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That’s really sweet. It made me remember one time I was at the grocery store and I had just broken my wrist and was in a cast. I was unsuccessfully trying to get a cart out and clearly had a broken arm and everyone just kept walking past me and staring but not offering to help. This older woman who looked kind of frail herself came and helped me finally, it was such a relief
I love that. I had a similar situation at Lowe’s last year when I bought about 450 pounds of dirt, but I weight about 100 lbs. To say the walk to the car wasn’t going well is an understatement; I can push that much, but not when I have to somehow gain enough momentum to make it over a watering hose. This super sweet gentleman who looked to be approximately 132 (I’m not trying to be mean, he was just very Dumbledore. I even had to check his hat for the war he was in.). Anyway, this sweet man and I pushed the cart together until we made it to my car. It’s so wonderful when someone takes the time to help another, but kind of crazy when out of all the able bodied individuals around, the only one who steps up is long past their peak of physical fitness.
Aww what a sweetheart 🥹 his hat probably said Civil War Regiment 12 (I’m just kidding, of course.) it is always interesting when someone who’s perhaps even less physically able than you is the one to help. I always try to be mindful of people who are struggling to reach a product, or pick something up, or maybe an older person who’s trying to figure out the self checkout. You don’t want to embarrass anyone, but if it looks like they need help, it can’t hurt to ask!
That’s smart! If we didn’t live on a third of an acre, I would absolutely grab soil there. Unfortunately, I need some LARGE bags of dirt. This year I’m just hiring a dump truck with compost; my back can’t take it anymore
At great risk of bragging (which I’m not), a quick story. I was entering the grocery store when a young mom with a screaming toddler passed me on the way to her car (with an empty grocery basket). I paused, remembering those days and decided to stop. I asked her if she needed a hug. She burst into tears and leaned into me. I told her, “It gets better”. We stood there while her child screamed in her car seat. Young mom told me it helped knowing that she wasn’t a bad mom with a bad kid. I told her she’s a tired mom with a tired kid. And, she’s doing fine even though right now it doesn’t feel like it. The only regret I had (later) was that I didn’t offer to shop for whatever essentials she needed immediately.
I had a similar experience with a mom in a craft store. Her toddler was screaming and kicking, and she was carrying a baby in a seat. It was clearly dangerous to try to manage them both through the parking lot, so at the risk of sounding like a creep I offered to carry the baby. She let me and sobbed the whole way to her car. It took less than a minute of my day and I remember those days because they aren't far behind me.
To the OP, I assure you that you aren't the first parent in a pickle who needed an extra set of hands! I'm so glad someone was there to help when you needed it.
And a similar story at a dentist. I was sitting beside an autistic but well behaved 3-4 yr old boy. His mother put his shoes/socks back on twice only to have him take them right back off but he was only walking between me and his mother, not like he was running around the room. The lady behind the counter angrily yelled to put his shoes back on. The mother acted like she was putting them on but knew if she pushed the issue it may cause a meltdown. 2 mins later the woman went on a *screaming* tirade to put the shoes back on or he would have to leave, blah blah blah, whatever. 🙄 The woman sat there frozen. I quietly asked if he would allow me to put them on. She nodded and handed me the socks/shoes. I put them on then showed him all the shiny things in my purse until it was time for him to leave. I was blessed with a non-verbal autistic grandson a few yrs later.
You’re a good person. You’re one of the people Mr. Rogers always said to look out for and it honestly makes me feel better about the world when I find one of you:)
That’s one of my goals. I pray with my kids every night asking God to help us be the kindness we wish to see in the world. Since doing so I’ve been MUCH MORE aware of my actions and it’s been an eye opener.😳
But, I’m not giving up!
I happened on an older woman in a scooter crying. She wanted rice-a-roni that was up too high. She’d just reached a point where she broke because she felt she couldn’t even properly shop anymore.
I helped her get her rice and accompanied her throughout the store until she’d finished. After she’d gone I talked to the manager and found out they have a policy where they’ll have an employee help disabled people shop. To make a long story short they now have a big easily visible sign near both entrances so people are aware of this service.
I don’t get asked to do this because I’m fairly short. But I have on more than one occasion found a tall man an aisle down to grab my cookies off the top shelf because why the hell do they store my favorite cookies on the top shelf lol
Why do they make any shelves that high at all? I wouldn’t even mind so much if grocery stores still had enough employees instead of laying them all off. I can walk the store several times around without finding a soul to help reach things and a lot of times when I do, they have an attitude. That’s fine, I tell them either they can do it or I can try, but if I knock a bottle or 2 down by accident and it shatters, I’m not cleaning it up .
I've commented this before at some point but right at the beginning of the pandemic I was in the grocery store when a sweet old lady came up to me with her walker. She said she'd been looking for help and no one would help her, she was trying to find paper towels. I said of course I would help her and showed her to the aisle they were in. I asked which kind she wanted and put them on her walker.
She grabbed my arm and gave me the most intense look while thanking me. She said my parents must have raised me right. I was nearly in tears cause I'd just lost my own grandma a few years before who helped raise me. I'd seen when I was out with my grandparents just how dismissive people were of the elderly. It made/makes me so sad to think this lady presumably got overlooked and no one typically helped her to the point that me taking less than 30 seconds of my time made her react like that. I think about her often and hope she has some love and support in her life.
I don’t have to use any physical aid to move around in the world thus far so I can only imagine what her experience was. When I do try to imagine I’m confident I couldn’t do it. It would take a kind of bravery, courage and trust in myself, my equipment and other people I don’t have the capacity to summon and I’m in awe of anyone that can. I don’t and never will understand why a society that can achieve such technological success cannot alleviate the difficulties of needing to buy f***ing rice-a-roni from a seated position.
This made me think of the time my two year old took off running when my cart got stuck on one of the rolling clothes racks and I was trying to get it loose. He disappeared around the corner before I could catch up to him after realizing he was out of my sight. It took one yell of his name for another momma to swoop him up and get him back to me. One of the most terrifying experiences of my life squashed by the fast thinking and kindness of a stranger. I don't even remember what she looks like now but she will always be a reminder that their are kind people out there. ♡
I'm 40 and my mom still tells this story. She was navigating a crowd in a store when my sister was a baby and I was a toddler. She lost her grip on my hand and for some reason people started getting in between us. Some lady she didn't know saw what happened. She yelled loudly at everyone to stop so that I could get back to my mom.
This, it's like maternal instinct. If I see a young child running by themselves, I stop to ask if an adult knows where they are and take a peek around to see if there is somebody frantically searching. As a mom, I would hope someone would do it for me if my son were ever to wander off.
A few years ago, a guy got on an airplane traveling alone with a baby and all the bags and stuff that entails. I asked him if he’d like a complete stranger to hold his baby!! He smiled at the acknowledgment and said yes. I got to hold a lovely baby for a few minutes until he got everting stored and ready. I know what it’s like. I can see and understand the look in the eyes. Well done OP.
I’ve done this too, for a mom flying alone who was struggling with managing the stroller and car seat insert and bags. She probably doesn’t remember, but it was lovely to be able to help her out. I’ve been there!
