Today we were at the Children’s Museum in the train room. The train room turned out to be pretty intense, with lots of little 3-5 year old train enthusiasts hanging around. One little boy (I’ll call him Freddie) was playing with the trains and Little T got a little too close and Freddie turned and shouted, “PLEASE DONT PUSH ME!” The mom said he did a great job using his words, and Freddie did! He may have shouted, but those sorts of things are hard for a toddler to articulate and I’m glad he’s learning to voice how he feels instead of pushing or hitting. Another little boy moved over to Freddie and grabbed one of his trains, and Freddie started crying in frustration and his mom encouraged him to ask for his train back. With all of his strength, Freddie shouted through his tears with his fists clenched, “PLEASE GIVE ME MY TRAIN BACK!” The little boy didn’t give Freddie his train back, which made Freddie cry. The mother then picked Freddie up and took him to another room to give him a break.
What made me sad, was another mom in the room who looked at me and rolled her eyes when they left. I smiled and said, “sharing can be so tough for kids this age.” The mom agreed and changed her tone. Parenting is tough, and I truly believe that us mom’s have got to stick together. The truth is, sometimes I feel like a completely inadequate mom. Today I was juggling a tired Little T, while I struggled to find change for the metro in my purse, and dropped nearly everything on the ground. It’s so easy for me to think about how I should be more organized, how I should teach my 18 month son to stay nearby or hold my hand so I don’t have to hold him when I’m looking for something, and how I’m probably getting the stink eye from people who are wondering why I don’t have my mommy act together. But I can’t be perfect and make perfect decisions all the time, because then I’d scare people away with my perfect decision making super powers. 😉
We’re all doing the best we can, and every child is unique. Maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I hate it when people judge others, especially when they’re trying so hard. So please, if you see a mom having a hard time, give her a smile of encouragement. I live for these smiles when I’m having a tough mommy moment. That mom in the train room probably really needed a smile instead of an eye roll.
But anyway, excuse my rant…we really had a great time at the Children’s Museum today. If it weren’t for his nap, we would have stayed there for hours!
This Little Blog of Mine 
This was so sweet, it totally put me to tears. Yes, I will smile at the next mom or parent having a tough time. Thank you.
Thank you, it really broke my heart seeing that mother working so hard with her son and then have someone be rude about it. It’s a hard job, being a parent.
Those little smiles can mean the world when your having a “mommy moment”. Being a parent is a tough job and there is no clear instruction booklet either…….People can just be so rude sometimes. Thanks for shraing this story….and rest assured I will be having my smile ready for the next “mommy moment” I see. Stopping by and following your blog from the Making New Friends Blog Hop!
Those moments are so hard for me as well. You just want to swoop in and save them from the discomfort of someone slighting them, but I’m really trying hard not to “hoover” too much. And Mommy, cut yourself some slack… you’re in the metro with an 18 month old. That’s hard enough without a baby!
That’s probably the kindest most gentle rant ever LOL……this is such good advice to remember. I’m a first time mom when I go to the nursery ( which I’ve not really left my 11 month old there yet) they always tease me and say “1st time mom” It’s a good think they are like family or I would say something but I just shrug it off. We do need to stick together. Thanks for participating in my hop Make my morning so glad I found your blog 🙂
so often being a mom can be an isolating experience, and instead of supporting each other we judge each other. this was a very thoughtful reflection and a helpful reminder to all to support and celebrate other parents who are trying their best.
new to your blog, but enjoying your posts and photos