As moms, we all know what kind of mom I am referring to……..
The mom that looks at the young mom and gives a little smile.
The mom that sweetly smiles and giggles as you discipline your child in the store, and just watches you.
The mom that offers to help you with your bag, when you look like your about to drop said bag.
The mom that asks if she can help you out the door, when you have a cart in one hand and a car seat in the other.
The mom that seems to be watching you as you multi- task.
The mom that looks at you and pats you on the shoulder and says, “Enjoy these sweet moments, they grow up so quickly.”
I felt sorry for them. Such old women, probably lonely and I was sure that they had cats at home waiting on them. I would tell myself that this type of interaction was good for them. I would politely smile at THOSE moms and engage in chit chat about my boys and smile when she would say that these times were precious.
I hated those moms. When my big kids were little, I felt like I was being watched. I felt as if they were going to offer advice. I felt as if they were waiting for me to mess up as a mother, so they could point out what I could do differently.
Now that my oldest is 20, I wish I would have stopped and listened more to THOSE moms. I wish I would have hugged them and learned from them. I wish I would have taken their advice and their sweet words and grown from them.
I have become THAT mom.
When I give a little smile at a young mom, I am thinking, What a brave young woman to be a mom today, I wonder if someone is loving her like she should be loved. I wonder if she is tired. I wonder if she is taking care of herself.
When I see a mom discipline her child in a store and smile, I am thinking back to disciplining my own child when he yelled cuss words at the top of his lungs in the store, and I giggle.
When I offer to help you with a bag, that you are about to drop, I’m remembering trying to do it all as a mom and often wishing I had a few more arms.
When I offer to help you out the door, I want to help you, I know you can handle it, but I want to help, because my arms are empty.
When I watch you multi- task I am marveling at the fact you can shop, open a pack of gummies, wipe a nose and still be crossing things off your list.
And when I look at you and tell you, “Enjoy these sweet moments, they grow up so quickly” I say that because they do, children grow up so quickly.
No, I am not a stalker, no creepy cat lady here, just a mom that has walked down the road of motherhood. The smile I give comes with no judgment, just a deep admiration for what it takes to be a mother.
So don’t hate me, when you see me smile or giggle, or offer to help, or say some phrase about your kids growing up in a blink of an eye……..I’m just applauding you, because you are an amazing mom.
I am THAT mom.
And your advice and wisdom as “that mom” has been invaluable and precious to me!
Maybe I’m just having an emotional day, but this one made me cry! Thanks so much, Cheryl! You are such an encouragement to SO MANY people! Thanks for being THAT Mom.
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