It was a normal day in my life. When that light turned green in my kids’ room at 6:30 a.m., we were off and running. The morning rush began. Everyone needed to be fed, dressed, teeth brushed, and rushed out the door. I needed to get my oldest two to school by 8:15 a.m. After dropping them off I would come home to spend time playing with my youngest, but I also needed to run to the grocery store and do a few other errands. Lastly, I needed to pick up my middle child from preschool at 11:15.
For pickup for morning preschool, I usually follow the same routine every day: Take my two-year-old out of the van and strap her into her blue stroller, because she is a runner and she gets antsy waiting. Walk in to the school and wait for my daughter’s class to come bounding up the hallway. Usually as we stand there and wait, I will talk to other moms or say hi to teachers I know as they walk by. This is just me. For those who know me well, they know I am an extrovert and a social butterfly. It is just who I am.
This particular day wasn’t any different. I had noticed a mom whom I did not recognize. For a few days, I did not say anything because I was not sure if I had seen her before and had forgot, or if she truly was new. But on this day, even though my day was chaotic and full, I decided to say something to her.
I walked up to her and said, “Hi! Are you new to our school? I don’t know if I have seen you before.”
She said, “Yes, we just moved here last week!”
“Wow!” I said. “How is it going so far?”
“It’s hard,” she revealed. “The kids are doing surprisingly well, but it’s hard.”
We started talking and realized my oldest two are the same age as her youngest two. I learned they moved to the area from out of state for her husband’s job. They knew no one here. After picking up our kids who are in the same class, we walked out to our cars together and she said to me, “I have noticed you and I told my husband that the lady with the blue stroller is the nicest mom and I hope I get to know her.”
“Oh my,” I said. “I am just being me.”
As I left school that morning, my heart felt happy. I felt joy because just by being who I am, I made someone else’s life just a little bit better. I also gained a new friend in the process. This encounter gave me pause for reflection. We all have those days when things are not going how we want them to. We all have those days when life feels chaotic and unmanageable. Even on those days we can do our best to just smile at those we meet. We can do simple things like compliment another mom. If we see a mom struggling in a store, offer to help.
We never know what their day is like or what a difference that encounter can make for them.
There is no harder or more isolating job than being a mom. I remember in those early days of motherhood, I often wondered if I was the only one experiencing (insert seemingly weird situations or milestones). I wanted to have other mom friends who understood and could relate. As I matured in my motherhood journey and began to meet and connect with other moms, I made it my mission to be an includer and supporter to other moms. I feel all moms are desirous of mom friendship because this journey is not for the weak of heart. If we can do whatever we can to support others, it will make our journey and theirs just that much better.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
~Maya Angelou
