I started laughing yesterday thinking about my last post on how I have learned to "mother" each of my kids. This was Gwen in the Lowe's parking lot yesterday afternoon. She literally had a complete and total melt down because I told her that I was not going to buy her the Barbie book she saw in the check-out line. Yes, she is lying on the cement parking lot floor here and just imagine the screaming with this shot as well. I had Elle and Lily with me as well and I didn't have a car to contain all of this craziness because we were waiting for my car which was being worked on, on the other side of the shopping center. There I was in full view of the world looking and feeling like a complete and total failure as a mom. I had NO IDEA what to do with her. She was beyond reasoning with. I literally just stood above her and tried to talk with her...then I tried to carry her...then I tried to ignore...then I tried to be firm. Nothing worked. Everything in me wanted to just walk straight back into the store and buy that darn book but I held strong. We were quite the sight as we walked with her trailing behind us screaming. I eventually scooped her up as she was thrashing in my arms. I told her I loved her but that we can't always get whatever we want. As soon as we got back to the tire center I sat her on my lap and just hugged her. She eventually calmed down and just snuggled into me on my lap. Her crying finally lessened and while sniffling Gwen softly whispered, "sowwy mom". I almost started crying. It's not pretty all the time but maybe I do know how to mother my kids after all.
I took this picture with my phone. When situations like this come up I often will take a picture of them on my phone and picture-text Jon with the line, "good times!". We have a good laugh with them later in the day. I sent this photo to Jon yesterday from the tire center.
