A few weeks ago I was at the grocery store with all three kids. One of them was BORED and being particularly difficult bugging his little sister–who then started to wail and hit him back, which dominoed and he started wailing as well.
I’m used to getting looks and comments when I’m out (usually something about how young I look to have three kids and are they really ALL mine?), but I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the embarrassment of dealing with a public tantrum.
I pulled my cart to the side of the aisle, then squatted down to comfort and then scold both. Once things were back in control and everyone was situated in the cart again I looked up to see an older woman watching me. She smiled and commented on how I sure had my hands full. I embarrassingly laughed and agreed.
Then she got close to my face, nodded toward the kids and sincerely and quietly said, “I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but someday you’ll miss this.”
I doubt she has any idea, but that small comment has begun to mean a lot to me and I’ve tried to remember it to when I’m starting to feel overwhelmed.
Besides trusting one day I WILL miss this, I’m so thankful she had the courage to say something to me in the midst of a difficult situation.
Photo by Aja Shoup
(I will definitely miss this.)
That is very sweet and such a good reminder to live by. I love when God sends people like that to speak truth into our lives and provide encouragement! We have had our share of public tantrums lately as well. One was over our daughter’s desire to get out of the shopping cart. We had let her out, she ran off, so we put her back in. She screamed at the top of her lungs and it was very embarrassing. An older woman came up to us and told us that she’d rather listen to the screaming than to see a child running up and down the aisles out of control, so we should be proud that we did the right thing. That made me feel better!
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pameladonnis Reply:
October 20th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I agree, I’d rather have my kids screaming in the cart because they want to get out than not staying with me. Not that they would be running out of control, but they do tend to wander off to look at things. . . (still embarrassing though!)
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I have 3 crazy little boys who seriously drive me nuts every single day. I love love love them all to death and I’d never change my life for anything, but it really drains the life out of me at times. When my twins were 8 months old and my oldest was 3, I had a certain period that I was just absolutely down. We had just moved (again) with the military, I didn’t know anyone in the area, and I was an ocean away from my family. I felt so alone and drained and sleep-deprived. One night I was watching TV with my husband and Trace Atkins came on to perform his song “You’re Gonna Miss This”. The part with the plumber… oh gosh, I just bawled until I couldn’t breathe… It’s been a good reminder to me ever since. Someday my life will be more quiet and predictable. And I will miss my little boys who have brought so much chaos and joy to my life.
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pameladonnis Reply:
October 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Now I want to cry! And I need to go find that song! Thanks, Joy!!
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That was so sweet of her. I usually get looks like I’m crazy when I walk through the store with the little girl I baby sit who is 15 months (and looks to be maybe a year if that) and my son who’s 6 months. People of course assume they are both mine and I tend to get the “Man you have your hands full” comments lol.
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