15 months old. And then something happened. She looked the same on the outside. But some shockingly loud and demanding creature had somehow taken up residence inside my little blue-eyed daughter.
Her peaches and cream complexion had suddenly become red, pinched and twisted. Her body was flailing on the ground with animal crackers spilled all around her.
She had wanted them now. I had said no. Then from out of nowhere the terrible two's made an early debut. In the grocery store check out line. With other Moms looking on.
Moms whose kids suddenly started shining their halos and rising up to call their mom blessed in the shadow of my child's most unfortunate behavior.
Perfectly airbrushed models from the magazine racks joined the others staring at me. They were dressed in clothes with no unsightly stains and wrinkles. Their makeup was smooth and flawless.
I stood in such stark contrast to all the onlookers.
I started sweating profusely as I leaned down to try and say something, anything, to take control of this situation. One of her kicking red keds then knocked my wallet out of my hand. Cards, receipts, and coins scattered about in an array of disorganized glory.
I just kept repeating one statement over and over in my head, "My number one job as a mom is to remain calm. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't freak out."
Many, many grocery trips later I stared into those same blue eyes. Only this time they were surrounded by mascared eyelashes on a teenager's face. Though she wasn't flailing about on the linoleum floor, her crossed arms and rigid stance brought back memories of the great animal cracker debacle from years before.
That very same statement popped into my head, "My number one job as a mom is to remain calm. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't freak out."
Oh how I wish I could claim to be an expert on this topic. One that has fool proof answer tucked in my back pocket that always helps me remain calm.
But the truth is, I'm a mom on a journey. A mom who doesn't have all the answers and a mom who doesn't always hold to my conviction to remain calm and not freak out.
However, that's the beauty of a journey. It allows for treasures to be accumulated along the way. And I've learned a thing or two.
I've learned to be aware of the triggers that chip away at my resolve. Triggers come in all forms. Too little sleep. Too many to-do's. Too tight of a time schedule. Too little planning. Things common for many moms. Being aware of these triggers and doing my best to eliminate them keeps my emotions from escalating and my temper from flaring.
I've also learned to be honest with my boundaries. Saying no can sometimes be the most positive answer. No one benefits from a worn out mama.
And I've learned when my kids make poor choices to let the consequences of those poor choices scream so I don't have to. I love reality discipline.
Which brings me to the reason that my precious blue-eyed teen was standing with crossed arms and a rigid stance. It's a bummer when you leave your lunch at home and you have to spend your own money to replace it on the way to school. Money which would have been more fun to spend on earrings.
Just for old times sake I thought about also making her buy ME some animal crackers. Because I'm sentimental like that.
Isn't fun to be a Mom? Keep your cool sister... and never let 'em see you sweat.
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