Lillian Saleh: To the stranger who didn’t judge me - thank you
ONE of the hardest things about being a mum is being judged by others, especially when your child has a public meltdown. Lillian Saleh now goes out with her son only when she has to but she’s hoping people’s reactions will change.
AFTER his six-week vaccination shots I couldn’t wait to get out of the house with bubba.
Sure it would take an hour to get him and me ready and then another 30 minutes just to get in the car — but it beat staring at four walls all day.
The first time we ventured out on our own was to the local shopping centre. I’d pulled into the “parents with prams” spot and just sat there for a minute soaking the moment in.
I also couldn’t wait to check out the parents’ room. (Don’t judge me. I’d waited a long time for these moments.)
Almost every day we’d get out of the house — returning just before the hubby got home from work.
Fast forward 18 months and I only venture out with bubba on my own if we have to — there are weekly swimming lessons and gymbaroo classes.
I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to be one of those mums who worried about what other people said or the judgmental stares of strangers.
But lately, it seems we can’t go anywhere for long without our little boy having some sort of meltdown.
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I wait until he’s finished, wipe his tears, give him a cuddle while asking if he’s OK before scooping him up and carrying on. All the while feeling the stares of strangers burning into my back.
Just last week, I had got him out of the car and plonked him down for 10 seconds to lean in and grab my bag.
In that time, he had darted off. I turned around in a mad panic, only to see him in the arms of a complete stranger who scooped him up and brought him to me.
As I braced for a bitchy comment, the woman simply said: “I’d forgotten how fast they can be.”
So, to that woman: thank you. Thank you for not judging me. And thank you for reminding me that this is all part of the journey of parenthood, where you’re doing the best that you can while pretty much winging it most of the time.
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