It is so easy to parent before you have your own kids. The rules are so black and white. As you navigate through stores and restaurants unencumbered you quickly pass judgment on those pathetic excuses for parents. You know THOSE parents. The ones who seemingly have no control over their children. You say things like, “that kid needs a spanking” or “She needs to discipline that child” or ” Why can’t parents control their children?” Much like an armchair quarterback we rattle off advice as if it is the most obvious thing in the world. Then we have our OWN kids.

The dirty secret is that at some point in every parents life they are “THOSE parents” or “THAT Mom”. Every woman has her turn at being “THAT Mom”. That Mom who’s kids were running and screaming in the library. That Mom who’s kid flung himself down on the ground in the middle of Target and started screaming. That Mom who bit/hit/scratched the other kid on the playground. That Mom who had to leave in the middle of dinner because their child wouldn’t stop screaming.

For those of us who have joined the ranks of motherhood we know this. We are all too aware of the fact that when we see one of these Moms that we all think “for the grace of God go I”. It will be our turn soon enough. We look at these mothers with compassion, grace, forgiveness and unspoken support. We know the hundred deaths she is dying inside. We know that her heart is beating so hard she can feel it in her feet. We know that she is doing the best she can and behind that tantrum is a reason. We know.