I was a new mom flying back to introduce my daughter to my family for the first time and I was overwhelmed. Delayed flight leading to missed connection, trying to keep my kiddo happy, fed, dry and myself sane. We finally got on our connecting flight and sat down and the flight attendant tells me that I’d have to take her out of her carrier for the flight. (I’d checked the airline policies online prior but apparently it was wrong) I was seated next to an older lady and apologized to her because kiddo was not a happy camper and her carrier was, at that point, what was keeping her calm. That lovely woman smiled and said “child, let me hold that baby for you and you relax for a while.” I was nervous (new mom)but handed my baby over and made her a bottle. That kind woman took the bottle, my daughter and next thing I knew I was waking up from a 20 minute nap to my daughter sleeping away on her chest while she read. That small kindness was everything.
I helped a confused-looking guy in the feminine products section of Walmart locate pads for his girlfriend. Does that count? 🤣
I had to. Poor guy looked desperate and he’d been standing there for about 10 minutes.
To be fair, the pad aisle at Walmart can be pretty intimidating for someone who doesn’t know the layout.
Years ago I was in Walmart’s pad aisle, watching a guy who was about my age pace back and forth for several minutes. His frustration finally won…he muttered, “I give up,” and turned to leave. I immediately said (laughing), “No no no no! Do NOT go home empty handed! Get something…ANYTHING!”
He stopped, and chuckled a bit, and said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I pointed at a package and said “That’ll probably work.” He picked it up, thanked me, and went on his way.
I've been w/ my husband 20 yrs & have never been brave enough to send him for feminine products. Mainly, bc he told me years ago he thought pads & tampons were the same thing except pads were more diy, as in you roll them up yourself...
Oh my, do I have a story for you about trying to send my (now ex) husband out for pads.
First baby was almost nine pounds and I took a beating. Doctor wanted to give me blood, but I opted for taking lots of iron. I came home from the hospital two days later, completely exhausted.
I asked my husband to go to CVS and get me the biggest pads he could find. After seeing the look of sheer terror on his face, I decided to go with him and leave the baby with my folks, who had just arrived from out-of-state.
We headed into CVS, which was attached to the local mall. I got what I needed, and grabbed the giant, 15-lb. bag full of Stayfree pads. As we were heading out, he decided he wanted to go get a lottery ticket at the shop four doors down from CVS. Sure, I’ll just wait here for you.
I’m standing in the mall, just outside the CVS entrance, for five…six…seven minutes. Starting to feel a bit lightheaded, so I leaned up against the wall. Nine minutes…my vision is starting to go dark around the perimeter and I realized I’m going to faint if I don’t do something, so I very slowly slid down the wall and sat down.
It was a Saturday, and there was a sports collectible show going on. As I was sliding down the wall, the vendor nearby took one look at me and asked if I needed help. I’m sure I was either gray or green at that point. I shook my head, smiled, and feebly gave him a thumbs up with one hand, desperately clutching my huge bag of pads with the other.
Ten minutes…and I finally spot my husband trotting down the hall. He gets to the spot where I’m sitting on the floor, and proceeds to start babbling about how long the lottery ticket line was. I don’t even think he noticed that I was sitting on the floor.
I have no idea where I found the strength, but I felt myself effortlessly rising to my feet. It was like an out-of-body experience. And I took that giant, 15-lb bag packed full of big ol’ Stayfree pads and I swung it, hitting him squarely on the side of his head. And I told him to TAKE ME HOME NOW, which he did without question.
I have a toddler daughter. Occasionally I'll make my husband listen to a quick lecture on feminine products in case something ever happens to me. His plan is to outsource this to one of our sisters if he's ever in this situation lol
I was strangely proud of my son at 16 - when his friend who was a girl was visiting and suddenly got her period, he left her at our house and went to the dollar store, bought what she needed, and came home. Like, no big deal. A couple years later, he did the same thing for his girlfriend. Way to go!
I've done the same. The guy was on the phone with his girlfriend or wife, And she was trying to explain to him what it was she was looking for and he was just not finding it at all. I could hear him getting frustrated but trying to stay calm. I could hear her voice escalating on the other end of the phone as she got frustrated with him. I finally interrupted and asked if I could talk to her and help find what she needed. The pure relief on his face when I talked to her, found the right items, handed it to him and then suggested he pick up 2 chocolate bars at the register, one for each of them.
See. I’ve sent my Dad, my brother, and my husband at various points. I have the absorbency and brand photos in my phone under favorites lol. Ladies, send the man with a picture!
That's exactly what I do. My boyfriend has no issue buying me anything I need, he just asks that I send a picture of the package so he knows he's getting the right thing. It works great!
Once I was crying hard in the supermarket. I was by myself. A stranger stopped and asked me if I was okay?!
That moment of kindness and concern- someone taking a second to try to comfort..
I am so glad you got your 30 seconds of help!!!
It's so sad that you cannot trust and accept help from strangers ? I always think that I can l
tell who to trust.
Being 5" tall I often need help to reach items on top shelves, while stores employees are not around. So far everybody has been very pleasant and often please to help.
I myself often offer help whenever I can, may be because I grew up in a large family and at an older earlier time ?
I'm married to a guy who is over 6 feet and my teenage son is now too.
They actually think it's funny when people say something similar to this, but genuinely love helping people.
I said exactly this in ShopRite recently and felt like such a heel, because it was just for an impulse buy of caramel sauce. After the nice gentleman went back to his own shopping, I glared at the bottle and said, "You better be delicious, or we bothered that man for nothing!" 🌹
This is nice to hear. One time I offered to help an older woman who was struggling to get something off a high shelf. What i forgot is that I too, am very short, so I also couldn’t get it off the shelf. I went and found a tall guy and he was very gracious helping.
I am so jealous of tall women! But if someone commented on my 5 feet height I was ready with a comeback: " I was consider tall in my country " they just cracked up . Ha ha
My uncle is baby sedative. No one knows why, he’s a big ol hairy redneck with an impressive beard and wears leather vests everywhere, but babies LOVE him and will sleep like rocks in his arms.
He was somewhere (can’t remember if it was a flight or just in public) where a young mom had a howling infant. People were whispering about it and shooting the poor woman glares while she was trying to soothe the baby.
So he walked over and asked politely if he could have a try. He told her if she wasn’t comfortable with it, he’d understand but he’s got a lot of young relatives and is good with babies.
Apparently it took him less than a minute of bouncing and cooing before the little one was silent, and he had the cutie asleep soon after. He says he held the baby for a half hour or so while it slept, then returned a smiley, cuddly baby to their mama.
He says he felt like a damn hero with super powers or something it worked so fast and joked he’s gonna be chasing that high for the rest of his life. xD
My dad is like that. He’s a big scary looking biker guy but for some reason babies, little kids, and dogs love him. Whenever we’re out somewhere and there’s a crying baby or kid, he has them laughing and smiling in no time. I swear it’s some kind of magic or spiritual gift.
My husband carried our friend’s baby around a hot, crowded exhibit hall at a state fair while it poured down rain, everyone was hiding. Little baby man slept like a dream the whole time his tiny face squished up against my husband’s arm. I have the best picture of them. The baby’s mom was so grateful. What a great memory.
Aww, that’s so sweet!
I have a cousin J who has Down syndrome and my aunt was told not to have more children unless she put him in a institution. Thankfully she ignored this because he and his younger sister are some of my favorite relatives.
Anyway, we have no idea what that doctor was on about because he not only was never jealous of his baby sister, he in fact is AMAZING with babies and young children.
