Dear Woman Behind Me in Line at the Science Center Gift Shop,

Do you realize that when you talk to your child like he’s stupid, you are killing any bit of self esteem he might have?  While you had your little ‘moment’ telling your kid that it wasn’t a good idea to spend the six bucks on the plastic slinky, it wasn’t the words that you chose, but your condecending tone.  When your child went back and got the metal slinky, did you reassuringly tell him it was a better choice?  No.  I’m not sure if you saw my kids staring at you while you snipped and scoffed at your son.  My girls looked at you like deer in headlights.

I understand that EVERY mother has her moments.  I’m not saying that I don’t yell at my kids.  But seeing that you did this in PUBLIC with everybody watching made me wonder what you are like at home.  I wanted to turn around and tell you that you were being a royal bitch.

But I didn’t.  Instead I wrote this.

And we made funof you in the car on the way home.  And my kids said “Mom…you’re a fun, nice mom.”  When they were acting up later in the day, I told them that I could be as mean as that lady in line.  That worked, and they started behaving.

I really hope that you were just having a bad day, and that you’re not like that all the time.