Stop Staying This!

Here we are, at the grocery store again. This is probably the third time we've been here this week, because those malnourished kids in the PediaSure commercials don't live at my house. I look at the list repeatedly, because somehow once I enter the store I turn into Dory from Finding Nemo and can't remember what it was I just read two seconds ago. One child is running his tongue down the edge of the raw meat display (that actually happened once), another is insisting on helping push the cart and running into every end cap (this happens every time), and the baby is farting so loud people think its me. I look up to scan the aisle numbers and make eye contact. CRAP! Here they come, they are going to say something to me. I know that they are going to say something to me because they are making that face that you make when you're waiting for someone to take a breath during conversation so you can say whatever it was you thought of while you were pretending to listen. I know I should be thinking of some way in that moment I could be Jesus in this situation, that I should be ready to love on them, but I will be totally honest all I can think is Please just walk by. Please don't say it. "Boy I bet you have your hands full!" THERE IT IS! What gave it away? The fact that my yoga pants have spit up on them or that I've left the house with deodorant only on one under arm and eyeliner on one eye?

Why do people always say that!?! How is that helpful? Thank you for pointing out the fact that it looks like I'm overwhelmed. How come no one ever says "Hang in there, you're doing a great job."?
How come I never say that?

Have you ever seen two bikers pass each other on the highway and they give the low wave? We mothers loaded down with kids, need some signal like this. Something that says "I feel your pain sister. I know you haven't bathed yet today, and thats okay. Cause you were brave enough to go out in public, so good on ya!"

So I offer you a challenge today, whether you are single or a Mom of one or a Mom of seven. (I'm stopping right now and praying for you, if that's you.) Next time you see a Mom that looks at the end of her rope, with kids hanging off of her like some sick game of barrel of monkeys. DO NOT SAY "You sure do have your hands full." (I imagine some hokey hardy har laugh here.) but instead encourage, lift up, edify. She needs it...we need it!!

And they're not always a handful.