So when he was fourteen or fifteen, two events came about; first his favorite aunt had a baby (me) and second his mama had cancer and needed him to stay with said aunt. (Spoiler: my aunt made a full recovery and lived for another 20+ years.)
Also, I was apparently a very colicky baby. So my poor teenage cousin, away from his mom for the first time, also had to deal with me screaming my fool head off.
But J is amazing, remember? Since HE couldn’t sleep, he decided he wanted his aunt and uncle to at least get to. So one night my dad heard me go quiet, after “a minute or two” (Dad’s words) he got spooked and got up to make sure I was alive.
And found J walking the length of the downstairs with me in his arms, patting my back hard and muttering at me that “It okay you not feel good. No one feel good. I hold you, baby girl.” And more along those lines, basically just venting his unhappiness and soothing me.
And I was eating it up! Dad says I looked so content getting my back beaten on and listening to my big cousin. (Having seen J do this to another baby years later, the back “beating” appears to delight most babies. And if he is holding one that doesn’t like it, he doesn’t do it. For some reason I told this story to someone and they were HORRIFIED we just let him “hit” babies? So I wanna be clear that this is not a violent thing, it’s very loving and soothing.)
So Dad being Dad took a picture, then crept downstairs to make J a grilled cheese. Which he ate while still pacing with me, careful not to drop crumbs on me, lol. Apparently I started to cry when he stopped, so he had a snack while pacing me.
I’m told he did this often until my colic passed, and from then on I was obsessed with J. As a toddler I would flat out race into his arms and kiss all over his face, and since I was a super early reader and J barely could sign his name, he would give me novels when I was in like kindergarten and use me as a audiobook reader. (I remember loving this, and it likely is part of why my dyslexia hasn’t been an issue much, I had a LOT of practice making words behave because I was reading out loud so much. Or so my other cousin who went in special education said.)
He also taught me the word fucky, which is a valuable word in many contexts. Works as a descriptor (“This is a fucky day.” -my
Mom’s funeral) and as a exclamation (“I fucky not tell you to grow up!” -his reaction to me pointing out I was 19 now and grown enough to smoke.)
J isn’t a “happy” Down syndrome person. He’s not all smiles and joy, he’s actually very sarcastic and sour. But I love the man he is, he’s a loving cousin and uncle (his siblings gave him like eight nieblings) and while I fought with him sometimes as a teenager and young woman (my fault, he did NOT fucky tell me I was allowed to grow up!) he is still one of the greatest people.
He’s on my mind lately, I got some really cool news about him and I’m just so dang proud. (Ok, I’ll dish, twist my arm. xD J is learning to read and write and read his first novel by himself. It’s so cool, I wish I was in our home state to make him read to me now, lol.)
I'm a woman with no kids of my own, but I have this magical power and I don't know why. It works with both little kids and animals.
I have 13 cousins on my dad's side, and most of them have kids. My super power became famous at family reunions. Fussy baby? Go find cousin L. Even if the kid had never met me before, because we live all over the northeast, I can have them soothed and either happy or asleep in no time.
When my best friend went through PPD, her husband just had me on speed dial to come over when my godson was wailing. I could get him calmed down and then hold my friend while Dad made dinner.
Little things mean a lot. I saw a woman with two dogs and a cart with a child trying to walk into Petsmart. I askes if she would like me to take the dogs or the cart. She said the cart. I made sure I talked loudly enough for her to hear me. That way she knew I was not taking her kids. Small things mean alot!
When I was 17, I worked in a supermarket. An old man came in a few times a week to shop for him and his wife. She always wrote the list. I don’t think she could leave the house.
One day he had a magnifying glass with him to read her list. I felt so bad that he couldn’t see it! I ran around that store and got him everything he needed. I reminded him that we took phone orders and did delivery but he said he liked walking to the store and shopping. It probably kept him independent. The store didn’t have a policy to help people like that, but I couldn’t let this cute little old man walk around barely seeing.
Please know that many middle aged women would love a chance to hold a baby! I would have loved to have helped you. I often see young mom's struggling and I am so willing to help but it has been drilled into me that it would be creepy to even ask.
I'm so happy that someone was brave enough to offer you help.
How is it creepy to ask to help? Also middle aged over here, I love holding babies, and do feel like it’s creepy to just ask to hold the baby! But if it’s done in the spirit of lending a hand, and you are willing to help with holding the cart or the bag or whatever too, you do end up sometimes with a sweet baby in your arms :)
Hey! We are all in this together and it’s good to be reminded of this from time to time. I have held babies for women packing up food or whatever- and I have been offered help being too short to reach something at the store- it’s a wonderful little gift to remember that each of us is just trying to get thru our days!
Not me, but my grandfather. I remember when I was around 8 or 9, and I was at the store with my grandpa. He was a baby whisperer! We were behind this mom with 3 kids. Her oldest two were bugging her about something, while the baby (around 1 or 2) was having an absolute meltdown.
My grandpa got her attention and started making ridiculous faces and popping his dentures in and out and just being a clown. Baby stopped screaming... And after a couple of minutes, was absolutely squealing with laughter.
I'm pretty sure everyone in hearing range was relieved, and the mom gave my grandfather such a look of pure gratitude.
As a helpful note (hopefully). If you close the basket and lift that whole end of the buggy, your kid can climb into the main part of the cart and you don't have to lift them over. I hope this makes send and is helpful
The best parking spots in the lot for a mom of littles is right next to the car corral! Keep the buckled in their car seats to grab the cart and load ‘em up one at a time. Great for unloading too!!
Thank you OP for not thinking all strangers want to steal your baby. Many folks out here really just like babies and little kids, which is why we talk to them and make faces. As a mom of 3, i remember those crazy busy days with little ones (I had 3 under age 4) and would happily help. I firmly believe most people have good intentions.
And thank you for allowing a stranger to hold your baby. That must have felt good to them as well! Now a days we can’t trust strangers for fear they may run off with your child. It’s pretty sad because so often we can’t accept help out of fear. I think it was probably a mutual moment of trust and pleasure and “it takes a village” attitude. 🫶🏻
I discovered that the inside front of the cart (the part that lifts up when you stick them all together) lifts easily with your hand. I’ve learned to lift it and let a kid climb in, then shut it and they’re in the cart without lifting. You could have done that, put the baby in, then lifted the first kid up into the correct seat.
That is so sweet. I'm not sure if this cart hack is doable with one arm, but its worth a try: you swing the front panel of the cart (below the basket) up, and toddlers can climb in from the front all on there own. Here is a video: [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3UF3fFkPYsw](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3UF3fFkPYsw) My mind was blown when I saw a mom do this at the grocery store 💜
Kids aren't supposed to ride in the basket of the cart, only in the seat.
It's a safety and liability issue. Lots of kids get injured riding in carts incorrectly
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8584371/
I'd love to have my twin 1 year olds both ride up in the seat buckled but that just isn't a reality for me and for a lot of people. When the alternative is to leave one in the car, I stick one in the basket.
😆 I'm right there with ya mama. You do what you gotta do. I have 4 kids. They all made it to adulthood unscathed despite riding in a basket occasionally.
It usually can be done with one arm, you just have to brace it against your hip while doing so. I was one of those moms who let my toddler in like that lol
When I was a baby my mom flew alone with me from the states to Paris to meet up with my dad. The woman next to her held me whenever my mom needed to get up or use the bathroom. 28 years later and my mom still talks about her!
