Come On, Ladies!

Blah...I never want this blog to become a whole bunch of complaining, but I really need to vent/state my view on something.

Today Abby and I had been shopping all morning and she had just dozed off and when we were *conveniently* by Olive Garden so I decided to stop in for some delicious soup, salad and bread sticks.  I put Abby's car seat as far away from everyone as I could (as a sound buffer) and sat down.  All of a sudden I had a feeling that someone was looking at me, so I looked to the side and a young mom and her friend were chatting and then the one closest to me said "Just wait...this is coming," as she motioned toward an active little toddler.  I smiled and told her I was excited because each stage has so many fun new things.  She rolled her eyes and said "Yeah, fun, but...ugh."  She then told her friend that she had no idea how she had two when she couldn't control one.  And also made some comment about how she doesn't want another because it was so hard.

I smiled and took out my cell phone, as I waited for the waitress to bring my food and then the mom proceeded to take her son out of the highchair and let him run around the table.  He did this while screeching repeatedly which very successfully woke up Abby.

I understand you can't control what your kids say, how loud they say it, how often they say it, etc.  I wasn't upset that Abby had been awaken until the mom made another comment that was something like "see how bad he is?"  It was almost as if she wanted to PROVE to me how tough a toddler was.  She then told him he was bad and they left.

After that, I started getting a little upset because I don't think what that mom did was fair, completely disregarding the fact that I had to eat lunch with one hand and entertain/hold Abby with the other.  What the mom did was take some wind out of my sails.  She was attempting to soil something before I had the chance to enjoy and experience it for myself and that isn't fair or nice.

When Abby was a newborn it was so amazing to have a new little person to take care of and get to know and it was made infinitely better because I had made her!!!  Of course there were parts that were really hard, like adjusting to waking up every two hours to feed and change her and getting used to not having any semblance of my regular routine.  That all being said, I wouldn't walk up to a mom with a newborn and say "oh a newborn, ugh, they are so hard.  They constantly need you for something and you don't have any time alone, and you don't ever get any sleep, etc."  I am pretty sure any new parent will have had that made ABUNDANTLY clear to them very quickly by their little one!!

So, to the point of this blog: as moms I think we need to start ENCOURAGING each other!  No part of being a mom is "easy" and each person has their own set of talents, so for someone who doesn't need a lot of sleep, maybe a newborn is pretty simple; and for a person who is super active and enjoys running around, maybe a toddler is not much of a change...all I am saying is that we should be more supportive of each other on our unique journeys.

I am not saying that we need to lie either, I mean if someone asks you to tell them the truth, that is one thing.  But when you see that bright-eyed and bushy-tailed couple at Babies R Us making their registry and they are trying to get every detail of their baby's nursery perfect before the due date and you think in your head "haha they won't need that for a while, they'd be better with just a bassinet by their bed," just smile and remember when that was you and how special of a time it is.  Don't ruin it for any one else!

I hope I got my frustration out some what coherently.  It is late and I am tired, but I just wanted to say to all those moms out there: YOU ARE AMAZING!  Our job is the hardest one out there and I have no doubt that you are doing the best job you can do for you and your family with the talents you have and the situation you are in!