in 2020, grocery shopping became an Olympic sport. As much as possible, people were trying to avoid going to the store — and started ordering curbside pickup, staying up until 3 a.m. to score a delivery, and even then sometimes it just wasn't enough.
Unfortunately, if you needed food, you had to don your gloves and face mask and brave the outdoors. For parents who were single or who had essential worker partners, sometimes they were forced to bring their young children along with them.
While things have settled down quite a bit since then, we can still totally relate to one mom's struggle during the height of the lockdown. She felt judged for bringing her daughter to the grocery store with her, and decided to clap back at her critics in a creative way.
The thing is, even when we're not in the middle of a global crisis, moms regularly get the side-eye from disapproving strangers when we're out with her kids. We still feel the frustration on the regular, so we totally understand why this mom felt she had to do something to defend herself.
Unfortunately, the situation in 2020 did little to change how quick people are to judge.
The mom in question decided to take some "preventive measures," before heading out on her shopping trip. After suiting up her daughter with a face mask and gloves. MaryAnn Fausey Resendez plopped her little girl into the cart and taped this sign on her back, which reads: "I am only 5. I can't stay home alone so I have to buy groceries with mommy … Before you start judging stay back 6 feet."
MaryAnn, a Texas firefighter, tattoo artist, and owner of Lady Ink Empire Tattoo & Piercing Studios, shared the photo with a message.
"The sign I made her wear because I just know some [expletive] will take a picture & talk [expletive] on social media, not knowing all the facts."
Sad to say, she's probably right.
Hundreds of other single mothers shared their grocery store horror stories in the comments.
Another single mother wrote: "I dare someone say something to me if I have to take my child to the market with me cause I have no other choice. And let someone suggest I leave my 6 year old alone…"
Some commended the mother for doing as best as she could for her little one.
"Thank you for protecting her because you have no choice but to take her with you," wrote one Facebook user. "I see people all the time with their kids out running around crazy touching everything and no mask."
Of course, there were a few judgy people in the thread, so MaryAnn followed up with her long process of how she grocery shops as safely as possible.
The mom went down the list of everything from having protective gear at the ready to wiping down carts and changing gloves as needed. Basically, doing the best she could with the situation she was in, like all of us.
How about we at least try to assume everyone is acting with the best intentions — especially fellow moms.
Whether we're dealing with unanticipated and unprecedented circumstances or not, we all need to get onboard with giving fellow parents a bit more grace. You never know what someone's parenting situation is. This kind of judgment doesn't just affect single moms.
Military and first-responder families, moms with no relatives or friends nearby to help with kids, and moms with sick spouses for example, might all find themselves in a similar situation at some point. No mom really wants to have to take her small child to the grocery story with her, but sometimes, there's no other option.
The bottom line is: We could all use a little extra love and care. Here's to hoping we can all find it in each other.