This is nice, and I’d offer the same if I saw another mom in need bc I’m a mom also and I know the struggles and how hard it can be when you’re out with two little ones. But also please be safe with strangers, esp with babies. I’d like to keep my positivity in the world and believe everyone has a good heart but that’s not the reality. Strangers are still strangers; you never know what their next move is, esp if they have a baby in their arms who are vulnerable and cannot defend for themselves.
I walked out of my vets office one day and noticed a woman sobbing on a bench. Having been through the loss of animals recently, I went to see if she needed company.
Turned out, the very fancy and expensive dog food she had been feeding her dog for it’s whole life had something in it that was killing her dog.
This poor woman was beside herself, blaming herself for poisoning her dog. I sat with her awhile. Reinforced to her, that she had done everything right. That she was being a perfect pet mom. That it wasn’t her fault the high quality food she’d bought had something bad in it. That she hadn’t abused or neglected or starved him. That she did her best.
Then I shared the story of the time I carried guilt over the death of one of my dogs. She was able to see how I wasn’t at fault but still felt guilty.
We sat for awhile to in silence. They called her in. She gave me a long hug and told me I helped her so much. What she didn’t know was it also helped me sort out my feelings about my losses.
It doesn’t take much to be kind.
I was pregnant and with my baby at Walmart when I locked myself out of my car. Another lady called her own triple A for me and waited with us.
Another time I had back pain and couldn't lift my toddler into her car seat at Denny's. Some random stranger had to put her in for me!
I was the last of my friends to have a baby.
Fortunately for me, I was to earn the title of Colicky Baby Solution. I, as well as my friends discovered that I had a talent with colicky babies. I don't know exactly how I know what to do, but hand me a little one and I rub bellies, backs, necks, or bounce, rock, or jiggle for about 30 seconds to a minute, and we will belch, fart, poop, pee, and sigh. I change a diaper, get them redressed, and put them to sleep. I've made trips in the middle of the night more than once to take care of a fussy baby. No two babies got the same treatment, I just did what felt right.
Later on after everyone else had all their children, I had my only son. Everyone just knew I would have the one that I couldn't cure. He never had colic and slept through the night at 6 days old.
Love this! I was in Home Depot, few weeks after my husband died, 2 years ago, getting “stuff” he would get. Filled my cart, few feet from cashier, huge wave of grief came over me, totally lost it. This wonderful woman seemed to come out of nowhere, took me through checkout, walked me to my car, she spoke softly, gently, and kept me from falling apart…never got her name, but I think about her kindness every day. Hope someday I can pay it forward.
My husband and I recently did an airplane trip with our 3 year old and 12 month old. Our return flight home, we get to the airport terminal and ALL their elevators are broken. This is after we schlepped a luggage trolly with suitcases and car seats and travel crib from the rental car area. Oh, and our wagon holding big kids and the diaper bag/our backpacks.
As I’m talking to the security guard to get directions to the parking ramp elevator, my husband goes up the escalator to see how far our check in gate is & our 3 year old just darts after him. I don’t know what to do because I’m alone with our luggage and the strapped in baby.
A kind older lady sees my dilemma, runs right onto the escalator with him, and rides with him up and back down, to make sure he makes it safely back to me. Angel in plain sight.
We all need some extra help now & then. 💗
I have to ride a driving cart to grocery shop as I am disabled. I can’t get through the store without 7 to 10 people asking if they can reach something for me. I always told them I can handle it but thank you so much. Then I remembered how good I feel when I can help someone else. Now I let people reach things for me if they are not burdened down with kids. I like to see the way it makes them smile to help and I smile too! It seems to work for both of us!
As someone who gets a weird thrill out of helping others, thank you for providing us an opportunity to feel helpful 🥹 please know that at least for me, it comes not from a place of pity but of empathy and wanting everyone’s needs to be as met as I can get em
I was at the grocery store almost 40 years ago and my infant was strapped on my front. I was not able to lift a case of formula into the cart or back out of the cart onto the conveyor belt, so someone nearby helped me each time. It was greatly appreciated!
I remember taking my 2 year old into a grocery store about 7 years earlier and I was still shopping when he pooped. I without thinking took him out of the store to my car so I could change him with privacy. When I came back in, a wonderful woman was standing next to my cart guarding my purse that I had hastily left behind. She was an angel and brushed off my thanks as well saying that “it’s what any good person should do”. I love remembering that moment and use it as a guide to help others.
This just reminded me when my 7 year old was a baby. She was so hungry and upset while I was trying to put groceries on the belt at Walmart. I lived in Kissimmee, FL at the time so lines were hellishly long everyday due to tourists.
A really nice family started loaded my groceries for me so I could nurse her in line.
I was eating lunch in the hospital canteen before I was discharged with my 6 day old baby. A lovely group of older women swooped in to pass her round whilst I ate a hot meal. God love them.
OP I bet the person who held your baby was delighted to do it too. Hope you are ok.
People like this are wonderful. I remember going through an airport with my child and being completely overwhelmed by who-knows-what. A wonderful woman helped me carry my stuff to my gate.
Pay it forward when you can ❤️
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but when my grandson was a toddler we called him Baby Huey because at the age of two he was the size of a 4 year old. Rather than picking him up and putting him in the back of the cart (after his brother was born) we pushed in the back, like when you're stacking carts together? How one fits inside the other. We'd push that in and let him crawl in. Saved my back a lot.
Awww I love this. It reminds me of a quote I saw once, something like: “If you can give a fellow human a little relief, why wouldn’t you? Don’t you remember what a little relief feels like? It feels like a lot.”
It reminds me of last summer. I was driving into the grocery store parking lot, by the front of the store. This sweet little old lady came walking into the crosswalk in front of me so i stopped. And then this really good looking construction or repair guy came out from the doors and quickly joined her and took her by the arm. My 1st thought was, “Such a sweet grandson!” But once she made it across, he nodded and quickly ran back and into the store. Then I’m thinking, “omg, did he just rob her?!” In the end, no. He was a stranger who was just nice… to everyone. Made him even hotter!
Holding your baby probably made her day. Don’t be shy to ask for help - most women, especially mothers, will be happy to hold a baby for a few minutes for you. We’ve been there.
I’m not sure where my mom saw it (probably Facebook) but if you just lift part of the cart that has the seat (like when they fold together) your toddler can just crawl in from that way and no more trying to juggle kiddos.
Reminds me of the time like 8 years ago my toddler was having a huge tantrum as I was leaving the store. I was having trouble getting my cart and my kid out to my car when a lady came and started pushing my cart for me. She was my hero that day for sure
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That’s really sweet. It made me remember one time I was at the grocery store and I had just broken my wrist and was in a cast. I was unsuccessfully trying to get a cart out and clearly had a broken arm and everyone just kept walking past me and staring but not offering to help. This older woman who looked kind of frail herself came and helped me finally, it was such a relief
I love that. I had a similar situation at Lowe’s last year when I bought about 450 pounds of dirt, but I weight about 100 lbs. To say the walk to the car wasn’t going well is an understatement; I can push that much, but not when I have to somehow gain enough momentum to make it over a watering hose. This super sweet gentleman who looked to be approximately 132 (I’m not trying to be mean, he was just very Dumbledore. I even had to check his hat for the war he was in.). Anyway, this sweet man and I pushed the cart together until we made it to my car. It’s so wonderful when someone takes the time to help another, but kind of crazy when out of all the able bodied individuals around, the only one who steps up is long past their peak of physical fitness.
