she was a parent

Her face was stern, immovable. She walked briskly, bushing past anyone, past everything. She was in control, she had to be. If ever she had shown signs of retreat, any backing down, they would have swarmed her, taken over, controlled her life. So she was strong, stern, immovable. No screaming, writhing, kicking child could sway her roots of stone.
"I waaaaant it!!!" the child exclaimed, "Momeeee!!!" but produced no reaction in her.
She simply shook her head, grabbed his hand, and led him out of the toy store.