Another Parenting Fail...

Yesterday I was at the grocery store with all four children, who were actually being quite good.  There are some days I can't say that when dragging all of them along on a shopping excursion, but it was our first stop for the day and they were still acting like wonderful, well behaved children.  Towards the end of my shopping list, Dallin got a little upset at Wyatt and let out a couple screeches.  An older lady rounded the aisle pushing her cart with her elbows and plugging her ears.  She demanded that I "stop that baby from screeching" because it was hurting her ears.  I explained that he was two, and that he was just fine (mostly because he had stopped and WAS just fine!)  She continued on with her rampage and when I pulled Dallin from the shopping cart and offered him to her since she seemed to think she could do a better job parenting him, she adamantly refused him and informed me that she already raised two children who NEVER screeched in stores and were ALWAYS well behaved.  I quickly pointed out that there was the difference...I don't have two children, I have four.  Her response..."WELL, maybe you just have too many kids!"

and that is where I sort of maybe snapped!  Ok, not sort of...I officially snapped.  I  had tried to be civil up until that point, but after that comment I didn't hold back any longer.  I let her know EXACTLY what I thought of her and her opinions.

Looking back, it may not have been the best way to handle the situation, but by darn, she made me mad!  She seemed like the type that probably goes around bullying poor mothers all the time so hopefully she will think twice about doing it again....but probably not.  She was not a nice lady.

The unfortunate part was that my children had to sit and be a part of the whole thing.  I explained to them afterwards that they WERE good children and that we most certainly do not have too many children!!!!  I even had another customer comment as I was at the check out on what good and well behaved children I had. (I'm sure she overheard the argument from several aisles over and that was her way of letting me know she was on my side ;)

When Greg got home yesterday evening, Wyatt ran our to greet him and the first thing he said was, "Daddy, guess what!  Mommy smack talked a lady at Winco today!"

Yep.  No need to point out how that COULD have been a great teaching moment for my children if I would have been the bigger person and walked away graciously. 

But really....my six year old thinks my "smack talking" skills are pretty awesome.  I guess I'll take that for now and work on being more charitable next time.