The Life of a Working Mom

Its all about attitude.

 I am fortunate enough to not have to work the day after Thanksgiving.  Usually I spend the day at home, and possibly getting a tree.  this year I decided to brave the masses and check out the sales.  I figure if my littlest guy is going to wake me at 5 am anyway, I may as well be productive.

 Everyone thought I was crazy when I said I was going, I figured how bad can it be.  I have to say I actually enjoyed myself. 

 Jack kept me company during my shopping excursion.  We did see a lot of holiday madness and bargain hungry shoppers, but it didn’t bother us.  Long ago I learned that I cannot control what others do and how they react (as hard as I may try), what I do have control over is how I react, and how I respond to others.  Before leaving the house I decided that I would not let anyone get to me, no matter what the scene was like. 

I entered our mall through the big, new Target, almost immediately I nearly got run over by another shopper as she sprinted past us with her cart.  I tried to imagine exactly what toy it must be for her to run like that, what her young child would do to her if she didn’t get it.  Jack and I had a giggle.  In the Disney Store the crowds were as staggering as the sales.  In line I was all but run over by yet another shopper.  Wordlessly she tried to push and elbow her way in front of me, finally I asked her if she was in line, just trying to figure out what she was trying to do as she bumped and nudged Jack’s stroller (mess with me fine…mess with my baby that’s another story)…”no” she replied, she was trying to get to her daughter who was standing at the front of the line, apparently we were in her way.  I scooted over and let her thru.  After a deep breath, I struck up a conversation with the shopper in line behind me, we agreed, what’s the use of getting mad, either way we would get to cash out and continue shopping.  The shopper who butt in front of us was clearly stressed, we were okay…we chose to be.

Overall, my baby and I had a great day shopping.  Macy’s was uninspiring, the deals were ok, and the lines modest, really not much to talk about.  Old Navy was surprisingly uneventful - no more than any other busy day.  I was even fortunate enough to not have to wait in line at all to check out.

  I did see the angered shoppers, the stressed out Moms and Dads, and the confrontational, sleep deprived masses.  But I was ok, I made that pact with myself before I left the house, and I promised Jack we would have a nice day, I chose to be happy and unaffected and I was.  It was a great day.   I will definitely do this again, I will plan on it next year.  And my number one priority will be to walk out of my house, in a relaxed state, with the outlook that I am going shopping because I want to and that it will only be as good or as bad as I let it be.  And I will have every intention to walk back in the house in the same relaxed state.