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!