And an awkward one at that.

Today, I was in a fitting room with the intention of trying on a swimsuit. I was half way undressed, when all of a sudden I see a little tiny head peeking at me underneath the door.

“Mommy!” The little toddler said.

I jumped and tried to cover as much of my wobbly bits as I could.

“Sorry, I’m not your Mommy!” I said to the little one.

The toddler left for a mere second, and then poked his head back in.

“Mommy!”

“Wrong door, I’m not your Mommy.” I said again, taken aback by his persistence. You would think a toddler would be able to recognize his mother, at least at this point of his development. 

This time he stuck his hand underneath the door, and tried to crawl under.

“I’m not your Mommy!” I said louder this time, trying to get the attention of whatever family member he came with.

I was half naked and thought it would be a really bad idea if I touched him in anyway.

He started crawling in!

My thoughts raced: Do I shove him away? He was a baby, I would feel awful shoving a little baby! Do I pick him up and place him down in the fitting room hallway? Well, I was topless, so that would have been REALLY weird. Do I let him stay in the room with me while I put my shirt back on? Yeah right, and risk getting accused of kidnapping and possible child molestation? Remember, I was topless.

I decided I would just keep half way screaming: “I’m not your Mommy!”

Finally, someone ran to him picked him up and mumbled a quick “Sorry”.

But not before he left his plush football in the stall I was in.

A parting gift of sorts, I guess.

I can’t help but feel bad, he just wanted his Mommy.