When others judge

The Husband, the kids, and I met up with my sister at a local Silver Diner for lunch recently.  The place was packed and my sister was late, so we were waited in the front foyer area for about 15 minutes.  A party of two older ladies behind us got seated before we did, and as one walked by, she looked at me and snapped, “You need to watch your children better.”

Um, wow.  I said that out loud to her, but other than that, I was speechless as I conjured up the right words to say.  I mean, my kids were wandering about some, going underneath the chain designed to keep people in the line.  Once or twice, The Husband or I told them to move out of the way so the people could pass (we were kind of bunched by the exit door).  But really, I don’t think they were doing anything too horribly terrible–they weren’t screaming, they weren’t running, they weren’t terrorizing other patrons.

I can’t figure out why what this woman said to me bothers me so much.  I mean, who really cares what this random woman thinks?  Another person in line quietly asked me what she said, and when I told her, she rolled her eyes and told me my kids were just being kids, and this was the Silver Diner, not some fine dining establishment.  This person also told me that lady had been rude to some other patrons earlier.

I’m shocked that someone thought I wasn’t watching my kids very well and/or that my kids were misbehaving.  Not that I think my kids are perfect angels or anything like that.  I most certainly do not.

Then again, I can’t figure out why it bothers me so much either.

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Originally posted on Michelle’s blog Wife and Mommy.  Michelle can also can be found on Twitter.