Another realization

It was a nice, sunny Easter Monday so Will called in sick and we took the boys to the zoo. Let me just clarify, I don't do zoos. I do not like the smell of animals and animal poop. I don't like animals that have grey feathers or fur or green slimy skins on them. Which pretty much sums up the whole zoo. Well, maybe except for the zebras, leopards or crocodiles. That I like. Preferably in a size 8 ballet flats or maybe a tote or a belt? I kid, I kid! But I decided to take them because I am a good mommy and that's what we do. We sacrifice our own fears for our childrens' needs. Actually Will might say that it's because I need to bribe them so that I can go shopping afterwards and I would have leverage when they whine. But don't listen to him, what does he know about the sacrifices us moms make? But it did make shopping easier for me that afternoon.

I learned an important thing that day. It was an eye-opening experience. I've learned that I am not that kind of mom.

Let me clarify:

that kind of mom: they all had backpacks with snacks, change of clothes, juice boxes and first aid kit.
me:

I had my Hello Kitty mirror, air freshner (just in case the kids poop or fart and we need to "freshen" the air), Hello Kitty nail cutter, gum (another good thing to bribe the kids with), Hello Kitty pill box (I bring Advil with me because Will gets headaches when we are at malls. I would like to come prepared!) and a cute bottle of perfume, just because the bottle is so cute!

that kind of mom: Their kids smelled like sunscreen.
me: I would've put sunscreen on the boys except that the bottle we have at home expired two years ago.

that kind of mom: They wore sensible clothes. You know jeans, hoodie and birkinstock sandals, some wore runners.
me: I wore white and flip flops



that kind of mom: They fed their kids veggie sticks, cheese and crackers and water.
me: We had A&W that day. Grandma burger, onion rings, fries and rootbeer to be exact. Almost wanted to high five the other Asian family sitting close to us in the picnic area eating McDonalds!

that kind of mom: They looked at each cage and read all the animal description with their kids.
me:

Yup, that's me sitting on the bench playing with my itouch. Not really sure where the kids were at this point. On the plus side, I am now on the assistant manager level on my SkyBurger game!

It made me feel bad about my parenting skills for a second. I got over it really quick though because I know I am a good mom. My kids might eat candy and junk food once in a while, they might start to throw temper tantrums, they might whine and complain when I ask them to do their chores, they might sometimes watch TV all day instead of playing outside, but they are happy and healthy, they are respectful, loving and well behaved, and most of all they are MY kids!