The Time I Was Almost “That” Judgy Mom- Mommy Blogger

03/22/2019

I’m Liv from Saskatoon, I am Momma to 2 kiddos- Holden, my very energetic 5 year old and Lexi my spunky 1.5 year old. I am also Stepmomma to a beautiful 12 year old, Breanna. I am married to truck driver Brandon, who spends a lot of days away from home. When I’m not momming (is that ever?) I am a Recreation Director at a seniors home in Saskatoon. I am passionate about health and wellness and coffee. Coffee is my jam. I’m new to the whole blogging thing but I find putting my thoughts to paper is a wonderous form of self care

Recently I had an experience which took me aback and I rather shocked myself. I tend to think of myself as quite a positive person. I try and look on the good side of things and rarely do I find myself thinking negatively towards another person (that being unless they’ve done something horrible, but let’s not get into that…). I also, am quite averse to being judgmental of others’ parenting.

I was pulling into the parking lot of the grocery store; I saw an open spot reserved for pregnant women or parents with small kids. Seeing as I had my 2 small children with me and a sore back I decided to capitalize on that. A truck in the lane closest to the spot had the same idea, and promptly took the space. I did however on the opposite side find the exact same spot.

I found myself fuming…looking in the truck I saw a younger man and a dog in the front seat. Here I was thinking “What…the…heck! He just took a spot for himself and his dog?!” I stared at him, my kids chirping in the back wondering why we weren’t exiting the vehicle. I had in it in my mind I was going to let him have it. MOMS NEED this spot, who does he think he is?! Sure, I had found the exact spot luckily- but what if another someone came along?

By some force of nature, I hesitated exiting the vehicle as he did his, and suddenly the man went to his back seat and carried out a child aged in between my 2 children- who was kicking, screaming, and crying.

I suddenly felt…awful. Mind you, not as awful as I would have felt had I said something. I got my kids out of the car and the man and I and our children walked into the store at the same time. My kids by some grace of God were acting relatively decent at this moment, and as our 2 families loaded up and readied our carts the man, whose child was still throwing a tantrum, quietly and sweetly told the child “look how nicely those 2 kids are acting”. I gave them both a smile, and said “Trust me, this is unusual” and I gave him a sympathetic look. No sooner that we entered the store my oldest began to act up because we didn’t head straight for the candy and my youngest was suddenly averse to her rubber boots and promptly removed them and threw them across the aisle.

I still felt awful, I felt judgmental- how could I have been so quick to react like this? It was a good reminder that we are all dealing with some kind of stuff in our daily lives. Some days are great, easy; and some days are downright awful and we can barely trudge from hour to hour. We all have our battles, and as parents the battles are all the same- no matter who you are.