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How a Perfect stranger put me in check!
- Sep 5, 2009 at 1:16 AM
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- Comments (11) Total Views (505) Everyone can see this journal post.
So today was like any normal day, chasing my 2 1/2 year old and my 15 month old around outside of the house when they were riding their trucks and tricycles. It was around 2 o'clock when my friend and I decided to go out to lunch.
I went in the house chasing my 2 yr old around so I could change his diaper all the while I am telling my other son "No! stop pulling the dogs tail, that's not nice!" I finally got their diapers changed and corralled them into the mini van murmuring to myself that this was going to be an adventure! We decided to go eat at this Greek Diner, which by the way makes kick ass gyros.
Anyways, we get seated, I ask the waitress for a high chair ordered the food, and my 15 month old is squirming in the chair getting restless. My 2 yr old is running up and down the diner booth, and I am stressed trying to keep these two entertained. The food comes , I cut up the mozzarella sticks, the chicken fingers and split the french fries between them. You know how it is to sit with two very young toddlers out eat. Not very easy. LOL. My 2 yr old is touching everything that is not tied down my 15 month old is throwing food and I am like embarrassed and trying to not lose my cool.
Halfway through the lunch this gentleman who was sitting about 4 ft away from us comes over and says," You two have too be complemented. You have 2 very well behaved boys! "
I looked at him in shock and said, "Thank You! I do not feel like I do" Laughing. He said " You do, compared to a lot of other kids that I see." He walked away then and proceeded to go pay his bill.
After we left I thought about what he said. None the less this is not the first time someone has said this to me. I often feel a lot of times that my boys are not well behaved and acting crazy. On the drive home I started thinking about what this man had told me. Yes, my boys needed correcting on more than one occasion at the diner but they did usually listened. I thought to myself my boys are 2 1/2 and 15 months.Did I expect them to sit through that whole lunch and not say a peek and keep their hands at their sides and just eat the food and not be kids? Now that is a crazy thought.
The truth is that maybe I am being to hard on my parenting skills,judging myself and forgetting that my kids ares still babies.It was also nice to get an opinion from someone who does not know me or my family to notice and say something pleasant.
It was a pleasant reminder to me that I was being to hard on myself second guessing everything and feeling like I have failed somehow as a parent because my boys were not behaving in my eyes,But in reality I am doing a good job, Even though I do not feel like it sometimes.
What I am trying to say is that sometimes as parents , we are to hard on ourselves and it takes a perfect stranger to kick you in your ass and see what you don't see.
Comments:
That is one of the best compliments to get as a parent, and it does help bring your kids behavior into perspective.
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is this a boy thing? I have 2 girls and yes they did sit through a meal and ate their food and didnt make a fuss....I am really wondering...
I couldnt tell you because I only have boys but my friends daughter sat through meals too without making a fuss. Every child is diffrent. I dont think it has to do with being a boy or a girl. Some kids are calm while others are not.
RELAX Mama's (my kids are all grown now, the youngest is nearly 29) they are just kids and have to grow up all to soon. If anyone has a "problem" with your children invite them to visit a less family oriented restaurant.
You're doing a great job and they are only babies. Your boys will be wonderful adults some day. I'm sure of it!
You're so right! If we weren't doing well at being good moms, we probably wouldn't stress about it so much.
How nice of that man to take a moment out of his day to pay you that compliment! Sometimes people don't realize what a difference a little kindness can make.
OMG I know how you feel! I always feel like my dd is terrible behaved, and I feel guilty fo rnot being a better mom to teach her better. And then I get constant compliments on how wonderful her behavior. Always makes you realize how wonderful the behavior is in comparison to some of the heathens around town, and makes you be a little proud!
my son can get crazy, and obviousy try to piss me off, but i always get those kinds of compliments in public. i used to think that he was only good for other people, but i guess i realize that he probably gets bored and thinks its some kind of game to push my buttons. all kids do, i suppose. what counts is that they know the proper behavior and can control themselves as much as small kids can
I feel the same way, but it's parents like us who CARE about what our kids are doing in public that have what others consider "well-behaved" children (even when we are thinking the exact opposite)!
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you are so right! I have had this happen and i look at people like they are crazy "my kids well behaved? seriously?"
well you just paid it forward and kicked me in the ass after a crazy day with my kids where i wanted to beat my head against the wall lol. THANKS!
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