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Dear Kind Strangers, Thank you. Sincerely, Moms everywhere
Dear Kind Strangers, On behalf of moms everywhere (just incase our words get lost in the shuffle of chaos that is children), THANK YOU.
Laura, a mom of two who resides in fabulous Las Vegas, told me a tale not unfamiliar to many moms: She braved the grocery store with a 2-year-old and a newborn in tow.
Rookie mistake.
“As soon as we got started things began to unravel,” she said.
The newborn, strapped in his carrier, instantly woke up and began squirming and hollering. The 2-year-old made it as far as the produce section before his cries for “MELON! MELON!” began echoing through the store (followed by elephant tears).
“The store is packed, and of course, everyone’s looking at me,” said Laura.
She pressed forward, determined to get the items she needed to make dinner for her family, but her boys were relentless with their cries.
Laura threw in the towel and opted to abandon-cart.
She informed her son they were now leaving, which naturally added more fuel to his fire as he refused to get out of the cart.
After some awkward maneuvering with the infant - now crying - still attached to her front in the carrier, Laura managed to get her son out of the cart.
However, he then threw himself down onto the floor - in the middle of the store entrance - to continue his meltdown. Laura was having no luck getting her son to calm down or stand up.
“I just stood up and started laughing. I’d been completely calm this whole time, but now? I’d completely run out of options.”
And then, she was saved.
A woman - a kind stranger - approached her and said, “Someone needs some help.”
She helped Laura pick up her son and walk him to the car where she expertly fastened him into his car seat while Laura secured the baby in his seat.
Laura was fighting back tears.
“Two little boys did this same thing to someone 20-years-ago, and she cried all the way home,” the woman told her. “Don’t worry. This too, shall pass.”
And with that, she walked away leaving Laura in the parking lot to pull herself together.
“As I’m watching her go, I recognize there was no way we could have made it to the car without her.”
She then promptly called her husband to inform him take-out was on the dinner menu, and proceeded home with a thankful heart.
Email this contributing writer at Motherhoodcolumn@yahoo.com.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Motherhood Column
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By Fortysomethingfirsttimemum
April 4, 2011 12:49 PM | Link to this
A wonderful heartwarming story showing how a simple act of kindness can impact a life. I only have one son but there have been times when I too, have cried all the way home..
By Lea
March 21, 2011 12:38 PM | Link to this
Single Father - I know how it is. My husband has 2 kids, and he is a SAHD - which means he gets weird looks when he picks them up at school, takes them to the doctor… Especially when he took the teenager to the gyn! It’s a sad statement when a dad can’t even “babysit” his own children…
By Lea
March 21, 2011 12:35 PM | Link to this
Single Father - I know how it is. My husband has 2 kids, and he is a SAHD - which means he gets weird looks when he picks them up at school, takes them to the doctor… Especially when he took the teenager to the gyn! It’s a sad statement when a dad can’t even “babysit” his own children…
By Mom of 4
March 18, 2011 11:33 PM | Link to this
To Two Words, Do you have children? Every time a parent has an errand to run, doesn’t mean a babysitter is in order. There are times, as inconvenient as it may be, that a parent has to pack up the kids and take them wherever necessary. And again, as inconvenient as it may be for the parent, the kids are learning social and behavioral skills that will serve them later on in life. Bless those raising the little ones; bless those who lend a helping hand.
By Single Father
March 15, 2011 11:40 AM | Link to this
I used to try and help but it seems men are not allowed anymore. Meanwhile I have had a few calls made to check up on why I was at the park watching kids even though they were mine. In a way it is a shame that as a father I was looked at as a risk and possible molestor first. Please ladies, remember that many of us WOULD be happy to help in situations like this but have been chased away just because we are males and society is teaching you we can not be trusted. Fathers are just as good and important as mothers and will help if you let us!
By Awesome!
March 15, 2011 10:46 AM | Link to this
I am a single mom to 3 boys. I had a 2.5 yr old and newborn twins and would have given my left arm to have someone understand when I was in the store. I did not have someone extra to watch them while I went to the store. It was a long and savage process twice a month. I made sure I didnt have to go more often. I think this woman was very wonderful to help this mother. Most the time I was lucky to get someone to be nice enough to hold the door as I carried 2 carseats and toted my oldest with me. Now that they are teenagers, they help others in the ways I never had help and it makes me so proud every time they do it!
By Brownie
March 15, 2011 9:02 AM | Link to this
In the spirit of “pay it forward”, thank goodness there are still compassionate people willing to help others at the risk of NOT being receptive of their kindness. IF somone feels so selfless to step out of their world to make your world a little happier, show them a smile at least. We all need a helping hand once in a while.
By Two Words
March 15, 2011 8:56 AM | Link to this
babysitter needed