Have you every been in the store and saw a mom that is struggling to control their toddler mid-tantrum and thought I've been there? Or have you walked by a mom sitting on a bench covered up trying to nurse her crying infant and thought I've been there too? In both cases for moms that have been there you give them a nod of acknowledgement. A sort of unspoken sign of "I've been there."
I think as parents we've all been there. A few weeks ago I was "that mom."
I was out with both kids running errands in town by myself. I arrived at the first stop and realized that Gardner has exploded all over his pants. It was the grossest diaper that I had ever changed in my life. I knew the place we were heading into wouldn't have a changing table and with two kids to think about I didn't feel like I could carry my infant and my toddler into the bathroom without completely covering all of us in poop. So, I became "that mom."
Right in the middle of the parking lot, next to my vehicle I changed Gardner. It took an entire travel container of wipes, and I had to remove every single article of clothing including his socks and shoes. The poor kid was completely naked and coated in crap from the waist down. I got the sympathetic nods from the moms that walked by. Clearly, they had been there once upon a time too.
After 20 minutes or so, he was clean and in a new outfit. He was a trooper.
I have decided to award my self a "Mom badge" for this moment in time. I wear this badge of honor with pride rather than shame. Yes, I changed my kid in the parking lot. Yes, it was messy. Yes, it was a challenge. Yes, I survived. And yes, I am now "that mom."
And isn't life all those things? Messy, challenging, and driving us to survive?
Anyone else care to share your story about when you were "that mom?"