07/10/2009
Open Letter To The Woman at Target Who Yelled At Her Kids
Dear Frustrated Mom,
I saw you in Target with your children. There were two of them, a sweet little girl in ponytails and a white sailor dress and a boy wearing red shorts and a Spiderman shirt.
I smiled at you when I passed you in the aisle, winked at your kids as they bustled around you. You didn’t smile back at me. You looked me and then at your kids and rolled your eyes heavenward. I nodded. The kids were active and chattering. You looked as if you were simmering.
While over in the next aisle I heard the soprano of their voices, asking what’s for dinner, if they can go outside play when shopping was done, if there were going to be popsicles later like you promised. Their questions continued. Something was knocked over in the aisle.
There wasn’t a snapping sound, but it was clear that strings that were holding you together broke.
Your voice was a frenzied drum and bass.
“ I swear you two stupid mother f*ckers are driving me crazy! I hate bringing you to the store with me! Stop asking for sh*t! Be still like I told you before we got in here! Am I going to have to pay for this too? Dumb *sses! Just shut the f*ck up and be still!
Now I understand that as parents, and especially for single parents, sometimes the strings are pulled pretty tight. There are responsibilities that overwhelm us. We snap. We break. We yell things at our kids we shouldn’t, especially in public.
I peeked down the aisle. You were holding your head in your hands. The babies were standing wide-eyed. I didn’t know what to say to you. So I just wrote this letter.
- Aunt B
Wow. This could be me sometimes, without the swear words, but still…Some days as a single mother, working two jobs and taking care of two kids under the age of 3, stress and frustration can be a constant companion. I can sympathize with this womans episode, though not the use of profanity at the children. I clearly see the ramifications of a constant tirade subjected upon the children, who are at best, just being children. It saddens me. I do try to remember that they are just little people who I am given the important job of raising and nurturing, and above all, loving. I do have to “talk” to myself sometimes to remember that blessing when I feel like I am walking a tightrope. I just take a deep breath and explain for the 80th time that we can not have hot dogs for every meal, or calmly take the packet of opened MM’s from my son’s hand when he has once again opened them in the store, or poked his finger in a danish at the bakery, all while my lovely baby girl is screaming her head off for not-one-reason-that-I-can find! I go to that place in my heart that holds immense love for them and tap into that supply instead of rearing the head of the ugly frustrated Mommy monster. I have to go now as my son has once again poured juice on the kitchen floor..just because. Wish me luck!
Hi Lisa,
I think we all can say, “me too” when we read about this woman. I certainly can. I’ve said things to my daughter I’ve had to apologize for… more than once. As a single mother, working multiple jobs as well, I can relate.
Thanks for writing… I hope to hear from you and about your experiences again soon!
Aunt B.