The lines were huge, and my two kids were done being in that store. I knew if I waited in line for longer than 2 minutes my kids would have full-blown melt-downs.
I contemplated leaving the store without getting the items I picked out, just to avoid listening to my kids scream and try to grab everything off the shelves.
But I didn’t. And usually I would have gotten out of line while telling myself it just wasn’t worth the shame and stress. But this time, I put my foot down. I didn’t spend 30 minutes browsing through the store, stopping my toddler from trying to rip open every toy she could get her hands on, did I? no.
Two minutes into the checkout line and my toddler is getting antsy and wants out of the cart. Meanwhile, my infant son, who up until this point, has been an angel, was starting to get fussy, too.
I try to console him, but his big sister needs attention, too, so it’s pretty much pick-a-kid-and-do-your-best at this point.
That’s when you asked the lady behind me if you could cut ahead of her because you only had two items and the other lady had a cart full.
As soon as you were behind us in line, my daughter’s mood changed. She was suddenly excited at this new person in front of her.
She started to show you everything that was in her lap, “Look, look” she said to you. At first, you seemed cautious maybe because you didn’t want to come off as weird, I don’t know, but then by the third time my daughter said “Look,” you said “Alright, I’ll look; what do you got there?”
And then, just like that, I was able to focus my attention on my other child, who needed me at that moment, and there wasn’t anymore stress.
You talked to my daughter the whole time, telling her about your own grandkids and how they instant message you, and how one day she’ll be doing the same to her grandparents. You let her show you all her stuff a billion times without getting frustrated with her. You made her laugh, and most significantly, you helped her (and I) through that tough 15 minutes.
I’m not sure what the outcome would have been if you weren’t here. I probably would have ended up leaving the store without my items if it got to be too bad.
I wanted to say “Thank you” to you, but I didn’t know if you’d know what I meant by it. To me, it was everything, but to you, it could have just been a typical day in the checkout line.
Whether it was your average day or not, I hope this finds you, and you know this:
I truly thank you for doing something so small, but so big.
❣️x