Dear Target Mom: You’ve got this!

Dear Target mom,

The other day I was in the midst of digging through the Target dollar bins looking for chalkboard tags. I already filled items till I remembered what I really needed. I was feeling confident when I found them and quickly shoved them under the stroller (a natural habit from shopping with my husband. Hide the collection of $1 items!!) I decided to go back in for one last dig and I heard your voice.

“Excuse me. Can I ask you something?”

“Me? Yeah, sure!”

“Where did you get your son’s shoes? Do you like them? What kind shoes are your favorite? Is he your only child? Is he always so calm? Does he cry? Where….”

I stood there hands deep in $1 gift tags watching you, a beautiful mom, melt before me. I saw the tired look on your face. I noticed (and felt jealous of) your comfortable, well loved yoga pants. You were rockin’ a stylish top knot and looked like you were about to lose it. 12192719_10154322793316038_1480504862_o

“I found his shoes at my favorite consignment shop. We always loved moccs….blah blah blah…And yes my son cries. You just caught me 5 minutes into my trip. My daughter isn’t with me, so my nerves aren’t shot and, I’m not looking like a mad woman trying to survive. And you missed me racing to the baby section to grab that container of puffs he’s elbow deep in.”

You took out your phone and made a list of all the things I said. Although it gave me some confidence as I guess my way through motherhood, I told you I wasn’t an expert. I reached out and touched your shoulder and told you it’s OK. You’ve got this. You are his momma. And you said…

12193090_10154322793336038_1642719147_o“Thank you. Because I think I suck sometimes at it. I work nights so I barely see him and I’m feeling lost.”

Aren’t we all at some point?

I’m not sure why you stopped to ask me questions. I’m sorry if I mislead you because you may have missed all my chaos.

You didn’t see me struggling to leave the house. You missed when I spilled my son’s bottle of milk in the parking lot. You weren’t there when I raced to the back of the store to grab a container of puffs to entertain my quiet-looking son. I may have looked refreshed to you because it was a rare, super rare day that my son let me sleep past 6 am. I looked put together wearing jeans and a Halloween shirt because I was heading to a birthday party. And getting ready with only one child vs. two was like a mini vacation.

We talked for a few more minutes. We laughed when my son let out a loud toot. I said good luck and you were off to tackle those fears and just be the mom you know how to be.

I saw you later in the store on the wine aisle (YES!) and I laughed because I was pushing around a stroller full of dumped out puffs. You reminded me, Target mom, that we all need to let our guard down and holler’ at a random mom for help! I hope you enjoyed the rest of your Sunday and bought that bottle of wine you were holding.

Love, another Target momma