Realized one morning in the car I had forgotten to pack a lunch for my son.

We were more than half way to school. Would he go hungry? Would he starve? What would he eat? The answer came like manna from heaven: McDonald’s.

“What if mommy picks up a Happy Meal for you and brings it to school?” I said. “We can eat together. Okay?”

“Okay,” he said, never one to turn down a Happy Meal or the fantastic plastic toy that comes with it. “Are the other moms and dads coming too?”

“No,” I said. “Just me.”

“Why aren’t the other moms and dads coming?” he said.

“Well, some moms and dads go to work in offices and can’t leave to come to school for lunch,” I said.

“Yeah,” he said, “and you don’t even have an office.”

Ouch.

“No, mommy works at home,” I said. “I may have an office again one day. I used to have an office before you were born.”

“Yeah,” he said, “but you graduated.”

I love that kid. Here I was thinking how lame I am because I don’t have a real job. Here he was thinking his mom is somehow above it. Oh, that we women could take a cue from the kids.

You have a paying job? Great. You stay at home? Great. You do a little of both? Great. You have a spouse, a nanny, a sitter, a parent, or in-law who helps you? Double blessings of great. You a single parent making it on your own? God bless you. You don’t have children? That’s fine too.

Enough with the potshots already, ladies. No more casually tossing guilt bombs into each other’s backyards. We women do not have to be on opposing sides.

We’re all fighting the same battle for our families. To do our best by them and for them. Understandably that’s going to look different in different families.

The real question is, how’s it going for you and your family?

If everyone has what they need, if you are doing the best you can, if they know you love them and they love you, then I say it’s all good.

I bet they would agree with me over a Happy Meal.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

No matter your situation, if you’re alive—which I know you are or you wouldn’t be reading this—then you’re in The Middle of the ride. Hang on. Everything, everything will be just fine.