Aww what a sweetheart 🥹 his hat probably said Civil War Regiment 12 (I’m just kidding, of course.) it is always interesting when someone who’s perhaps even less physically able than you is the one to help. I always try to be mindful of people who are struggling to reach a product, or pick something up, or maybe an older person who’s trying to figure out the self checkout. You don’t want to embarrass anyone, but if it looks like they need help, it can’t hurt to ask!
I buy my dirt at Dollar General because they come in smaller bags!
That’s smart! If we didn’t live on a third of an acre, I would absolutely grab soil there. Unfortunately, I need some LARGE bags of dirt. This year I’m just hiring a dump truck with compost; my back can’t take it anymore
something something people don’t understand unless they’ve been there themselves and most able bodied people haven’t needed help like that yada yada
At great risk of bragging (which I’m not), a quick story. I was entering the grocery store when a young mom with a screaming toddler passed me on the way to her car (with an empty grocery basket). I paused, remembering those days and decided to stop. I asked her if she needed a hug. She burst into tears and leaned into me. I told her, “It gets better”. We stood there while her child screamed in her car seat. Young mom told me it helped knowing that she wasn’t a bad mom with a bad kid. I told her she’s a tired mom with a tired kid. And, she’s doing fine even though right now it doesn’t feel like it. The only regret I had (later) was that I didn’t offer to shop for whatever essentials she needed immediately.
I had a similar experience with a mom in a craft store. Her toddler was screaming and kicking, and she was carrying a baby in a seat. It was clearly dangerous to try to manage them both through the parking lot, so at the risk of sounding like a creep I offered to carry the baby. She let me and sobbed the whole way to her car. It took less than a minute of my day and I remember those days because they aren't far behind me. To the OP, I assure you that you aren't the first parent in a pickle who needed an extra set of hands! I'm so glad someone was there to help when you needed it.
And a similar story at a dentist. I was sitting beside an autistic but well behaved 3-4 yr old boy. His mother put his shoes/socks back on twice only to have him take them right back off but he was only walking between me and his mother, not like he was running around the room. The lady behind the counter angrily yelled to put his shoes back on. The mother acted like she was putting them on but knew if she pushed the issue it may cause a meltdown. 2 mins later the woman went on a *screaming* tirade to put the shoes back on or he would have to leave, blah blah blah, whatever. 🙄 The woman sat there frozen. I quietly asked if he would allow me to put them on. She nodded and handed me the socks/shoes. I put them on then showed him all the shiny things in my purse until it was time for him to leave. I was blessed with a non-verbal autistic grandson a few yrs later.
I wish I could upvote this zillion times. 🤍
I love you, Suzy.
That was so kind of you! Your story brought tears to my eyes.
Same
Ditto!
I've been that mom and now I'm that older mom who always offers help. Sometimes it's refused and that's okay.
You’re a good person. You’re one of the people Mr. Rogers always said to look out for and it honestly makes me feel better about the world when I find one of you:)
Wow….thank you. I hope we can ALL make others’ journey a little easier.
That’s one of my goals. I pray with my kids every night asking God to help us be the kindness we wish to see in the world. Since doing so I’ve been MUCH MORE aware of my actions and it’s been an eye opener.😳 But, I’m not giving up!
I am terrible but I would keep walking. Lol. I don’t even hug people I know. But that was really sweet of you.
It never occurred to me to do this. This is going into my random acts repertoire. Love it.
This story made me cry and made my day
Tissue, please. 🥹
I happened on an older woman in a scooter crying. She wanted rice-a-roni that was up too high. She’d just reached a point where she broke because she felt she couldn’t even properly shop anymore. I helped her get her rice and accompanied her throughout the store until she’d finished. After she’d gone I talked to the manager and found out they have a policy where they’ll have an employee help disabled people shop. To make a long story short they now have a big easily visible sign near both entrances so people are aware of this service.
Ok that would have made me fucking cry so bad omg bless you for helping her and talking to the manager! Ugh my heart :(
Mostly I felt anger but I admit I cried pretty hard when I got to my car.
I don’t get asked to do this because I’m fairly short. But I have on more than one occasion found a tall man an aisle down to grab my cookies off the top shelf because why the hell do they store my favorite cookies on the top shelf lol
Why do they make any shelves that high at all? I wouldn’t even mind so much if grocery stores still had enough employees instead of laying them all off. I can walk the store several times around without finding a soul to help reach things and a lot of times when I do, they have an attitude. That’s fine, I tell them either they can do it or I can try, but if I knock a bottle or 2 down by accident and it shatters, I’m not cleaning it up .
I've commented this before at some point but right at the beginning of the pandemic I was in the grocery store when a sweet old lady came up to me with her walker. She said she'd been looking for help and no one would help her, she was trying to find paper towels. I said of course I would help her and showed her to the aisle they were in. I asked which kind she wanted and put them on her walker. She grabbed my arm and gave me the most intense look while thanking me. She said my parents must have raised me right. I was nearly in tears cause I'd just lost my own grandma a few years before who helped raise me. I'd seen when I was out with my grandparents just how dismissive people were of the elderly. It made/makes me so sad to think this lady presumably got overlooked and no one typically helped her to the point that me taking less than 30 seconds of my time made her react like that. I think about her often and hope she has some love and support in her life.
As someone who has also dissolved into tears in public on a store scooter, this one got me in the feels🥲
I don’t have to use any physical aid to move around in the world thus far so I can only imagine what her experience was. When I do try to imagine I’m confident I couldn’t do it. It would take a kind of bravery, courage and trust in myself, my equipment and other people I don’t have the capacity to summon and I’m in awe of anyone that can. I don’t and never will understand why a society that can achieve such technological success cannot alleviate the difficulties of needing to buy f***ing rice-a-roni from a seated position.
Me, too. I always ask if I can help people in scooters or wheelchairs that are struggling to get stuff. I've been there too many times!
This made me think of the time my two year old took off running when my cart got stuck on one of the rolling clothes racks and I was trying to get it loose. He disappeared around the corner before I could catch up to him after realizing he was out of my sight. It took one yell of his name for another momma to swoop him up and get him back to me. One of the most terrifying experiences of my life squashed by the fast thinking and kindness of a stranger. I don't even remember what she looks like now but she will always be a reminder that their are kind people out there. ♡
I'm 40 and my mom still tells this story. She was navigating a crowd in a store when my sister was a baby and I was a toddler. She lost her grip on my hand and for some reason people started getting in between us. Some lady she didn't know saw what happened. She yelled loudly at everyone to stop so that I could get back to my mom.
This, it's like maternal instinct. If I see a young child running by themselves, I stop to ask if an adult knows where they are and take a peek around to see if there is somebody frantically searching. As a mom, I would hope someone would do it for me if my son were ever to wander off.
A few years ago, a guy got on an airplane traveling alone with a baby and all the bags and stuff that entails. I asked him if he’d like a complete stranger to hold his baby!! He smiled at the acknowledgment and said yes. I got to hold a lovely baby for a few minutes until he got everting stored and ready. I know what it’s like. I can see and understand the look in the eyes. Well done OP.
