If you can't say something nice SHUT YOUR YAP!

Today was the day for one of my least favorite tasks. We needed to go to WalMart. I wanted to get there early enough that we could get done before J got tired. I should have had plenty of time, but for some reason he started to hit the proverbial wall very early. He was already tired and tired of being there, but he was behaving quite well, all things considered. We got to the checkout and all of about four lanes were open, each of them backed up into the aisles with people with FULL carts! So we stood in line for quite a while, which didn't do much to improve J's mood. But still, he did quite well. As our items were being bagged he ate a banana and was content. He had asked me when we first entered to ride the truck (the kiddie ride they have there now). So after we checked out I took him to the truck. He was happy, but refused to get in the truck. He still insisted that I spend my fifty cents so that he could stand there and watch it go back and forth. ;) Afterward, it was near impossible to convince him it was time to leave, but I did. He wanted to walk, which was fine, but I told him he had to either push the cart (so that he would be between me and the cart where I could grab him if he started to dart away) or he would have to ride in it. He was adamant about walking, but refused to walk with me and push the cart. As we approached the door I gave him his last chance to choose and he still wanted to walk about three feet to the right of me, which would not be safe outside the store. I picked him up to put him in the cart, and the fight was on! He was tired and cranky and wasn't getting his way. He was screaming "I wanna walk! I wanna walk!" and he was flailing as I tried to put him in the cart.

Into the midst of this scene walks a stranger who apparently thinks that I need his opinion on the matter. He let out a low whistle, and one of those "laughs" that's not really a laugh, but a wordless comment. You know the kind I mean. Then he says to my child in a "holier than thou" tone of voice, "wheeeewww, you're lucky you're not one of MY grandkids!" I tell you what, if I had not been in the middle of manhandling a flailing toddler, I would have let this creep have it! Once James was seated I turned around but couldn't tell who it was that made the comment. I was FUMING. I seriously wanted a piece of that jerk! I still, hours later, would love to get him in front of me and tell him just how it is. I would probably have been able to roll my eyes and let it go, had I not been so overly emotional with pregnancy.

But you know what? All the way home, I kept thinking about it. How did this man know what on earth type of situation I was dealing with? He walked in and saw a non-cooperative screaming toddler. What if the child had a disability that causes behavioral problems? What if the child was on medication that causes aggression? What if he was a foster child who had been subjected to abuse previously? What if? What if? What if? Not to mention, it was NONE OF HIS FLIPPING BUSINESS!!!! Why can't people just keep thier mouths shut? Why do people feel it's acceptable and appropriate to comment on other people's parenting skills in public? Why would someone imply a child ought to be corporally punished when they have never met the child and no nothing about him/her? What ever happened to decency, understanding and respect? Huh? Huh? HUH????

So please, next time you are out in public and see a parent struggling with a difficult or misbehaving child, please be kind and reassuring or walk away and keep your mouth shut. No other response is going to be good for anyone involved.