Wednesday, May 19, 2010

That Lady

You know that lady who has multiple children in her cart at the grocery store? The one with a baby crying in the front pack. The one who looks a little bit worn down. Her hair might have been combed, or it might not have been. No make up. She's eating from the food court and so are her kids. Her jeans have holes in the knees--not the kind that are cool, the kind that actually come from over-wear and too many washings. Her shirt might have a hole or two in it as well, not that you could see it because it's pretty much covered in spit up, drool (the baby's, not her own) and leaky breast milk. Strangers stop in the parking lot and ask her child to sit down in the cart because they don't want to witness her breaking her head open. She smiles and responds when you talk to her, but her eyes keep darting around like she's a little bit crazy. Yeah! That lady. Uh huh, I figured you knew who I meant. Yep, not only can I relate really well to her...these days, I am her. That's right, haggard and worn down, but still kicking. And as my good friend Kirsten so wisely has reminded me a time or two...this IS my dream job. It's hard and the pay is pretty bad. The hours are killer and my charges do their best to make life difficult. But there is nothing I'd rather be doing.
So, the next time you see that lady at the store, feel free to smile at her and say something nice about her kids. But don't pity her. Most likely it's her dream job as well, whether she thinks so in the moment, or not.

6 comments:

Glenda Conner said...

Amen girl and I sooo try to be that person who smiles and tells her how brave she is to be out and about and how well behaved and cute her kids are because I have been there!! Good work Mama!!

NaomiG said...

:-) Too funny, and SO true!! It's the worst job you'll ever love the very most.

Anonymous said...

LOL oh Brooke, like you EVER look bad :) Trust me, you don't!!!! Love and prayers for ya! ~Cath

Megan Miller said...

I have NO idea what you are talking about. ;)

Kirsten said...

Ah, yes--the glazed-and-crazed-eyed lady:). But wait, I thought that was ME?! Well, I'll hand off my title, as it has gotten easier:). These days I'm the lady with the toddler in the seat and the preschoolers making a train behind my by hanging onto (read: PULLING) my shirt (and we all know what THAT does for the figure...or what used to be a figure) and making train sounds. But now I laugh instead of stare emptily at the shelves trying to process why I'm even in the store:).

Remind me to tell you my stories about what people have said to me in stores and what I have said to the ninnies who talk to my kids about cart safety when I'm standing right there HOLDING the kid. :D

Erlandson Family said...

amen