judgement...it's everywhere
I sit realizing I'm staring at a family whose child is having a meltdown of the century. The Mother looks up and realizes I'm staring, and what do I do, I smile. I smile because I've been there before...maybe not right now, thank God, but probably 40 minutes earlier. I walk away with my children in tow and find myself wondering for that Mother. Does she know I smiled at her out of EMPATHY because I can relate so well? Or does she think I smiled an uncomfortable smile covering up some judgement I'm making in my head? I hope she thinks it's out of Empathy, because it was, it really was. I never know what to say in those situations, so I end up just smiling and removing myself from the situation because I would want fewer spectators if my child were having a tantrum too. But how often do others actually need to hear support from other stranger Mothers? Maybe more than I'd like to admit. I also am guilty of judging others, because who does...