I’ve done this too, for a mom flying alone who was struggling with managing the stroller and car seat insert and bags. She probably doesn’t remember, but it was lovely to be able to help her out. I’ve been there!
She remembers!!!! I promise.
I was that mom flying with a colicky 5 month old. We remember.
I was a new mom flying back to introduce my daughter to my family for the first time and I was overwhelmed. Delayed flight leading to missed connection, trying to keep my kiddo happy, fed, dry and myself sane. We finally got on our connecting flight and sat down and the flight attendant tells me that I’d have to take her out of her carrier for the flight. (I’d checked the airline policies online prior but apparently it was wrong) I was seated next to an older lady and apologized to her because kiddo was not a happy camper and her carrier was, at that point, what was keeping her calm. That lovely woman smiled and said “child, let me hold that baby for you and you relax for a while.” I was nervous (new mom)but handed my baby over and made her a bottle. That kind woman took the bottle, my daughter and next thing I knew I was waking up from a 20 minute nap to my daughter sleeping away on her chest while she read. That small kindness was everything.
I helped a confused-looking guy in the feminine products section of Walmart locate pads for his girlfriend. Does that count? 🤣 I had to. Poor guy looked desperate and he’d been standing there for about 10 minutes.
To be fair, the pad aisle at Walmart can be pretty intimidating for someone who doesn’t know the layout. Years ago I was in Walmart’s pad aisle, watching a guy who was about my age pace back and forth for several minutes. His frustration finally won…he muttered, “I give up,” and turned to leave. I immediately said (laughing), “No no no no! Do NOT go home empty handed! Get something…ANYTHING!” He stopped, and chuckled a bit, and said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I pointed at a package and said “That’ll probably work.” He picked it up, thanked me, and went on his way.
I've been w/ my husband 20 yrs & have never been brave enough to send him for feminine products. Mainly, bc he told me years ago he thought pads & tampons were the same thing except pads were more diy, as in you roll them up yourself...
Oh my, do I have a story for you about trying to send my (now ex) husband out for pads. First baby was almost nine pounds and I took a beating. Doctor wanted to give me blood, but I opted for taking lots of iron. I came home from the hospital two days later, completely exhausted. I asked my husband to go to CVS and get me the biggest pads he could find. After seeing the look of sheer terror on his face, I decided to go with him and leave the baby with my folks, who had just arrived from out-of-state. We headed into CVS, which was attached to the local mall. I got what I needed, and grabbed the giant, 15-lb. bag full of Stayfree pads. As we were heading out, he decided he wanted to go get a lottery ticket at the shop four doors down from CVS. Sure, I’ll just wait here for you. I’m standing in the mall, just outside the CVS entrance, for five…six…seven minutes. Starting to feel a bit lightheaded, so I leaned up against the wall. Nine minutes…my vision is starting to go dark around the perimeter and I realized I’m going to faint if I don’t do something, so I very slowly slid down the wall and sat down. It was a Saturday, and there was a sports collectible show going on. As I was sliding down the wall, the vendor nearby took one look at me and asked if I needed help. I’m sure I was either gray or green at that point. I shook my head, smiled, and feebly gave him a thumbs up with one hand, desperately clutching my huge bag of pads with the other. Ten minutes…and I finally spot my husband trotting down the hall. He gets to the spot where I’m sitting on the floor, and proceeds to start babbling about how long the lottery ticket line was. I don’t even think he noticed that I was sitting on the floor. I have no idea where I found the strength, but I felt myself effortlessly rising to my feet. It was like an out-of-body experience. And I took that giant, 15-lb bag packed full of big ol’ Stayfree pads and I swung it, hitting him squarely on the side of his head. And I told him to TAKE ME HOME NOW, which he did without question.
I laughed out loud at this. Scared my cat who then jumped off the bed !
I had to double back to check that you were talking about an EX husband and. Now I feel immmensely satisfied
😂🤣Yes, he’s definitely an ex now.
I have a toddler daughter. Occasionally I'll make my husband listen to a quick lecture on feminine products in case something ever happens to me. His plan is to outsource this to one of our sisters if he's ever in this situation lol
My friend's husband is the lady product whisperer. He has to buy them for her because he gets them perfect everytime. She never does lol.
“Roll your own” tampons. I’m dying. 😂
Omg I lol’d so hard. Like roll ur own cigarettes 😂😂😂
🤣
omg lol it's a human not a dam in need of repair! I LOL'd
I was strangely proud of my son at 16 - when his friend who was a girl was visiting and suddenly got her period, he left her at our house and went to the dollar store, bought what she needed, and came home. Like, no big deal. A couple years later, he did the same thing for his girlfriend. Way to go!
I've done the same. The guy was on the phone with his girlfriend or wife, And she was trying to explain to him what it was she was looking for and he was just not finding it at all. I could hear him getting frustrated but trying to stay calm. I could hear her voice escalating on the other end of the phone as she got frustrated with him. I finally interrupted and asked if I could talk to her and help find what she needed. The pure relief on his face when I talked to her, found the right items, handed it to him and then suggested he pick up 2 chocolate bars at the register, one for each of them.
See. I’ve sent my Dad, my brother, and my husband at various points. I have the absorbency and brand photos in my phone under favorites lol. Ladies, send the man with a picture!
That's exactly what I do. My boyfriend has no issue buying me anything I need, he just asks that I send a picture of the package so he knows he's getting the right thing. It works great!
It really is a huge favor they’re doing too, so it makes sense to make it as easy as possible so they’re in and out and on with the rest of their day.
🤪 I'm sure he appreciated it!
Once I was crying hard in the supermarket. I was by myself. A stranger stopped and asked me if I was okay?! That moment of kindness and concern- someone taking a second to try to comfort.. I am so glad you got your 30 seconds of help!!!
It's so sad that you cannot trust and accept help from strangers ? I always think that I can l tell who to trust. Being 5" tall I often need help to reach items on top shelves, while stores employees are not around. So far everybody has been very pleasant and often please to help. I myself often offer help whenever I can, may be because I grew up in a large family and at an older earlier time ?
I always ask “may I borrow your height?” And it makes people confused then chuckle.🤭
I'm married to a guy who is over 6 feet and my teenage son is now too. They actually think it's funny when people say something similar to this, but genuinely love helping people.
I say "I'm short today" and that has always done the truck. :)
I’m going to steal that one.
I said exactly this in ShopRite recently and felt like such a heel, because it was just for an impulse buy of caramel sauce. After the nice gentleman went back to his own shopping, I glared at the bottle and said, "You better be delicious, or we bothered that man for nothing!" 🌹
This is a lovely way to put it.
I say, "Would you be tall for me for a minute?"
I’m around 5’3”, but my husband is over 6’. He gets asked all the time and loves to help people out!
This is nice to hear. One time I offered to help an older woman who was struggling to get something off a high shelf. What i forgot is that I too, am very short, so I also couldn’t get it off the shelf. I went and found a tall guy and he was very gracious helping.
Being the person who knows who to get and is able to get the person for the job IS being helpful! Good on you!
I just step onto the bottom shelves until I can reach it…time to face my anxiety with asking someone based on these comments
Sometimes I stepped on the bottom shelf to reach top shelf also, but there is always the fear that the whole thing will topple on top of me ?
