Thanks, But No Thanks!

Sometimes I get the feeling I must look like the worst, most ill-prepared mother in the world. I am amazed at how people feel the need to correct me - a complete stranger - when they have witnessed my life for all of about 15 seconds. And I am also amazed at how many people out there do this! Now, like I said... Maybe I just have a bright, flashing light above my head (that I can't see) or maybe I just always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time because I cetainly get my share. And in case you couldn't tell, it kind of irks me. So let me share with you my latest experience... I have three children in carseats, right? Two in the middle row and one in the back - until this last weekend, that happened to be Benjamin. Now, we get out a lot. I mean A LOT. None of us is happy at home for too long so we are constantly out and about. Needless to say, I get my share of practice with loading and unloading children, right? Well, last week we met daddy for lunch and then ran in to JoAnn's on the way home. I got out, got out the double stroller. (I take this EVRYWHERE! Noah is good at staying with me and following along. Benjamin? Not so much. And when the two are out and about together? You can forget about getting anything constructive done. So Benjamin rides. He is perfectly happy in there and I will take advantage of that as long as I can.) I undo Abby's seatbelt and reach over her seat to undo Benjamin's in the back. I know FROM PLENTY OF PRACTICE that I have enough time to get Abby in the stroller and get over to the other door before Benjamin gets out of his seat and takes advantage of the fact that he can play with Noah's head while he is strapped in his carseat and there is nothing Noah can do about it except yell - which Benjamin finds extremely entertaining. I also park the stroller at the end of the aisle between the boys' door and the car next to us so should he miraculously stop fussing with Noah before I pull him off, he can't get away from me in the parking lot. Well, on this particularday, he did just that and hopped out of the car as I was finishing with Abby. He was standing RIGHT NEXT TO ME so Ipicked him up and was placing him in the stroller when I noticed a car behind us 75% backed up and the lady driving just staring at me. I look up to see what the problem is and she says, "He can't be running around the parking lot by himself." I smile and nod and go about my business. She, still not moving her car, continues, "I was looking behind me and I couldn't see him." I'm thinking to myself, "Well, I could." Again, I smile and continue on. Still she sits, staring at me. "He really shouldn't be out here. You should leave him in the car." I said, "Ma'am. I am with these children 24 hours a day and I am pretty certain that I have a better understanding of how to manage them than you do. Thank you." And I go back to get Noah. Still sitting. Still staring. And then the real kicker. She says, "Do you have any idea how I would feel if I ran over him?" WHAT!!?!? I tried my best to politely reply, "No, ma'am. I can't imagine but I am going to guess it would not be even half as bad as I would feel." And we were finally able to turn and walk away from her. I totally expected her to still be sitting there when I came out. I was almost wishing she had been so I could have told her it was good thing she wasn't in the church parking lot last fall when Abby and the stroller blew away in the wind while I was getting Benjamin in the car. I can only imagine how horrible she would have felt had she run over my daughter AND my stroller... Sheesh! So to all you well-meaning, unsolicited-advice-givers out there I just want to say, "Thanks, but no thanks." Get yourself a column and wait until someone asks for your help.