We Need To Take Better Care Of Our Fellow Moms

We all know the things we say matter, but sometimes in the heat of it we say some things that are hard to take back. Today I was at the grocery store when I heard a fed-up mother yell at her kids to, “Shut the h*ll up.” I get it. We’ve all been frustrated and just lost our cool. And I don’t blame this mama for losing hers. The store was hot. Like, Texas in the middle of summer and not enough A/C hot. And she had three kids under ten and a completely full grocery cart. Plus, the kids were loud. They were going bananas and from the place mama was at in the store, I’m guessing she was only about halfway done shopping. But the truth remains: how we talk to our kids matters. But, we also need to take better care of our fellow moms. 

We Need To Take Better Care Of Our Fellow Moms

More than anything I wish I could go back to the store and give that mom a hug. She had her hands full and I didn’t, and it would have been so easy for me to help lift her burden. I don’t think she meant to talk so harshly to her kids. A few aisles over she was back to being nice and I think it was a moment where she just reached the end of her rope and no one was there to catch her.

I should have been there to catch her.

I’ve been there. I think we all have. Imagine how much better things would have been if someone had stepped in and said, “Hey, what else is on your list? Let me help.” Or, maybe, “Hey, I’ve been there and I promise your day will get better. What can I do to help?” Yeah, it might have weirded me out, but the offer…someone just reaching out and seeing me would have made such a difference.

Why don’t we see each other anymore?

When did we become so caught up in our own lives that we stopped seeing that moms around us need a hand? I’m not talking about living their lives or anything, I’m just saying a word of encouragement and a hug here or there.

Not a lot. Not really. Not in the big scheme of things.

But I think the fact that we don’t do that is part of the reason it’s so easy to tear each other up online. Think about it…we’ve all been part of some thread or read some post and seen moms just ripping each other to shreds. Over words. Over nothing, really.

And when all that ripping and tearing is done, all those moms have to go back to their lives. What happens if their toddler comes up to them in that moment asking for a cup of water? Or their tween has a pimple meltdown?

We need to take better care of our fellow moms.

I’m not going to make a list, or offer suggestions on how to do this. We all know what we should be doing. I’m just asking that if you’re reading this, look around you. Is there someone on your street, in your building, maybe even at the grocery store who could use an uplifting word of encouragement? Maybe someone in your family even?

Moms are the backbone of society and if we can’t take care of each other, how are we supposed to take care of our families?

The truth is you might read this and decide your life is complicated enough already. You might decide that you don’t have the strength or energy to reach out to someone else. Or maybe you’ll decide that since no one has reached out to you, there’s no reason for you to help anyone else.

But know this: if I see you in the store, and you are struggling, and you look like you might be about to lose it…I’m going to be there. From now on, I will be the one to reach back.

And I’m hoping if I do, maybe others will follow…