Bad Mommy Moments

We've all had them. All we can do is pray that we have them in the privacy of our own home.

Well last week and yesterday I had them in public. It makes me want to walk around with a sign around my neck saying "I really am a good mom. She's known her ABC's since she was 20 months and she always says please and thank you. Yesterday we had a marvelous day where neither one of us yelled and she had no time-outs. She didn't have a great nap and I have my period".

Incident #1: Kohl's Customer Service Line - 4:00pm

My angel was in her stroller, but I decided to let her out and see what happens. It was a very long line that was not moving, so I knew she wasn't going to stay in the stroller quietly for long. And that lollipop I brought was only going to buy me 2-3 minutes.

For the 30 minutes it took to get to the front of the line she was great. She was looking at things, never out of my sight. She was adorable, showing me items, but always putting them back. She ate her lollipop in the stroller with no fuss. Other people on the line praised me because she was so well behaved.

Yeah, well she must have heard them and thought "HA! I'll show them!"

I hear "Next please" and I go to the register. And what does my angel do when I call her? She runs. She runs in the opposite direction, down an aisle and is completely out of my view.

I apologize to the cashier, grab my bag, coat and stroller and go after her. Except she's in a tight area with all the Christmas decorations. I leave the stroller (and my pocketbook) and run after her. I finally grab her, she's laughing and I'm humiliated.

At this point, I just put her in the stroller (not an easy task when she's squirming and I'm sweating) and head out the door. There was no way I was going to the front of the line and no way I was standing on that line for another 30 minutes.

Incident #2: Michael's parking lot in the POURING RAIN - 12pm

Did I mention pouring rain? Did I also mention her nap time is around 12? You would think those two things together would be enough for me to stay home, but Noooooooo. I had to return this item and buy star stickers for her new chore chart. Smart mommy.

We're walking back to the car. I am holding a 36lb child, a shopping bag, an umbrella, my pocketbook and car keys. I manage to open the door and shove her in the back seat.

I ask nicely "C'mon get in your seat". She stands there pretending to be enthralled by a little cardboard airplane that was in the cup holder of her car seat. "Please get in your seat". Nothing. "I'm going to count to 3. 1. 2......3" Nothing, so I pick her up and put her in her seat. She screams "I do!". "Ok, fine. You do, but hurry up".

Again, pouring rain.

Now she stands there and plays with her hat. "PLEASE GET IN YOUR SEAT. I AM STANDING IN THE RAIN!" Nothing. I go to put her in again. This time I mean business and I am yelling...just as a woman walks passes my car.

Lovely.

I get in the car. She's crying, I'm wet. And I hoping that woman didn't take down my license plate number.