Let's Quit It With The Judgement Already... Really.

Hey Lovelies!

On our way to Aiden's preschool this morning, we were waiting at the bus stop minding our own business. As always, Aiden began looking for rocks. He loves to look for rocks and always has to find one whenever we're waiting for the bus. Is that a "boy" thing or is it just my son? Hmm...

Anyway, this lady who was also standing at the bus stop NOT minding her own business decided to take it upon herself and yell at my son for bending down to pick up a rock.

Now, don't get me wrong. If Aiden did something that merited her to speak at a volume that's a little higher than normal, like say, try to run into the streets to get a rock, then it would have been no problem. I only have two eyes and it takes a village, right?

But as I have done a zillion times before, I said to Aiden (right in front of her, which means she heard me) NOT to stand too close to the street. And I told him NOT to throw rocks at people, but back unto the sidewalk when people aren't coming. And I told him NOT to pick up anything else but rocks. No paper, no garbage, just rocks.

I always remind him of those few things whenever he's searching for rocks. Just in case he forgets. And this lady heard me remind him this morning. So I had my bases covered. Great, right?! Wrong!

As soon as Aiden bent down to pick up a rock, she yelled (yelled!), "No! Don't touch it! Don't touch it!"

First pause.

I figured this lady was some sort of hypochondriac or suffered from germ phobia or something and didn't want him to touch the dirt. So I didn't sweat it too much. I just responded, "It's okay, he's just looking for a rock. He likes rocks."

"Yea, but you young girls have to be careful because there's a lot of bacteria on the ground."

Second pause.

So at this point, I'm annoyed. She's not just a hypochondriac, she's judging me because of my age. This lady has yelled at my son, scared both him and me with her yelling, AND insulted my parenting techniques because I am a "young girl."


Third pause.

With a slight attitude, I responded, "Ma'am, I am perfectly aware that the ground is dirty. We are outside. But I always wash his hands when we get to our destination."

And then the bus pulled up. Thank goodness because I didn't want to have a battle with her right then and there in front of my child.

But seriously, did I really owe her an explanation? And why did I feel the need to give her one just because of the statement that she made? Young mothers should not have to defend their approaches with their children. In fact, we shouldn't have to explain anything to anyone.


And maybe if we would all just quit it with the judgment already, we could all just go about our day and our children could just pick up rocks, gosh darnit!

Smooches,
SweetAl