A letter. . .

Dear mother at Walmart,

My heart was aching today as I watched you yell at your son. The entire dairy section stood still, trying not to stare as you verbally abused your son. I watched, with my children by my side, as you yelled in a voice loud enough to be heard several aisles over. Your son, whom I'm guessing is about 14, stood quietly and took the abuse. I don't doubt that something in his behavior caused your anger. But the way you expressed your anger almost brought me to tears. I watched your younger daughters stand by, embarrassed as onlookers witnessed your outrage. I had to explain to my children what was going on, and answer questions about the horrible, vulgar word you hurled at him.

I can't imagine your life. Maybe you have no one to turn to when things are tough. Maybe you have endured things beyond my comprehension.

But what I do know, and have to remind myself daily, hourly, is that we get one chance to mother our children. In the blink of an eye, they will be gone. They make us crazy, exhausted and angrier than we could have ever imagined. But they also make us smile, laugh, and cry with joy. And before we know it, they will be grown.

So, dear mother at Walmart, please, please have patience with your son. Treat him with love and control your anger, as difficult as it can be at times. Your son will grow up better for it.

Signed,

A concerned mother