Have you ever had one of those days? I have. You know, when you feel like anything and everything that could go wrong does go wrong.

Most days, I feel like I’ve got it together and I can handle whatever is thrown at me. But occasionally, I'll wander through the day, completely disheveled and uncoordinated—a mistake waiting to happen. I'm lucky I don’t have my shirt on inside out or toilet paper stuck to my shoe. I can’t help but think, what must people think of me?

The most recent disaster started at the library. I attempted to get some help looking for a book. My 1-year-old then leapt out of my arms. He started walking around and pushing books over on every shelf he could get his grimy little fingers on. I desperately tried to hold an intelligent conversation with the librarian who was trying to help me, but my 4-year-old went one way and the 1-year-old went the other. Both were wreaking havoc on the library.

We got the book. Then I realized that my stinky child needed changing. I corralled everyone in the bathroom, got him on the changing table, took off his diaper, reached into my bag and found that I didn't have a clean replacement. Seriously? How did this happen? What do I do? I actually had to put the dirty diaper back on, race to check out the books and head home. Fortunately, we live close. Both his diaper and his outfit were then changed.

We were then off to Target, where I dealt with several meltdowns because I was not buying toys. I had to endure my unruly preschooler crying and deeming me the “meanest mommy ever.” Finally, we got to the register. The 4-year-old was still crying. I looked down and saw that my 1-year-old was missing a shoe. You have got to be kidding me, I thought. They were brand new! Frazzled, I looked helplessly at the cashier and at the woman next in line, who was sneering at me. I paid for my items, pulled my hair, sighed and retraced my steps. We found the shoe. I'm convinced the security guard was laughing at me during this escapade. Let's hope I don't show up on YouTube.

I should have gone home, but I didn’t. I went to the grocery store to grab something for dinner. My kids insisted on one of those dreadful carts with the car on the front. They are like driving a boat. I was almost ready to leave the store. I then turned toward the registers and bumped into a display of Easter candy and in slow motion, I knocked the entire thing over. Tears dripped down my face and sweat was flowing from every pore in my body. An older man came to my rescue and helped me pick it up. All the while, the kids were going crazy. He told me to relax. We cleaned it up. He had no idea what I had been through, but he was so incredibly nice.

We finally made it home.

I kept thinking about what a mess my day had been and then my 4-year-old came up to me. Unprompted, he gave me a hug and said he loved me. And somehow, the comically chaotic day just melted away. Fortunately, we stayed home and the rest of the day wasn’t nearly as stressful. I may never leave the house again.

I know we've all been in this situation. But when it happens, it can really question your ability to function as a parent. I believed in my own incompetency and felt embarrassed. My kids and I put on quite a show sometimes, but those boisterous and occasionally disobedient children are my life, my reason for being. And I love them. Chaos and all.

So the next time you see some struggling woman with two kids who are going wild, say hello to me and offer a kind word, because you know you’ve had one of those days too.