| A recipe for disaster
by Crystal Paine
While Kathrynne and I were out grocery shopping today we passed by two frantic parents with three screaming children. A few years ago, I probably would have turned my nose up and thought, "How can anyone let their children act so horribly?"
But, I'm a mom now. Maybe Kathrynne was sitting in the shopping cart today acting like a little, beautiful angel when we passed by these upset children, but I vividly recall last week, at the almost exact same spot in the store...
It all started when I made the mistake of going shopping during lunchtime with a hungry child. Not a good recipe to start out with, especially when you are going to a store full of food. We barely made it through the first store without incident, but her endurance was waning thin by the time we pulled up to the second store.
"I can handle this," I thought, and quickly whipped out part of a candy bar to give to her (I know, I know, I usually am more health-conscious, but it was the only thing I could quickly get my hands on to give to her). That quieted her down for the moment.
Then I realized I didn't have a quarter and we were at Aldi. No quarter, no cart. "Oh well, I can handle it," I tell myself, "After all, I only have a short list today."
I proceed to the store with a finicky, candy-bar eating child in tow. We get inside and I try to put her down so I can attempt to carry everything in a box. No good. She wants to be held. I pick her up again not realizing she has melted candy bar chocolate all over her hands. Now I have it all over the back and front of my shirt. "Oh well," I think, "I'm a mom. I guess I'll just look the part. Don't all moms have stains on their shirts?"
We make it to the last aisle and I'm precariously balancing the overloaded diaper bag, daughter, and box full of food, trying to keep her sticky chocolate hands off of me all the while, and trying to figure out how I'm going to squeeze the last few items I need in my box without dropping the whole lot. I begin to have visions of accidentally dropping it and spilling the jar of spaghetti sauce all over the floor. It would be just like something I would do today.
As I shove the last few items in my box, Kathrynne begins to cry. Her crying gets louder and louder. Even the candy bar is not working anymore. Nothing I say or do will calm her. My arms feel like they are about ready to fall off and I'm getting more and more chocolate on my shirt as she's waving her arms in frustration.
Finally, I just set everything down, wipe off her hands and face, take away the chocolate bar, and try to comfort her. People are passing us right and left and I'm sure they are thinking, "How can anyone let their child act so horribly?" Oh well, I don't care anymore. I'm not a perfect mom and I don't have a perfect child. That is life. When they have children of their own, they'll be much more forgiving.
Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!
This article may be reprinted freely in your publications or on your website, provided it is reprinted in its entirety and the bio information is kept intact. Thank you!
We'd love to consider publishing your articles as well! Click here to submit your article and we will be glad to review it for possible inclusion on our website! |
