Thursday, April 8, 2010

You Know About THAT Mom?


I am neurotic enough to frequently obsess over silly things. I have not shared the following with anyone (fearing that it may, in fact, be true). I am plagued by wondering if my breath stinks all the time and nobody is telling me. I chew gum all the time. I conduct basic dental hygiene everyday. There really is no reason for me to have this fear. But I have it. I am a little neurotic.

Something that I am soooo past wondering and fearing is if I am sometimes THAT mom. I have been in public places before or friends’ houses, and I’ll think, “Do people think I am THAT mom?” You know, the mom who lets her child run amok and be loud and cause general chaos. I am totally owning the fact that I am sometimes THAT mom.

Here are some cases in point.

The last time I took Parker to the zoo, I think everyone there knew his name by the time we left. You know, I was THAT mom, constantly calling after him – “Parker! Parker, come here. Here. Over here. Here! PARKER!”

My husband and I had a meeting with a realtor. When the meeting was over and the door was opened, Parker flew out running, and we didn’t see where he went. We started frantically searching for him up and down the halls until we heard the receptionist yelling, “He’s up here! He’s leaving!” (What do you think that receptionist was thinking?)

My son is the one at daycare that will chase your child down and sit on him until he gets his toy back. I found out I am THAT mom who feels secret pride that my son’s not going to take any shit.

I love going to visit at friends’ houses because I can talk with other adults and Parker is so excited about being somewhere else, he keeps himself fairly occupied. But, this means that he can get into all sorts of stuff. And, hey, if he’s quiet and not bothering me, sorry, but I’m not going to be too concerned about it. Even if I know he is in a bathroom, unraveling a brand new roll of toilet paper, I’m thinking, “Hey, that’s safe! He’s quiet!” At least I make him pick it up when he’s done, and then I set it on the counter. Might be messy, but you can still use it!

I just feel like there are so many things to worry about as a mother, there are times you’ve just got to give yourself a break, and think, “Oh, well! Sometimes, I am THAT Mom. So what.”

Do you ever throw up your hands sometimes and think the same thing? Please don’t let me be alone with this confession!

18 comments:

Diminishing Lucy said...

Hahaha. If you are "that Mom" then I am "that Mummy".

I am suprised you don't hear my screeching at my children from here to there. Seriously.

Cheryl said...

You know which That Mom I live in fear of becoming? The one that thinks my kids are well-behaved (relatively) and well-adjusted - while everyone ELSE thinks they're monsters!!

Actuary Mom said...

I am constantly afraid that I have bad breath too.

Oddyoddyo13 said...

Sorry! I don't have a kid, so I wouldn't be able to relate to the whole "relaxing" thing. I'll have to try it out one day though-I hear its wonderful. hehe

kathryn said...

Oh, pulease. I've totally been "that mom". EVERYONE who's a MOM has been "that mom".

And I'm sorry...but that receptionist? WTF??? Hel-lo?? "He's leaving?" Seriously??

B @ Sweet Limes said...

You are so not alone. I want my kids to be kind yet not take any crap, occupy themselves too. If they aren't hurting anything why be over them each and every second of the day? I hate people breathing down my neck, I"m sure kids feel the same way.

MommyLovesStilettos said...

I think we all are "that mom" sometimes :)

Timena said...

Hi found you thru FYBF over at Brenda's. Don't worry you're definitely not alone in this one. I've been THAT Mom for years.

Corinne (aka Rinny of Arabia) said...

Yep another one here who is 'guilty' of being 'that mum'. We all do things for a moment of peace now and again!

MommieDaze said...

Oh, yeah. I'm totally That Mom, and my son is totally That Kid.It used to embarrass me, but I just work through the pain now.

Andrea said...

I wasn't that mom until I had my second child. Now I am deinitely that mom and I realized it's okay to be that mom. Your not alone sister because I'm right there with ya'

Visitng from SITS!

Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest

Andrea S.

Unknown said...

9 times out of 10 I'm thrilled to be THAT mom because if I'm not it means I'm the OTHER mom and that never seems good to me! ;)

WarsawMommy said...

I'm with you... I seem to swing between 'oh, just LET HIM fall (or whatever) and he'll learn' and 'Holy Moley! I must stop him from touching that flower!'.

So, yes. I am That Mom. Sometimes. Though mostly in my head.

babyandsofia said...

This cracks me up. As a mom, it is a little for me to know what kind of mamma I'll be a curious little toddler. I can relate as a teacher, though. I taught for three years before I moved back to the US, and I felt this like you about my students. In Italy, it is fairly common for one class to have the same teacher a few years. Which is what I did; I moved from first through third grades with basically the same class. And they could be a little wild. I felt so responsible for their behavior, and I was constantly on my toes trying to keep them from getting into too much trouble. It was like trying to frantically herd kittens.

Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

Kassie - I'm glad I'm not alone with that!
Stella - Very good point! The OTHER mom scares the crap out of me!

Mctooth said...

Most people spend way too much time and energy worrying about what strangers think! We are given only so much time with our children and I'm not going to cause myself the physical and emotional anguish being concerned about what others think when they are just trying to satisfy and build their egos by judging others as being "that mom or dad" What really is important to me is enjoying my family and what they think is their problem and their business! I respect them and know that I'm doing the best I can MY WAY, not the way of the masses! Enjoy your baby and know that you were chosen to be a mom which is a huge blessing!

Cybil said...

Well Kristy - I have been and will continue to be THAT Mom! I just gave up a long time ago. We make spectacles of ourselves every where we go; I yell at the kids in public; when my daughter was small she would have raging, throw herself on the ground temper tantrums in many a public place... I could go on and on... My mother is completely mortified when she has to somewhere with us. Whatever! My kids know how much I love them, and that's what really matters to me.

Gillian Behnke said...

You're definitely not alone. The staff and customers of any store I dare to enter with the little man very quickly know his name. But hey, a woman has to shop, right?