Being a mother is humbling. to say the least. just when I think I've got it all together and we're having a great day, boom....I'm put back in my place; knocked off my high and mighty pedestal before I ever saw it coming. - ha!
Exhibit A: Taking a Toddler to the Grocery Store.
Normally, I don't let Libbi walk in the store. I know I should, but when I have both girls it's just not practical. Plus, Libbi is well aware of the fact that she can outrun me when I have Laney in the buggy and she uses this to her full advantage. I'm left with the dilemma of, "Do I leave Laney hanging out in the bread aisle while I chase Libbi down and drag her back kicking and screaming while praying that Laney is still where I left her?" OR "Do I speed walk with Laney in the buggy trying my best to look menacingly at Libbi while bulging my eyes and saying her name through gritted teeth all the while trying to appear perfectly normal to all the other shoppers?" It's just too much for me to handle.
So instead, I put Laney in the basket, Libbi in the front of the cart and whatever small amount of groceries I can fit in between the two of them.
The other night I had to run to the store to pick up a prescription. I thought I would take Libbi with me and leave Laney at home with Jeffrey since Libbi and I don't get to go out just the two of us very often anymore. She was excited since it was a special trip just for her, so I decided to up the ante and let her walk. That's big time, y'all.
Everything was going great. She was walking beside me and enjoying looking at all the groceries. She was checking out a few of her favorites and being all cute and sweet. We even got a few compliments on how precious she was. It was shortly after that that I was reminded, "pride comes before the fall...."
"First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall."
Proverbs 16:18 (The Message)
She found a sword. need I say more? And by the way, who in their right mind thought it apropos to sell SWORDS at the grocery store for crying out loud?!?!
Anyway, she picked up this sword and began swatting at random items (nevermind that I have no earthly idea how she even knows what to do with a sword since we have nothing even remotely close to that at our house). Let's just say that Libbi did not appreciate being told to drop her weapons. A small scene ensued, but she thankfully recovered when I mentioned walking down the ice cream aisle. At this point I thought the worst was behind us...
On the way to the frozen food aisles, she finds this dinosaur. It was tucked behind the post of a display, but somehow she found it. I agreed to let her carry it around for a little while (hoping to make up for the sword debacle) since it was taking longer than expected to fill our prescription. She walked around roaring and enjoying herself, stopping every now and then to check a few things out. I began to relax a little as she calmly growled and walked around until it was time to pick up the prescription.
Apparently I have to "fall" more than once to learn my lesson....
When we approached the check-out counter, Libbi did NOT want to wait beside me. In about .02 seconds she scooted behind the desk and the next thing I know, she's sitting in a chair in the "consultation room" (which, by the way we've been going to the same pharmacy for years and I never even knew they had one!) She was pretty comfortable in there and I could see her from the counter, so I just let her stay.
And then I "fell" a little further...ha!
As I'm finishing up my transaction, she waltzes out with a sucker in her mouth. I almost died. I freaked out thinking it might be some sort of medicinal candy or something. (although I briefly wondered if drowsiness might be a side effect...KIDDING!) I immediately tried to take it from her and she was none too thrilled. She dropped to the floor (only after yelling "MIIIIIIIIIINE!") and then she froze. Some times Libbi doesn't have tantrums - she just freezes and goes boneless. Those are almost worse. I basically have to scrape her off the floor (which is no easy task) and sling her over my shoulder. All the while she is completely limp, it's like carrying a dead fish...only 100 times heavier. The entire time she has this knowing look in her eyes, just reveling in the fact that there is really nothing else I can do except try to pry her boneless body off the floor without making (any more of) a scene.
Needless to say, I picked her up and we made one of the quickest exits known to mankind. Those same employees that were once complimenting my adorable, well-behaved child were now looking at me with pity and (thankfully) understanding!
I wrestle Libbi into the car, but not before holding her in a death grip because she was trying to walk in the parking lot, trying to buckle her in while she kicked up a storm, and then hearing her scream and cry because I will not turn on the DVD. By this time, I am a sweaty mess and am totally wishing that I grew my own medicine (not the illegal kind) because that would be far easier than this! Libbi meanwhile is suddenly content in the backseat and just as happy as a clam. I hear her growling and talking to someone so I glance in my rearview mirror to see what she's doing. Imagine my surprise when I see her playing with the dinosaur from the store....the one that she found and that we most definitely did NOT pay for!!!! I guess in my haste to get her out of the store and into the car, I did not even notice that she was carrying a reptilian accessory. And all because I wanted to take her on a trip to the store and let her walk....
Have I mentioned that being a mother is humbling?!?! :)
"The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged."
Psalm 69:32 (NLT)
