peskypippi.comBecause I have a lot to say…

Looks can be deceiving. And eye opening.

The last time I took my kids swimming, it was: Splash! Slide! Marco Polo!

“You be the dolphin, I’ll be the shark!”

It was non-stop fun!

Another Mom caught my eye. She was a total hottie and was rocking her bikini. I stared. I couldn’t help it. She had a perfect body. I was instantly jealous.

Me? I was wearing my tankini. And, yeah, appropriately named. I kinda looked like a tank. But whatever.

The other Mom? She was gripping the pool’s edge. Not splashing. Or sliding. Or Marco Polo’ing. Or playing shark-eats-dolphin.

Why not??

I continued to glance over. What was her deal? Were her eyes sad? Wistful? I could feel her eyes on me. Was she watching me splash and play?

And then.

After the kids and I changed and piled into the car, I saw the bikini woman in the parking lot. Her face had a pained look; she was hurting. I now saw that she had M.S. and walked with a cane.

Wow.

It was truly eye opening. My jealousy instantly vanished. And like the Grinch, my compassion grew three sizes that day.

I went out to lunch and I encountered a mother in the restaurant’s restroom who was at wit’s end. She was yelling at her four-year-old to stay RIGHT THERE. She was battling the blow-out her two-year-old made, forcing her to throw away the entire poop-covered outfit in the trash and to use paper towels to wipe up the mess. Then she proceeded to wrap her child in a paper towel “skirt” because she didn’t have a change of clothes.

Been there? I have. And it nearly brings you to tears.

Don’t judge that mother for yelling. Yelling happens. Don’t judge her for forgetting her baby wipes. Chances are she used them all up. Don’t judge her for throwing away clothes. Who would want to bring home poop-covered overalls? Don’t judge her for not bringing a change of clothes. Chances are, she did and this was the second blow-out of the day. Poop happens.

I felt sorry for her. I handed her the baby wipes I keep in my purse. I ask, “Do you want these?” = “I know what you’re going through.”

She said, “Yes, that would be great. Thank you sooooo much.” = “Thanks for understanding me and not judging.”

Who would’ve known the power of the baby wipe?