• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Mother Knows Best?

August 26, 2010 by AGoto Leave a Comment

When I pulled up to my mom’s house the other day, I noticed a minivan parked on the side of the road. Our neighbors were having a garage sale, so I assumed that the owner of the car was just popping in to see the sale. But then I noticed that the car was idling, so I took a closer look through the tinted windows. That’s when I discovered that an infant was inside, buckled into a car seat, while a toddler bounced freely around the back seat. Alone.

“Mom, there are two kids in that car and it’s running,” I said as she came out to greet me.

We looked around. The sale was inside a garage about 50-yards away. There was no one in sight.

I Said Nothing

I’m in the habit of minding my own business when it comes to parenting, but that’s not to say that I don’t judge. I once watched this woman humiliate her 6-year-old daughter for having an “accident” at the mall, as if the accident wasn’t embarrassing enough. She repeatedly asked her daughter the pointless why-did-you-do-that question. Then she topped it off by adding that the little girl was such a baby that she should wear diapers. I was so angry that I was shaking. I got all sweaty and sick in the pit of my stomach. But I thought that if I spoke up the woman wouldn’t suddenly think, “Gee, she’s right. It really is wrong of me to publicly humiliate my child. I’m going to be a better parent.” Best case scenario, she’d throw me a few choice words. Worst case, she was packing heat. So I said nothing.

So Much for Appropriate

But the path of least resistance is rarely the best one to take. I’m not suggesting that we lose perspective. It’s not my place to give the hairy eyeball to strangers whose children may seem too old for diapers, or point out—however politely—that “someone’s a little tired” (most annoying comment EVER). However, when it comes to a child’s safety and well being, all bets are off. Or at least they should be.

Without hesitation, my mom switched into Mother Grizzly Mode. Mom is not an aggressive person. She’s more Emily Post than Sue Sylvester. Competitive sports give her a bleeding ulcer and she gives away her properties in Monopoly to keep the game going. But that day, she hauled up the alley like a steam engine about to bust while I stood by the car, mulling over the most appropriate way to handle the situation. I decided to give the driver a good stink eye. That’ll show ‘em. Then, in the distance, I heard my mother scream, “Are you crazy?!”

So much for appropriate.

Parents Make Mistakes

A woman in her late twenties hustled toward the car, looking as if she’d just swallowed thumbtacks. Mom matched her stride and barked in her ear, “You left two babies locked in a car while you went to a garage sale? And you left it running? People get arrested for that! Are you stupid?”

Mom’s eyes were darting as she spoke. Her arms flailed. She may have even hissed. I imagined that I saw her hair turn into serpents. Mom let up only when the woman jumped into her car and closed the door. To her credit, she did not respond to my mother’s rant. And to my relief, she didn’t whip out a gun.

“Damn fool,” Mom muttered as she walked over to me, straightening herself up like she just came from the UFC ring. I though she might even hawk a loogie in disgust.

The woman, clearly shaken, sat at the wheel for a moment to collect herself. I thought she might cry. I would’ve. And then I felt sorry for her. As parents, we all make mistakes from time to time.

It’s All About The Kids

But later, after replaying the incident in my head, I started to feel different. My Mom didn’t think; she reacted. Maybe 34 years of parenting puts it all in perspective. As a newish mom (my daughter is 4), I compulsively give parents the benefit of the doubt. But Mom had her priorities straight. She didn’t worry about being polite; she thought only of those two little kids.

After Mom settled down, she chuckled and said, “I bet she won’t do that again.” I’d bet my life on it. A feeble little stink eye wouldn’t have had the same effect. It would’ve gone unnoticed and no one would be any worse for it…except for those kids.

I guess sometimes my mother still knows best.

About the Author

Andrea Goto writes The Culinary Coward, a monthly humor column for PaulaDeen.com about her struggle to become a domestic goddess, or more simply, to cook an edible meal. She writes her own Blog, Mom Without Makeup, which discusses the messy art of modern mothering. Andrea lives and writes in Savannah, Georgia, with her 4-year old daughter (who thinks she’s a superhero), her husband (who is a superhero) and one geriatric cat.

Visit The Culinary Coward

  • www.pauladeen.com

Visit Andrea’s Site

  • www.andreagoto.com

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About AGoto

Andrea Goto writes The Culinary Coward, a monthly humor column for PaulaDeen.com about her struggle to become a domestic goddess, or more simply, to cook an edible meal. She writes her own Blog, Mom Without Makeup, which discusses the messy art of modern mothering. Andrea lives and writes in Savannah, Georgia, with her 5-year old daughter (who thinks she's a superhero), her husband (who is a superhero) and one geriatric cat. Andrea Goto
www.andreagoto.com

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ModernMom TV

Featured

It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Do you ever just have one of those I suck days? I do - a … [Read More...] about It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

Clean the Smell From the Inside of a Leather Jacket

How to Clean the Smell From the Inside of a Leather Jacket

How Many Calories Does 10,000 Steps Burn

How Many Calories Does 10,000 Steps Burn?

Early Signs of Pregnancy While on Birth Control

Early Signs of Pregnancy While on Birth Control

how much weight should a baby gain

How Much Weight Should a Baby Gain?

Can Self Rising Flour Substitute for Baking Soda?

Mild Cramping During Early Stages of Pregnancy

Children Overcome a Fear of Water

How Do Children Overcome a Fear of Water?

abdominal pain on the left side in pregnancy

Abdominal Pain on the Left Side in Pregnancy

Night Sweats During Pregnancy

Night Sweats During Pregnancy

10 foods to improve sperm count and quality

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.