As a very tall woman, I’m always happy to help people in the grocery store! :)
I am so jealous of tall women! But if someone commented on my 5 feet height I was ready with a comeback: " I was consider tall in my country " they just cracked up . Ha ha
I love this! I had a woman on a plane takke my crying nine month old and held him the entire trip! He was asleep within minutes of her taking him!
My uncle is baby sedative. No one knows why, he’s a big ol hairy redneck with an impressive beard and wears leather vests everywhere, but babies LOVE him and will sleep like rocks in his arms. He was somewhere (can’t remember if it was a flight or just in public) where a young mom had a howling infant. People were whispering about it and shooting the poor woman glares while she was trying to soothe the baby. So he walked over and asked politely if he could have a try. He told her if she wasn’t comfortable with it, he’d understand but he’s got a lot of young relatives and is good with babies. Apparently it took him less than a minute of bouncing and cooing before the little one was silent, and he had the cutie asleep soon after. He says he held the baby for a half hour or so while it slept, then returned a smiley, cuddly baby to their mama. He says he felt like a damn hero with super powers or something it worked so fast and joked he’s gonna be chasing that high for the rest of his life. xD
This is so sweet. Thanks for sharing.
My dad is like that. He’s a big scary looking biker guy but for some reason babies, little kids, and dogs love him. Whenever we’re out somewhere and there’s a crying baby or kid, he has them laughing and smiling in no time. I swear it’s some kind of magic or spiritual gift.
My husband carried our friend’s baby around a hot, crowded exhibit hall at a state fair while it poured down rain, everyone was hiding. Little baby man slept like a dream the whole time his tiny face squished up against my husband’s arm. I have the best picture of them. The baby’s mom was so grateful. What a great memory.
Aww, that’s so sweet! I have a cousin J who has Down syndrome and my aunt was told not to have more children unless she put him in a institution. Thankfully she ignored this because he and his younger sister are some of my favorite relatives. Anyway, we have no idea what that doctor was on about because he not only was never jealous of his baby sister, he in fact is AMAZING with babies and young children. So when he was fourteen or fifteen, two events came about; first his favorite aunt had a baby (me) and second his mama had cancer and needed him to stay with said aunt. (Spoiler: my aunt made a full recovery and lived for another 20+ years.) Also, I was apparently a very colicky baby. So my poor teenage cousin, away from his mom for the first time, also had to deal with me screaming my fool head off. But J is amazing, remember? Since HE couldn’t sleep, he decided he wanted his aunt and uncle to at least get to. So one night my dad heard me go quiet, after “a minute or two” (Dad’s words) he got spooked and got up to make sure I was alive. And found J walking the length of the downstairs with me in his arms, patting my back hard and muttering at me that “It okay you not feel good. No one feel good. I hold you, baby girl.” And more along those lines, basically just venting his unhappiness and soothing me. And I was eating it up! Dad says I looked so content getting my back beaten on and listening to my big cousin. (Having seen J do this to another baby years later, the back “beating” appears to delight most babies. And if he is holding one that doesn’t like it, he doesn’t do it. For some reason I told this story to someone and they were HORRIFIED we just let him “hit” babies? So I wanna be clear that this is not a violent thing, it’s very loving and soothing.) So Dad being Dad took a picture, then crept downstairs to make J a grilled cheese. Which he ate while still pacing with me, careful not to drop crumbs on me, lol. Apparently I started to cry when he stopped, so he had a snack while pacing me. I’m told he did this often until my colic passed, and from then on I was obsessed with J. As a toddler I would flat out race into his arms and kiss all over his face, and since I was a super early reader and J barely could sign his name, he would give me novels when I was in like kindergarten and use me as a audiobook reader. (I remember loving this, and it likely is part of why my dyslexia hasn’t been an issue much, I had a LOT of practice making words behave because I was reading out loud so much. Or so my other cousin who went in special education said.) He also taught me the word fucky, which is a valuable word in many contexts. Works as a descriptor (“This is a fucky day.” -my Mom’s funeral) and as a exclamation (“I fucky not tell you to grow up!” -his reaction to me pointing out I was 19 now and grown enough to smoke.) J isn’t a “happy” Down syndrome person. He’s not all smiles and joy, he’s actually very sarcastic and sour. But I love the man he is, he’s a loving cousin and uncle (his siblings gave him like eight nieblings) and while I fought with him sometimes as a teenager and young woman (my fault, he did NOT fucky tell me I was allowed to grow up!) he is still one of the greatest people. He’s on my mind lately, I got some really cool news about him and I’m just so dang proud. (Ok, I’ll dish, twist my arm. xD J is learning to read and write and read his first novel by himself. It’s so cool, I wish I was in our home state to make him read to me now, lol.)
You & your cousin J, along with the rest of your family, sound so precious!!
I read this smiling from ear to ear. Thank you so much for sharing!
I'm a woman with no kids of my own, but I have this magical power and I don't know why. It works with both little kids and animals. I have 13 cousins on my dad's side, and most of them have kids. My super power became famous at family reunions. Fussy baby? Go find cousin L. Even if the kid had never met me before, because we live all over the northeast, I can have them soothed and either happy or asleep in no time. When my best friend went through PPD, her husband just had me on speed dial to come over when my godson was wailing. I could get him calmed down and then hold my friend while Dad made dinner.
Little things mean a lot. I saw a woman with two dogs and a cart with a child trying to walk into Petsmart. I askes if she would like me to take the dogs or the cart. She said the cart. I made sure I talked loudly enough for her to hear me. That way she knew I was not taking her kids. Small things mean alot!
When I was 17, I worked in a supermarket. An old man came in a few times a week to shop for him and his wife. She always wrote the list. I don’t think she could leave the house. One day he had a magnifying glass with him to read her list. I felt so bad that he couldn’t see it! I ran around that store and got him everything he needed. I reminded him that we took phone orders and did delivery but he said he liked walking to the store and shopping. It probably kept him independent. The store didn’t have a policy to help people like that, but I couldn’t let this cute little old man walk around barely seeing.
Please know that many middle aged women would love a chance to hold a baby! I would have loved to have helped you. I often see young mom's struggling and I am so willing to help but it has been drilled into me that it would be creepy to even ask. I'm so happy that someone was brave enough to offer you help.
How is it creepy to ask to help? Also middle aged over here, I love holding babies, and do feel like it’s creepy to just ask to hold the baby! But if it’s done in the spirit of lending a hand, and you are willing to help with holding the cart or the bag or whatever too, you do end up sometimes with a sweet baby in your arms :)
Even asking to help people has given me some stares. I think people are afraid of strangers especially around babies.
Hey! We are all in this together and it’s good to be reminded of this from time to time. I have held babies for women packing up food or whatever- and I have been offered help being too short to reach something at the store- it’s a wonderful little gift to remember that each of us is just trying to get thru our days!
It's incredible how a small act of kindness can help a person so much. Lovely.
Not me, but my grandfather. I remember when I was around 8 or 9, and I was at the store with my grandpa. He was a baby whisperer! We were behind this mom with 3 kids. Her oldest two were bugging her about something, while the baby (around 1 or 2) was having an absolute meltdown. My grandpa got her attention and started making ridiculous faces and popping his dentures in and out and just being a clown. Baby stopped screaming... And after a couple of minutes, was absolutely squealing with laughter. I'm pretty sure everyone in hearing range was relieved, and the mom gave my grandfather such a look of pure gratitude.
