Seeing that yesterday was Mother’s Day – a happy belated to all you moms out there! – I thought it was only appropriate to share my recent mom-shaming incident with everyone…….

It was like any other sunny day running errands with the girls…except I didn’t see that motorcycle cop hiding in the bushes. I usually have ridiculous cop-radar and could spot them miles away, but today was different. I don’t know if it was the 3 year old nagging me to get her ice cream or the fact the 8 month old was crying her brains out because she was starving. Either way, my mental policeman detector was off.

And like a ninja, there he popped out of the bushes and my stomach sank to my feet. I knew I wasn’t getting away from him. I was always told to be as polite as ever to cops from my father (a former federal agent) because they have all the control and if you lip off or pop an attitude, the outcome could be worse. So, here I am, with my dad’s lectures playing in the back of my head all the while thinking about the undoubtedly angry conversation I have to have with my husband and I look to see the smiling officer hand over my ticket and he thus began the ultimate mom-shame guilt trip I have ever experienced in my 3 years of being a mom. In a very stern tone of voice he begins to say: “You know, as a mother, you need to be more careful when your children are in the car with you, Ma’am” … walks away and rides off.

As soon as I was able to remove the knife in my heart, the water works began. The thought of telling my husband was nothing compared to the “I’m the Worst Mother In The World” convo I just had with Officer Smiley. I felt like I was a teenager who just got caught lying to my parents and getting the “I’m very disappointed in you” lecture from them. You know, the one that makes you feel a million times worse than the yelling lectures?

So here I am, a 32 years old with my very first speeding ticket and mom-shamed by an officer who was probably years younger than me. F-in’ A, gimme the god damn Ticket Clinic’s number somebody!

– Amanda

Seeing that yesterday was Mother’s Day – a happy belated to all you moms out there! – I thought it was only appropriate to share my recent mom-shaming incident with everyone…….

It was like any other sunny day running errands with the girls…except I didn’t see that motorcycle cop hiding in the bushes. I usually have ridiculous cop-radar and could spot them miles away, but today was different. I don’t know if it was the 3 year old nagging me to get her ice cream or the fact the 8 month old was crying her brains out because she was starving. Either way, my mental policeman detector was off.

And like a ninja, there he popped out of the bushes and my stomach sank to my feet. I knew I wasn’t getting away from him. I was always told to be as polite as ever to cops from my father (a former federal agent) because they have all the control and if you lip off or pop an attitude, the outcome could be worse. So, here I am, with my dad’s lectures playing in the back of my head all the while thinking about the undoubtedly angry conversation I have to have with my husband and I look to see the smiling officer hand over my ticket and he thus began the ultimate mom-shame guilt trip I have ever experienced in my 3 years of being a mom. In a very stern tone of voice he begins to say: “You know, as a mother, you need to be more careful when your children are in the car with you, Ma’am” … walks away and rides off.

As soon as I was able to remove the knife in my heart, the water works began. The thought of telling my husband was nothing compared to the “I’m the Worst Mother In The World” convo I just had with Officer Smiley. I felt like I was a teenager who just got caught lying to my parents and getting the “I’m very disappointed in you” lecture from them. You know, the one that makes you feel a million times worse than the yelling lectures?

So here I am, a 32 years old with my very first speeding ticket and mom-shamed by an officer who was probably years younger than me. F-in’ A, gimme the god damn Ticket Clinic’s number somebody!

– Amanda