To say that today was a hard day of parenting would be an understatement.

Lots of tears, yelling, more tears. It was just an overall off day.

On our way to church there was another blow up. I’d like to say it was from one of the kids, but it was from me.

Failure.

Thoughts of being a failure as a mother came rushing in.

While in church, Jack never seemed to stay quiet. It wasn’t all cries, but he was babbling up a storm. Then Riley needed to go to the bathroom. Jack had a fit. The priest even joked give that baby a bottle.

The icing on the cake was when Jack threw a matchbox car. After only missing a lady by an inch, Matt took Jack out to the car.

The woman two pews ahead of me with a smile handed me back the matchbox car. Simple gesture, that meant more than words can say.

All while this was happening, I was trying to capture what Father was saying. He spoke about being kind and to remember not to be a jerk. I thought about how earlier today I was jerk. My kids were being kids and my patience was quite low. I lost sight of them being kids and let my anger get the best of me.

I needed to hear that sermon today.

Then while in line for communion a kind women stopped me and said, “Your baby is absolutely no trouble. No trouble at all.”

Ahh. Those words I needed to hear those too. Prior to her saying that I had thoughts of being embarrassed and felt so bad for the parishioners around me. Thoughts about how I shouldn’t take him to church and how I’m a terrible mother.

Then I thought of my mom. She had been on my mind all day. But those words from that sweet women reminded me so much of something my mom would have said.

My mom always believed in taking children to church, no matter how small, no matter how loud or rambunctious, plant that mustard seed of faith.  

To the parishioners who endured Jack’s screaming, I’m sorry. To the kind women who handed me the matchbox cars, thank you! To the woman who could have said nothing at all but chose to speak encouraging words, thank you!

Moral of the story. Don’t be a jerk. Be humble and kind!