“I owe you an apology. I made a snap judgment when I saw you come in with your kids, and I needed to make things right.”
Last weekend, I strolled into a restaurant with three of my children. I was dressed in an off-the-shoulder top, trendy earrings, skinny jeans, and open-toed heels, topped off with a hint of lipstick. To some, this might not scream “motherly,” but I approached the evening with excitement.
As a 33-year-old mom to four kids under nine, I often spend my days in cozy pajama pants or workout gear. Unless it’s a special occasion, you probably won’t catch me dressed to the nines. However, my husband had planned a sweet outing for our youngest, so I seized the opportunity to take our three older kids out for dinner and games at their favorite arcade.
Upon entering the restaurant adjacent to the arcade, I felt a few curious glances aimed our way. This is nothing new; navigating a restaurant with kids can be quite a spectacle. That night, however, my children were surprisingly well-behaved, their laughter blending seamlessly with the ambient noise around us.
It was clear that one woman had already formed an opinion about me the moment I walked in, likely judging me based solely on appearances. Perhaps she thought I was more focused on myself than my children. But in those moments, I was fully engaged with my kids—lifting my 4-year-old onto my lap, being silly as we waited for our food, bowing our heads to pray before our meal, and even letting tiny hands play with my hair while I chased them from one arcade game to the next.
Then came the moment I will always remember: a gentle tap on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I judged you when I saw you walk in with your kids… and I just had to apologize.”
Her words hung in the air for a moment as I processed their meaning. Instead of probing for more details, I placed my hand on her arm, smiled, and replied, “Thank you. That truly means a lot. You didn’t have to say anything, but I appreciate it.”
She returned my smile, saying, “No, I needed to. Thank you for being an eye-opener for me tonight.” I leaned in for a quick hug before once again turning my attention to my kids.
I had never seen this woman before and likely never will again. I didn’t catch her name, but she taught me something valuable. In the shared journey of motherhood, there’s no space for judgment or assumptions. Instead, there is always room for compassion and understanding.
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In summary, let’s remember that we are all navigating the beautiful yet challenging landscape of motherhood together. A little kindness goes a long way.