For so many moms, being in public with your kids can bring stress like nobody’s business! It is not only watching your kids, looking out for predators, and keeping them safe, but the external opinions weigh on our plate of responsibilities as well.

Recently, I came into a situation of evaluating a child’s speaking behavior in relation to a mother’s feeling of perception from others, and it has brought me here. The child was full of life, and always looking to show how much they knew. It came at the expense of overtalking their parent, amd other adults. They even spoke on the wrong topic, but the mother did not interrupt as she saw it was an opportunity to share their enthusiasm for life, as well as gain perspective on communication skills.

The child continued talking, but then often fell behind with their sibling, as they played. The mother seemed to ignore a little, and let them fall back. Even with the crazies in the world she held conversation, slowing, looking back and commenting. How many have you been there? It was as if she kept up with the kids she seemed lowered to not having a handle on her kids, but then in keeping conversation, she looked as to not care. The weight was apparent, but by the end it was too much.

See guys, everyone has a plate of responsibilities and perceptions they are worried about, but what about the kids? Was the lady right for letting her kid keep chatting, though eventually they caught on to say ,”excuse me”; or was she to instill the proper conversation ettiqute and make them a miniature adult, tamed and mute, while carefully calculating each expression? On the other hand, should the mom have stopped talking and tended solely to the kids (as anyone could assume, is her normal day) instead?

To me, I feel everyone needed to be free. To trust the ability of natural conversation learning, jump in when the body language/behavior noted it was needed, but also to give a little freedom of play. Though there are crazies, God is still there (even when we aren’t paying attention), and at times that is the biggest grace and mercy we can get. As said, her plate became too weighted, and like any parent, she had to change tactics to regroup the chaos. So many times we lose it all at the last moment- regrouping chaos, but sometimes the chaos can bring the best moments. So, the next time you want to drop the plate, find the joys, and forget the expectations. Pretend you and your kids are the only ones around, and Move Forward in Love!™