Let’s set the scene here, shall we?
After little to no sleep, baking blueberry bars (yes, I’ll post the recipe later.. pay attention) frantically all morning for bible study, getting Princess ready for school and then running crazy errands all day, the last thing I wanted to do after vacuuming, armor alling, and leather polishing my car.. was go to the grocery store at 5:00 PM. But, food we must have. So I load the heathens dirty monsters somewhat dusty children into the car and off we go to the local H.E.B. (HEB feet *giggle*)
We’re walking through the aisles with monkey trying to crawl out of the oh so cleverly designed child trap seat and Princess hopping from one side to the other in a sugar induced frenzy, I love the 80 something year old couple across the street but I swear they get some perverse pleasure out of providing my children with a never ending source of sugary goodness, I’m spouting some silly nonsense trying to get them both amused. You know the stuff. It’s act like a fool and be goofy or have your head turning on your shoulders, steam puffing out your ears and your children cowering in fear while the nearest customer frantically dials CPS in an effort to save your children from becoming the next Jerry Springer guest.
Still with me? Good. There’s a point. I swear.
We turn a corner and there are the wonderful employees cleaning up a huge mess of broken Worcestershire bottles. Princess says: “Mom, what happened?”
Me: “Well, it was probably some little kid like you who can’t keep their hands to themselves”
Down the aisle this lady snickers and says to me: “Go mom”
I kind of laugh to myself and keep going.
About 5 minutes later we’re standing in the check out line and the same woman is in the line next to me.
She comes over, taps me on the arm and says: “I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful mother you are. I’ve heard you a few different times in the store today playing with them and talking to them, and I just wanted to tell you, Kudos. You are obviously a loving and wonderful mother. Keep up the great work. It will pay off.”
I just stood there, dumbstruck.
Finally, I pick my jaw up off the floor and remember my manners.
Me:”Thank you so much. I know how blessed I am to have them and to have the time I do with them. Thank you, you just made my day”
Then her teenage daughter walks up. An adorable girl with the cutest haircut I’ve seen in a while, the top layer of it colored a really adorable pink (which of course Princess was in total awe over), black rimmed glasses and just a fresh pleasant look about her. She gives her mom a hug, says: “I found the bread you were talking about.” And then they just stood in line talking.
That woman made my day. It’s amazing the power of a stranger’s words.
She made me feel good about myself, when I was tired, a bit stressed and just wanting the day to be over. But mainly, she made me remember that I am so blessed to have my two children and that I need to remember how special they are and to try to make every moment memorable, fun, educational and positive. Because before I know it, they’ll be teenagers, then they’ll be off on their own and I’ll just be grocery shopping all by myself with nobody to be goofy for. *sniff*
She gave me a kudos! It may not have been the kind filled with chocolatey goodness, but this one will definitely stay with me a lot longer.
Oh, how wonderful! We should all do more of that.
Kudos to the stranger.
What an awesome thing to say to you. I have had people say similar things and I have to remember to pay it forward. 🙂
Cute post. Kudos to you for the sweet kiddos!
In today’s day and age, it’s more common to hear people snip about this or that. It’s nice to hear a kind word every once in a while and especially nice when it’s directed like that.
She is obviously teaching her daughter positive ways if they were hugging in the grocery store – most teenagers don’t want to be seen with their parents, let alone hugging!
Keep up the good work. If a stranger in the store thought you deserved kudos, I’ll send some too!
Jerseygirl89: Nice to see you!
Ohmommy: Absolutely pay it forward! Thanks honey. Your kids are pretty awesome, too. Even if Lola and Princess are cut from the same cloth
Nicole: Thank you so much. Wonderful words there, what a great comment.
That was so sweet! I should take lessons!
That was very cool!! Not only that she gave you the pat on the back that you well deserve, but because you do sound like a great mom and I loved hearing this story!! I don’t always have that sort of patience (to ramble stuff to entertain the kids) and I give you a lot of credit for taking the time to do that for your kids!!!
BTW – YES – we need to have Margaritas if/when you come to SA. You need to e-mail me ahead of your trip and let me know when you are coming – that would be sooooo cool!
Take care and I’ll see you soon. Kellan
How nice!! It is so cool that your parenting caught her eye. It is also cool that she was thoughtful enough to say something. It is a simple thing to be generous with praise…but I certainly don’t do it very often!!
It is so refreshing to hear a mom be thankful for her kids rather than whine about them!! They are truly a blessing from the Lord!!
You rock!!
soooo sweet.
We might not get our paycheck every 2 weeks, but when it comes, it’s really good, huh?
And she was right.
That is truly wonderful. 9 years ago, I had a similar experience (never once since, I promise) and I will never, ever forget it.
How cool of you to be having fun with your kids, and how cool of her to notice and comment! :o)
Yay! Very cool thing to hear!
And… if you can handle one more word of encouragement and hope?
If you keep it up, when they’re teenagers they’ll STILL want to hang out at the grocery store with you occasionally. 😉
Trust me on this one.
OH, the world would be such a better place with unexpected, kind words like that. I’m glad you are savoring the moment.
Thanks ladies!!
Yes, it was a boost and probably one that will help keep me going for a while to come 🙂
How wonderful.. And the way you wrote this was beautiful..
Just by reading your blog you can tell you are an awesome mom!!! Way to go. 🙂
Kudos to you both… sounds like she knows what she’s talking about… you’re both great moms.
Isn’t it great that 1 word of kindness can erase 10 words of hate?
I wish there were more people like you both.
What an awesome story! Kudos to that woman for taking the time to acknowledge and point out something good and considerate!
And kudos to you for appreicating it and seeing it for how wonderful it was!
Well she was just telling you something I already knew..you’re a wonderful Mom and the kids are truly lucky to have you!
We have had old couples approach us in restaurants and tell us what a nice family we are and how they enjoyed watching us with the boys.
It’s so nice when that happens! And we all need to hear it once in a while.
Good post!
Why is it that sometimes the kind words of a stranger could impact us more so than the kind words of someone in our life?
Weird.
Oh, wonderful mamasita. I think we all should here approval more often. Congrats. I would’ve beamed, too.
That’s awesome! you rawk!
Awesome!! It feels so great to hear that, especially from strangers. And I agree, from what I know, you are a GREAT mom!
Where was she last week when I had my horrible trip to the A&P? What a nice woman!!
That is totally awesome! A teenager that hugged her mom? Really? They exist? And she complimented you.
Thanks for the wonderful story and insight.
That’s really awesome! I’d be stoked if a stranger said that to me. Unfortunately, my latest stranger encounter took place in an elevator a couple weeks ago. As we rode down in silence, all of a sudden he looks and me and goes “daaaaaaayyyuumm!! you got you a head full o white hair!” And that there is why I don’t like to let it grow more than a week between head shavings.
Busydad:
OMG.. rolling.