Oh, Emersyn, how you challenge me to be better!

I had to blog about this! Mainly so that I can remember this story for when Emersyn is older and can appreciate it!

Yesterday, Monday morning, I HAD to make a run to the grocery store! I mean, HAD, because if I didn't go to the store we wouldn't have been able to eat lunch. That's normal, right?! Anyway, Emersyn is 2, almost 3, and exercising her right as a 2 year old VERY WELL! She is the sweetest thing, but is the most challenging of my three! She can throw fits about anything and everything. If you change or help her with whatever it is she is throwing a fit about, she will find the next best thing to throw a fit about.
Yesterday was one of these days. It started off with her clothes not fitting right (she picked the outfit!), then her hair was in a pony tail and she did not want her hair in a pony tail. So, as I take her hair out, fix her outfit, she is still crying. I put her in the car and tell her she needs to calm down. I bargained with her and said, "if I take your pony out, will you stop throwing a fit." Of course she said, "yes, I be nice.", but this did not help.

We arrive at the store and she is still crying. I thought being in the store would distract her and she would stop. We have yet to had a fit in the store, so why would this day be different!? HA!

Everyone was looking at us. I was giving it my all to be calm with her and talk her through the fit, while trying to collect what we needed and GO. Well, through the produce and onto the meat department, we are still breathing hard, crying and trying to get out of the cart! She is now, at this point, upset she is having to sit in the front of the cart instead of the back. I would have given in, however the groceries would not fit with her in the back of the cart, and she would have thrown a fit if I tried to put the groceries in the back with her. See where this is going?? It didn't matter what I did, she was going to be upset. AND, I AM THE MOM! HA!

Well, as I am waiting for my lunch meat, there is an older lady waiting to get her meat too. Emersyn is still crying but not screaming or going crazy, just kinda doing what she does. The lunch meat lady looked at me with empathy and was kind. Well, the older lady to my left kept giving me the evil eye. I tried to ignore her because I am trying to be self-controlled. As I am standing by my cart that Emersyn and Elynn are both sitting in, the lady looks at me and says, "UM, Ma'am, your daughter!" I look over at Emersyn who is trying to get out of the cart, but failing because she is buckled in, and tell her, "Emersyn please sit down." Now, she was NOT, by any means, standing up, nor could she stand up because she was buckled in. AND- I was standing right there by them! So, I look at the lady and with as much self-control and politeness say, "thank you, I can do this." The lady continues to give me the evil eye while saying, "your daughter keeps standing up in the cart and if she falls she will be hurt." Mind you, I am standing right by her, and she is not in the least standing up!! So, I politely, again, tell Emersyn to sit down please. I look at the lady and politely say, "I mean, if she falls, maybe she will learn not to try and stand up in the cart." (maybe not the best thing I could have said, but I am the MOM and my heart was pounding to say so much more than that, while I am trying so hard to control my tongue and glorify God) The lady looks me dead in the face and says, "if she falls, you bet I will call the police and they will be here soon." I MEAN REALLY!!!?? Goodness! I had not raised my voice, I did not beat or touch Emersyn and she was NOT STANDING IN THE CART!

My heart was racing, but I just looked at Emersyn and said, "you need to stay in your seat."

UGH! After the lady got her meat, she went to the other side of me and took out her phone. Some people!
Another older lady who was standing with us, that witnessed the whole thing was so sweet. She looked at me and said, "I am so sorry honey. Hang in there."

Such a good humbling lesson.