Parental Judgement

I know everyone is guilty of being in a store/an airplane/a bus/a park and you see a child throwing a fit, being obnoxious, being disobedient and you think (or say out loud..) "My child will NEVER behave like that......."

I am guilty of this on more than one occasion. I have thought it and said it countless times. I don't know what it is that makes me think that I can do a better job at parenting these children, than their own parents. It's terrible, really. I can remember walking around Target with Jayden when he was a newborn and I heard another child crying and I whispered to Jayden, "You'll never be a naughty boy like that, will you!" hahahah if I only knew! :)

The older my children (and I) get the more I realize I don't know everything there is about raising a child. Most of the time as soon as I think I've figured it out my children prove me wrong!

Let's just be honest, when my children are being disobedient or throwing fits or just running around screaming/laughing, it's a little embarrassing. Why? Because of my pride, fear of people... or because it's completely unacceptable?? I don't know, but is embarrassing.

I want my children to always listen and be obedient the second I tell them to do something. I want them to be a robot.. but they're not. They are a small person in the human race and they are made exactly like me, with a free will. It was a disturbing moment when I realize this. Free will shouldn't be an option until they're at least 18.. I mean really. Ha!

So where is my compassion, where is my love for my kind?? These mothers who are having "one of those moments" and desperately wish that their children would behave themselves. It is one of my goals to just smile and nod with a "I completely understand how you feel right now" look on my face.