Yesterday, while walking with my children, minding my own business and enjoying being outside with them, I experienced quite a verbal attack on my motherhood from some crazy nut. He was crazy enough that I felt he deserved a spot on my blog!
I was on my way home from Starbucks with my two youngest. Jack was all bundled up in the stroller, singing away and getting quite a kick out of the fact that he could see his breath in white puffs. Mitchell was riding his bike for the first time all winter (his idea which he was super excited about!) and we had basically empty sidewalks mid-morning. It was quite cold, but the sun was shining, we were properly dressed, and just having a great time together.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere, I hear a car slow down next to me out on the street and some man hang his body half out the window and tell me, "Hey you! You need to get that kid closer to you! Don't you watch your kids?" Now I don't keep Mitchell on a leash, nor do I even want him to ride his bike so close to me he can touch me (that is just asking for toes to be run over and collisions with the stroller are certain) but he was no more than a few yards in front of me. We were nowhere near an intersection or driveway or alley and I have no idea where this guy came from all of the sudden!
He didn't stop there either. When I, as politely as I could manage, replied, "Thanks for your concern, but I have this under control," the man went crazy! He leaned farther out his window and started cursing me and swearing at me and calling me all sorts of things I would prefer not to hear myself, let alone my kids! He told me I was a terrible mother and shouldn't be allowed to have kids at all. He drove along side me, not letting up with his angry tirade until the end of the block! At one point, I told him to mind his own business and go away, which really set him off and he said, "This IS my business, you ******* ****** ****** *****! When I run over him in my car, then it will REALLY be my business!" Was he really threatening to run my child over just to prove his point that I am a lousy mother?
Sometimes, I get annoyed or defensive with people for pointing out something to me about my kids, but underneath, realize there is a tad bit of truth to it - yes, they were being annoying. Yes, he is being quite loud. Yes, I let him put his candy back in his mouth after dropping it on the ground. Yes, he is sword-fighting his brother with a large stick. Those things are not a very big deal to me most of the time and still no one else's business to comment on, but I can understand their thoughts at least.
This guy, though, was a nut job and his accusations were completely unfounded. This time, we were simply enjoying some time together outside, all happy, all smiling, all behaving, all chatting away with each other. While it was happening and after, I kept looking around me for someone to be there to back me up and at least scowl at the man, if not stand up for me, but there was no one around! I was left on my own to defend myself and my kids, and for once, I actually gave him a piece of my mind. It seemed to make him more irate for sure, but man, someone ought to give him a big, fat, punch in the nose! I'm pretty sure Matt would have walked out into the street and done just that, had he been there.
Angry people: chill out! Do not take your aggression out on innocent and happy families enjoying simple pleasures in life! Go join a gym or get a punching bag and leave the rest of us alone!
