Just Over a decade ago when I had 4 children: a baby, 2 toddlers and an 8 year old, I needed to get groceries the week of Thanksgiving. I had already pre purchased all of the items to prepare our Thanksgiving meal, but I needed other items to feed my family in the days leading up to the holiday.
It was 11:00PM the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, just after the baby’s late morning nap and just before the toddler’s nap. After circling the lot a few times trying to find a spot near an abandoned cart or near the cart corral I snagged a spot close to the front door. I unloaded the baby placing him in the basket of the cart therefore taking up most of the room needed for groceries, lifted my youngest toddler into the front child seat, then instructed my older toddler that she would be walking next to me while holding on to the cart. She is not a runner like my younger toddler, now trying to figure out how to unbuckle and get out of the cart.
Just as I was securing the strap tighter on my escapee child waist, a petite silver haired woman approached us.
“You have such a beautiful family, you have four children?”
“Yes.”
“I am a mother myself.” She looks down and pulls her coat olive green peacoat tighter with a small sigh.
“My children are all grown, and it went so fast. I felt like I did not have time to really know them, I felt like I was cheated. If I would have known how fast it was going to go, I would have snuggled more, read more books, played more games. Then again, maybe I wouldn’t have, I was so exhausted! Parenting is hard and sometimes I would just stare at them wishing for bedtime. I did not know I was wishing away precious moments, gone before I was ready. Two of my children will be coming over on Thanksgiving for a few hours.”
“Oh, that will be nice.”
“Yes, I don’t see them much, they are off living their lives and I just sit in an empty house. Please know how precious this time with your children really is. I know it is hard and tiring but take it from an old lady like me, it will be gone before you know it.”
She notices my children getting restless and my escapee child getting loose as I wrangle him back to his seat.
“I will let you go and not take up anymore of your time, have a great Thanksgiving and good luck in there.” She points to the store with people by the dozens walking in and out with carts full of cranberries, celery, sweet potatoes and all the Thanksgiving staples.
“I just need to get a few things, but I had to go in between naptimes. Enjoy your time with your kids and have a great Thanksgiving!”
I waved to her and headed into the chaos.
Over an hour later all the kids and groceries were packed into the van when I plopped into the driver’s seat only to notice something blocking my view.
What the heck?
Was that flowers?
Why are there Flowers out there?
I look around the parking lot from my seat inside.
Was this an accident?
Was this a trick, am I going to get mugged if I get out and grab them?
That police officer daughter suspicion was setting in. I sat there, very skeptical for a minute just staring at it, there is a card!
“Guys, look there are flowers on the windshield!”
“Are they for us? Why aren’t you getting them?” my oldest askes me.
I quickly jump out of the van and snatch them trying to be fast so I cannot be mugged.
I do not recall exactly what the card said, I have it packed away somewhere for safe keeping but basically it just reiterated what the older woman said to me in the parking lot. I cannot be sure it was her but that seems the most logical. I do recall her calling me a “Supermom” though!
Not one Thanksgiving has passed that I have not thought of her and it has been 11 years now. Just this past spring I recreated this same event to an unsuspecting mom I had just pulled into the grocery store when I saw her unloading her 2 small children into one of those obnoxious hard to steer car carts, then place her baby snuggly against her chest in a Moby wrap.
I quickly ran into the store bought her flowers, a card and placed it on her windshield letting her know what a “Supermom” she is, it felt good to give back, like I was setting the balance right in the universe.
This week I am going live on Instagram to surprise another “Supermom” with flowers and a card just like I was surprised so many years ago. Hopefully this will brighten her day as it has mine for many decades. Be sure to stop by this week and look in my Instagram stories for it.
COMING NEXT WEEK……..
Have you ever heard a child shrieking in distress and agony while shopping in the store only to wonder why on earth that mother is doing nothing about it? Maybe you already know, this will be a blog post sure to make you laugh or possibly understand why that child is left to scream.
Happy Thanksgiving!
