A Hard Day and How it was Saved

The other day was a hard day. I was so sick but I had some urgent errands that had to be run and my poor kids had been stuck in the house with me for so many days that I knew they needed to get out of the house too. I guess it was the fact that we'd been in our own little world for so long and that I was so sick that made it so I had a hard time dealing with people's reactions to me and my kids. I will be the first to admit that Bridger can be very hyperactive; offices and libraries were not constructed with two year old boys in mind!!! At least not hyperactive ones! I felt like we were the circus coming through town.

It seems that people don't keep much to themselves. They would talk about us as if we weren't able to hear them, "Hey look at that little boy. He's sure got a mind of his own." and "Look he's on a leash. How sad!" The worst is that people will stare at me and see that I need help and will not go out of their way to help me but rather to let me know, "Well, you've got your hands full don't you." and "Wow, they are close in age! You're sure brave." I heard that so many times I wanted to scream. Why do they say that? Do they actually mean well? What it really translates to is, "I am so glad I am not you. You have more then you can handle. You are dumb and crazy to have kids so close." I think its just rude! Usually I am able to answer their comments by saying something about how much I love my kids and then do something that shows just how much I do enjoy my kids no matter how crazy they are, but I was sick and really not enjoying them very much so no such answer came. I just gave a weak smile and then ran after Bridger and Angeli getting into their latest escapade.

This one is so rude it really blows my mind. It happens all the time. They say this to me even when Stewart isn't there, just like this hard day. "Your kids are beautiful. Their Dad must be very handsome." and "Wow, they have such beautiful blue eyes. Their Dad must have beautiful blue eyes." Now, it's not so much that they are saying I am ugly and my eyes are not pretty enough to have given my kids their blue eyes that bugs me, its that they think they are very kind. They think they are just complimenting my children and not implying that I am a terrible genetic provider. They are delighted with themselves and wait for me to be flattered by their nice compliment. I'll I say is "Yes, their Father is very handsome and has very beautiful blue eyes." People, I think you mean well but come on!

However, there were a few people that did exactly what I needed after all the scoffers and rude comments. They saved the day. They loved my kids and helped me! Novel, I know, but they did it just right and it saved me from having a melt down. One such encounter happened at the library. We were leaving the library and our overflowing HEAVY bag of books kept setting off the alarm and Bridger was running around crazy. I was exasperated and people were looking at me annoyed that I was holding up the exit. Then the only nice person in the entire library came to my rescue. He took the huge bag for me, rescanned the books and then helped me get out the door. Then he said with a big happy grin "Have a good day." It was all I needed. I loved that kind man!

Then later that evening I realized we had no food, that I was too sick to cook dinner, and that Stew was staying late at school studying for finals. I decided we needed fast food. I was in tears because I was so sick and not sure I could make it to our local McDonald's without throwing up. However, they needed food so I had to suck it up and go. I wanted the kids to be able to play and eat there so they could have a little bit of fun out of the house so I decided we were going in. Once we got there some magical things happened. No one was there but us. One of the workers got the door for me and he smiled at my kids. Bridger fell in love with him. He let Bridger help him wipe down tables and sweep. The workers told me how beautiful my kids were without saying anything about my husband and even told me my son's eyes were like mine. They smiled and talked to Bridger and Angeli. Then this kind man came in and gave Bridger some money to put in their money thingy. It spins the coins around and around delighting my son like no other.

I left feeling rejuvenated. Bless those people that saw the beauty in my kids and treated me with dignity and kindness. They will never know how much I needed that. They saved the day.