If you don't hate your kids sometimes...

I used to judge the parents who had the screaming kid flailing away in their cart at the grocery store, stroller at the mall, or chair in a restaurant.  Now I understand.  It's very likely that they weren't bad parents after all, they just had a two year old.  Recently, as we were rushing to get out of the mall so we could go pick John up from the airport, I became my worst nightmare.  Sloane, who had just thrown my phone because I wouldn't let her watch the Mama Mia video on youtube for the millionth time, was screaming bloody murder because she was told she would not be allowed to hold said phone for the rest of the week.  Hazel woke up from her nap hungry and wanting to eat - now.  I'm rushing through the mall pushing a screaming toddler in the stroller and trying to calm the wailing babe on my chest, sweating my ass off.  An elderly gentleman walked up next to us and cheerfully asked Sloane what was wrong. "She's two," I said through a forced smile, "that's what's wrong."  He laughed, patted me on the back and said, "You know what they say....If you don't hate your kids some of the time, you aren't spending enough time with them."  Turns out I'm definitely spending enough time with my kids and this well timed piece of advice was just what I needed.  If I ever see that guy again, he's getting a big hug.