I'm raising honey badgers

Today the Trouble Brothers and I ventured out of the house to get some much needed grocery shopping done.  This always seems like a rather easy venture up until the point I am actually in the grocery store with said children.  Then I remember exactly why I typically make these trips while the boys are in school or on the weekends when they are with their Dad.

I like to do my shopping at Wegmans for a number of reasons.  First things first, they have very good prices on their grocery items and their selection of specialty foods are second to none.  However, I also like that the closest store to my home is almost a twenty minute drive.  That is twenty minutes that my boys are secured in their car seats, reading their books, listening to their iPods, or otherwise not driving me effing crazy.  Clearly this is a win/win.

The boys especially like going to Wegmans because of a kid's area they have upstairs where they can play and watch television while myself and other patrons eat lunch at nearby tables.

I imagine Sam is thinking, "I LOVE THIS PLACE!"

Today was no different and the boys were quite excited to be at one of their favorite places.  Even better was that we were the only family in the play area.

At least we were for the first couple minutes. 

Enter Ms. Perfect and her three perfect daughters. 

Ms. Perfect sat at the table directly behind ours and her three perfect daughters (ranging in age from three to seven as best I could tell) walked into the play area and stood there wide-eyed and dumbfounded by Noah who was letting off muted shrieks of joy while he bounced up and down in the air.  Sam was simultaneously holding a small toy up to one ear while drumming on it.

In my opinion the Trouble Brothers were not being loud or obnoxious but apparently Ms. Perfect thought otherwise.  I sensed her displeasure at my boys' behavior and so I walked over and reminded them to use their "indoor voices" and find something quiet to play with.  I did this strictly for her benefit because I knew damn well the boys would keep playing as they were but I didn't want her to think I was a bad parent for not helicoptering their every move.

And then I realized I was nuts.

My kids weren't doing anything wrong.  But their manner of play may have looked wrong to Ms. Perfect and I cared more about making her comfortable than letting my boys be themselves and enjoy a favorite place.

Sam and Noah were oblivious to the others around them.  They didn't care that two of the perfect girls were gawking at them and snickering.  Sam didn't pay them any mind at all and kept on rap tap tapping on the toy while Noah continued to make small leaps into the air. 

At that moment I realized I was a mother raising two honey badgers and damn it all for once I was going to stop giving a shit what other people think and let them be who they are. 

I sat back down and finished my lunch (which was NOT cobra) and Ms. Perfect rolled her eyes, took a hold of her three perfect daughters, and decided to leave the play area entirely.

As she walked away I remembered that raising kids with special needs sometimes requires us to be a bit of a badass.

Lucky for me that is right up the honey badger's alley.