A lesson "they" have yet to learn...

I was at the playground the other day with my posse of three mothers and our five children, of assorted sizes and flavors. One of my twin-lets, Baby B, decided he wanted a Popsicle, and ever one to please, I let him have a luridly colored rocket pop. He wanted to hold it by himself, and, like many other twenty-month-old toddlers, he made a right royal mess of himself. I wasn’t particularly bothered by the red, blue and green slobber ornamenting the front of his white tee shirt. I have finally learned to let it go. Some other mothers in that park that day still need to learn that lesson.

Baby B is an independent, social creature, so he went over to another child, to chat and make friends. This other child was about six or seven months old and seemed happy to meet him; but the child’s mother was absolutely not.

I could see trouble was brewing; mother and baby were sitting prettily on a pale blue blanket; the baby was dressed in a madras romper (immaculate) and the mother was in beige shorts and a white shirt (spotless). Here comes my Baby B, full of bounce and go and coated with Popsicle drippings and sand. I let him "visit", as they say down South, for a few minutes, and then went over.

Me: Hi! I guess I had better get my little one! Your baby is sweet; is he your first?
Mother: (with a look of eww-what-a-gross-dirty-toddler on her face): Yes, he is and yes, I think you had better take yours away.

Me: (inside my head): Ok, Be-atch. I know my toddler is a bit sticky, and your baby is neat and tidy, but as soon as that baby of yours starts to walk/eat/be a more of a person and less of an inanimate life form, you will know why I am out in public with a dirty, messy baby, yo!

Me: (in reality): Hee hee, come on Baby B! Say bye!


It’s funny how I could have said x, y and z! I had such an opportunity of making a point. I could have taught her a valuable lesson; namely, don’t give other mothers that holier than thou look when you are not in the same place! I know! Because the universe will bite you in the butt, as sure as toddlers toddle. The more you feel and act above it all, the more of a come-uppance you will get, my dear! That’s just the way it goes.

I had a chance that I might have taken six months ago and totally would have taken a year ago. But I have softened with age, and showed such restraint! Being 36 is really wonderful – maturity comes so naturally now! But don’t fret, my friends; I’ll still post the what-I-really-meant-to-say inter-loquations on my blog. You know, in private for the whole wide web to see. Yo!