Growing up, I was warned that the devil will try to tear me down and make me feel worthless.  I was told that he will start subtly and then before you know it you are as miserable as he.  I found out today he is not always so subtle.  Sometimes it will come at you like a Mac Truck and run you down til there is nothing left.

I had had a pretty good morning, all in all.  Got my bathroom cleaned, dishes done and stove cleaned.  The kids weren't driving me too terribly crazy and we were all in pretty good moods.  I needed to run to Wal Mart to get a few things...little did I know that a trip I had made countless times would soon create the worse day for me in a long time.

We find a parking spot, I get out and open the door for the kids.  Caidin is the first one out and while I am still getting Kilee and Marshall out he decided to walk to the back of the Suburban.  Well, I guess he went a little far out because there was a black Expedition that when I came around the back of the car the driver was looking at me like I was the scum of the earth and didn't deserve to breath.  I soon realized that she was upset with me because she apparently had to slam on her brakes to avoid hitting Caidin.  I looked back at her and mouthed something to the effect of, "Oh what? You have never had your kid run ahead of you?".  I guess that really upset her and her dad who was in the passenger seat because she turned off her car, in the middle of the aisle of the parking lot, and both she and her dad got out and starting yelling at me and telling me how I am a horrible mother, I am worthless and it is unfortunate that my kids have to have me as a mother.  It was all I could do to stand there and have them both yelling at me.  I told them I wasn't a horrible mother and that maybe she was going too fast in a parking lot.  Her dad told me if I was a man he would have kicked my a#% right there in front of my kids.  I turned and continued to walk into the store, when I got in, the flood gates opened and I just started to bawl.  I finally got calmed down and was walking through the store, I saw the dad and thought I would try to apologize for whatever I had done that caused such a problem.  BIG MISTAKE! He started in on me again and told me again how worthless I was and how bad of a mom I am.  I had had it and yelled back at him that I am not a horrible mother and to stop saying that I was.  We must have gotten pretty loud because an associate came by to see if everything was ok.  I told him it was fine and walked away again.

Why do I let a complete stranger have such power over me?!  I don't get it!  I know he doesn't know me, I have thought I am a good mother, so why am I still so upset over it?  Hasn't every mother had a 3 year old run to the end of the car or do I really not have a handle on my kids?  I should have just kept walking when they jumped out of their car and starting yelling at me.  Why didn't I?

Oh well, get over it and move on.