“I’m sorry. I judged you when I saw you walk in with your kids… and I needed to say something.”
Last weekend, I strolled into a restaurant with my three children. I was dressed in an off-the-shoulder top, skinny jeans, open-toed heels, and a touch of lipstick—perhaps not the typical “motherly” look some might expect.
As a 33-year-old mom of four kids under nine, I often find myself in pajama pants or workout gear. Unless it’s a special occasion or church, I usually don’t dress up. However, on that particular night, my husband had planned a special dinner for our youngest, so I decided to take the three older ones out for a meal and some fun at their favorite arcade.
Upon entering the restaurant adjacent to the arcade, I noticed a few curious glances. Managing three kids is often a circus, but that evening they were relatively well-behaved, not loud, and our laughter blended with the sounds from the arcade.
Yet, one woman had clearly made up her mind about me the moment I walked in, judging me solely based on my appearance. I can only imagine what she thought—perhaps she assumed I was more interested in my looks than in my children.
Maybe she saw me scoop my 4-year-old onto my lap when she wanted to be close. Maybe she noticed how I was playful with my kids while we waited for our food. Perhaps she observed us bowing our heads to pray before digging into our meal, or the sight of little arms wrapping around my neck while another grabbed my hair playfully. Or maybe it was when I joined in the fun, hopping from one game to the next with my kids.
I’ll never forget the tap on my shoulder and her words: “I’m sorry. I judged you when I saw you walk in with your kids… and I just had to apologize.”
I took a moment to absorb her words, contemplating their meaning. Instead of asking for clarification, I gently placed my hand on her arm, smiled, and said, “Thank you. That really means a lot. You didn’t have to say anything, but you did.”
She smiled back and said, “No, I needed to. Thank you for opening my eyes tonight.”
I leaned in for a quick hug before rushing off to catch up with my kids. I didn’t catch her name or know anything else about her, but she taught me an important lesson that night.
In the journey of motherhood, there’s no space for judgment or assumptions. Instead, there’s always room for compassion and understanding.
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Summary
This piece reflects a moment of unexpected understanding between two mothers, highlighting the perils of judging others based on appearances. It illustrates the importance of compassion and open-mindedness in the journey of motherhood.