Today I saw a mum…

She looked tired.

She stooped to pick her young daughter up and heaved her up onto her hip.

Her two sons skipped along beside her holding hands while she shuffled her bags.

“Boys!  Please!” she scowled at them.  “Hold my hand.”

The youngest of the boys looked up at her with his big blue eyes wondering what he had done to deserve to be chastised.

She looked frazzled.  She took his hand without a smile and they moved on through the crowds on the busy Adelaide street.

She looked as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders, and I wondered what could be so urgent that she couldn’t stop for a moment to smile at that beautiful boy, why she hadn’t spoken to him in that soothing but commanding tone that mothers are supposed to use for their children.

Today I saw my reflection in the shop window and I didn’t like what I saw.

It is not the mum that I usually am.

I don’t want to be the moany-shouty-stressed mum.

Tomorrow Hubbster and I and the kids embark on our 11 hour (including numerous wee-stops) from Adelaide to Melbourne and I may sound crazy but I am looking forward to it.

I am looking forward to enjoying their company, to listening to their noisy chatter, and singing happy songs, and I will smile and I will laugh…and I will not be the moany-shouty-stressed mum anymore.