I ran to Target today to grab Aaron’s anniversary present and at one point, Dylan decided he’d rather be out of the cart and started to fuss and throw a bit of a two year old tantrum. We were in the holiday aisles and I knew if I took him out a) he would touch stuff that is breakable and b) Ryan would want to get out as well and chaos would ensue. I wasn’t willing to chase two toddlers through Target, so I just hurried on my way, trying to console Dylan and get what I needed and get out.
And then it happened.
An older woman came up to me and YELLED at me in the middle of Target because she and all the other shoppers were disturbed by Dylan’s crying. She said I shouldn’t take them out if I can’t control them and if they don’t behave. She went off for several minutes while I just stood there in shock.
I was speechless. I mean, what if Aaron was deployed and I had no choice? As it is, he works nights and wasn’t available to watch the kids while I ran to the store. And for the most part, my kids are well behaved. The random crying happens, but really they are normally happy shoppers. I finally sputtered something to the extent of he’d get over it, it was just a tantrum, and that it was safer for him to be in the cart and upset for a minute or two than running around a store.
I hauled ass out of that aisle and went to check out. For what it’s worth, by the time I was about 2-3 aisles away, Dylan was over it and happy again. Anyway, while at the check out, a man came up to me and said he was sorry that the woman felt the need to butt into my business, that he could tell I was doing my best and that kids are kids and not to let her get to me. He said ‘That woman really chapped my hide!’ Then his wife came over and pretty much said the same thing, that the woman’s words really bothered her, and she couldn’t imagine how I felt hearing that.
I was relieved that I wasn’t looked at by the entire store as some crappy mom with horrendous kids. I’m glad some others thought that the woman was out of line.
I guess I just don’t understand the need to say things like that to people. Sure, I am not above having snarky thoughts, but to say something to the person- I can’t imagine having the nerve.






I’m safe in NY, spent the afternoon with my mom. But I want to talk about our trip up here- more specifically, the food on the way up.
















