Judgment

I'm trying hard not to judge, I can definitely be judgemental but it is something I am actively working on. Last night I was tested.

I was doing a late night shop at my local Coles, which is a mistake for so many reasons. The store is tiny and dingy, the aisles are full of staff stacking shelves and families doing the last minute shop on their way home from work. I'm coming down aisle three when I hear a scream, a full on toddler tantrum, I winced, I thought about skipping the aisle, then I realised I was being judgy and I had no idea what was going on. I came around the corner and I was faced with a 3, maybe 4 year old boy, in his pyjamas and crying hysterically. Not being a Mum yet I wasn't sure what to do, so I stopped and thought "what would my Mum do?" she would make sure the little boy was ok. I left my trolley and squatted down beside him, tried to find out where his Mum had gone, what his name was, anything to calm him down. I got him to the quiet sobbing stage, held his hand to walk him to the front counter when his Mum came around the corner. I don't know what I was expecting, relief? A thank you? Instead I received an icy glare and the kid was dragged down aisle 4 so they could finish shopping. I gave her a weak smile, at least they were together.

I too went back to my trolley, wondering what on Earth had just happened, had I done the right thing? Should I have kept walking? When another lady came up to me and said she had done the same thing just the other week at a shopping centre, and how terrifying it must have been for the child.

For the child. I had done what was best for the child. The poor Mum was probably stressed out, maybe it happens all the time? Maybe her kid is a runner? Either way it is important to remember everyone is fighting battles we know nothing about so be kind.

Always be kind xxx