the place where patience goes to die...

There is a place I know where patience goes to die. A necessary place, where tantrums are at their loudest and babies are at their hungriest, most tired, and especially needy. A place where meltdown in five minutes and five more aisles left meet. It’s the grocery store. The sugary cereal temptation store, the ‘but I really want that kind’ store, the ‘I have to tinkle now’ store. That one. And each momma knows that if she was at home, she’d act differently, but she’s tired, and she’s trying to juggle a snack, a water bottle, and a cart in her hands and a week’s worth of meals in her head. And because she feels like every single pair of judgmental eyes are on her circus she yells, or she plops that child back down in the seat forcefully, or overwhelmed, she bows her head while trying to ignore it all hoping that’s what everyone else will do. I’ve been there’ you’ve been there. The dreaded grocery store scene.

And it’s you mortified, overwhelmed momma that I’m coming for. I’ve watched you too often and thought, “That poor mother. I wish she knew that was me last week, that bad moments don’t make bad mommas. I wish I could just walk over there and smile, telling her she’s doing a good job.” No more wishing… I am on a grocery store mission: To encourage the momma pushing a circus and letting her know IT’S OKAY! Because your ability to control your children while planning gourmet, organic meals all for under $100 is not what makes you precious and loved. You are going to make it momma, and when you get home, put those groceries away with a thankful heart, remind your children that bad moments don’t make bad kids, give them a squeeze and remember how much you too are loved by a loving Father who promises to be with us always, even on our trips to the grocery store.

P.S. If you shop at the Sycamore Hyvee, watch for me, I might even give you a hug :)

#grocerystore #patience