That mom

Recently I was at the car dealership waiting for a repair. I was a little put off at the morning I had given up to be there but I had bought my laptop and was hard at work. My concentration was broken when I heard a mother come in with her young child. I was surprised when the (not in school) Pre-schooler immediately asked for something from the vending machine. I was extra surprised that "that mom" said yes and could almost hear myself saying NO! to my children had they been along.

Shortly thereafter I looked up from my laptop and saw "that mom" playing on the floor with her child. I'm talking on-the-floor-pretend-play-where-you-be-the-bad-guy playing. I found myself thinking how, had the girls not been in school, I still would not have brought them. Quickly I realized how unhappy they would be if they were there. No snack. No momma playing on the floor with them. Sure they'd be wondering why they hadn't got "that momma!"