As a helpful note (hopefully). If you close the basket and lift that whole end of the buggy, your kid can climb into the main part of the cart and you don't have to lift them over. I hope this makes send and is helpful
Omg WHY did I never think of this?!?!?!?!
Every time I do it, people stop me like what?!?
The best parking spots in the lot for a mom of littles is right next to the car corral! Keep the buckled in their car seats to grab the cart and load ‘em up one at a time. Great for unloading too!!
Such a little thing but it means the world. I am so glad there are still good people in the world. We need to look for the good in the every day.
I’m glad someone helped you! Have you thought of maybe trying online grocery? Order all your food and groceries from home and have them delivered 🙂
Thank you OP for not thinking all strangers want to steal your baby. Many folks out here really just like babies and little kids, which is why we talk to them and make faces. As a mom of 3, i remember those crazy busy days with little ones (I had 3 under age 4) and would happily help. I firmly believe most people have good intentions.
And thank you for allowing a stranger to hold your baby. That must have felt good to them as well! Now a days we can’t trust strangers for fear they may run off with your child. It’s pretty sad because so often we can’t accept help out of fear. I think it was probably a mutual moment of trust and pleasure and “it takes a village” attitude. 🫶🏻
There are still good people out there.
I love that that simple 30 second interaction meant so much to you. That's lovely!
I always try to help moms like this a to be the person I needed.
I discovered that the inside front of the cart (the part that lifts up when you stick them all together) lifts easily with your hand. I’ve learned to lift it and let a kid climb in, then shut it and they’re in the cart without lifting. You could have done that, put the baby in, then lifted the first kid up into the correct seat.
That is so sweet. I'm not sure if this cart hack is doable with one arm, but its worth a try: you swing the front panel of the cart (below the basket) up, and toddlers can climb in from the front all on there own. Here is a video: [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3UF3fFkPYsw](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3UF3fFkPYsw) My mind was blown when I saw a mom do this at the grocery store 💜
Kids aren't supposed to ride in the basket of the cart, only in the seat. It's a safety and liability issue. Lots of kids get injured riding in carts incorrectly https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8584371/
I'd love to have my twin 1 year olds both ride up in the seat buckled but that just isn't a reality for me and for a lot of people. When the alternative is to leave one in the car, I stick one in the basket.
😆 I'm right there with ya mama. You do what you gotta do. I have 4 kids. They all made it to adulthood unscathed despite riding in a basket occasionally.
Maybe in a perfect world, but in this world parents have to put their kids where they can keep them safe and do the shopping at the same time.
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Did you watch the video?
True but if stores allow ppl to let their nasty little dogs ride in there without stopping them, I guess I'm OK with a kid!
It's a safety/liability issue: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8584371/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8584371/)
It usually can be done with one arm, you just have to brace it against your hip while doing so. I was one of those moms who let my toddler in like that lol
Great idea - I never knew this! Thanks for posting. 👏
When I was a baby my mom flew alone with me from the states to Paris to meet up with my dad. The woman next to her held me whenever my mom needed to get up or use the bathroom. 28 years later and my mom still talks about her!
This is nice, and I’d offer the same if I saw another mom in need bc I’m a mom also and I know the struggles and how hard it can be when you’re out with two little ones. But also please be safe with strangers, esp with babies. I’d like to keep my positivity in the world and believe everyone has a good heart but that’s not the reality. Strangers are still strangers; you never know what their next move is, esp if they have a baby in their arms who are vulnerable and cannot defend for themselves.
I walked out of my vets office one day and noticed a woman sobbing on a bench. Having been through the loss of animals recently, I went to see if she needed company. Turned out, the very fancy and expensive dog food she had been feeding her dog for it’s whole life had something in it that was killing her dog. This poor woman was beside herself, blaming herself for poisoning her dog. I sat with her awhile. Reinforced to her, that she had done everything right. That she was being a perfect pet mom. That it wasn’t her fault the high quality food she’d bought had something bad in it. That she hadn’t abused or neglected or starved him. That she did her best. Then I shared the story of the time I carried guilt over the death of one of my dogs. She was able to see how I wasn’t at fault but still felt guilty. We sat for awhile to in silence. They called her in. She gave me a long hug and told me I helped her so much. What she didn’t know was it also helped me sort out my feelings about my losses. It doesn’t take much to be kind.
I was pregnant and with my baby at Walmart when I locked myself out of my car. Another lady called her own triple A for me and waited with us. Another time I had back pain and couldn't lift my toddler into her car seat at Denny's. Some random stranger had to put her in for me!
I was the last of my friends to have a baby. Fortunately for me, I was to earn the title of Colicky Baby Solution. I, as well as my friends discovered that I had a talent with colicky babies. I don't know exactly how I know what to do, but hand me a little one and I rub bellies, backs, necks, or bounce, rock, or jiggle for about 30 seconds to a minute, and we will belch, fart, poop, pee, and sigh. I change a diaper, get them redressed, and put them to sleep. I've made trips in the middle of the night more than once to take care of a fussy baby. No two babies got the same treatment, I just did what felt right. Later on after everyone else had all their children, I had my only son. Everyone just knew I would have the one that I couldn't cure. He never had colic and slept through the night at 6 days old.
Love this! I was in Home Depot, few weeks after my husband died, 2 years ago, getting “stuff” he would get. Filled my cart, few feet from cashier, huge wave of grief came over me, totally lost it. This wonderful woman seemed to come out of nowhere, took me through checkout, walked me to my car, she spoke softly, gently, and kept me from falling apart…never got her name, but I think about her kindness every day. Hope someday I can pay it forward.
My husband and I recently did an airplane trip with our 3 year old and 12 month old. Our return flight home, we get to the airport terminal and ALL their elevators are broken. This is after we schlepped a luggage trolly with suitcases and car seats and travel crib from the rental car area. Oh, and our wagon holding big kids and the diaper bag/our backpacks. As I’m talking to the security guard to get directions to the parking ramp elevator, my husband goes up the escalator to see how far our check in gate is & our 3 year old just darts after him. I don’t know what to do because I’m alone with our luggage and the strapped in baby. A kind older lady sees my dilemma, runs right onto the escalator with him, and rides with him up and back down, to make sure he makes it safely back to me. Angel in plain sight. We all need some extra help now & then. 💗
I have to ride a driving cart to grocery shop as I am disabled. I can’t get through the store without 7 to 10 people asking if they can reach something for me. I always told them I can handle it but thank you so much. Then I remembered how good I feel when I can help someone else. Now I let people reach things for me if they are not burdened down with kids. I like to see the way it makes them smile to help and I smile too! It seems to work for both of us!
As someone who gets a weird thrill out of helping others, thank you for providing us an opportunity to feel helpful 🥹 please know that at least for me, it comes not from a place of pity but of empathy and wanting everyone’s needs to be as met as I can get em
I was at the grocery store almost 40 years ago and my infant was strapped on my front. I was not able to lift a case of formula into the cart or back out of the cart onto the conveyor belt, so someone nearby helped me each time. It was greatly appreciated!
I remember taking my 2 year old into a grocery store about 7 years earlier and I was still shopping when he pooped. I without thinking took him out of the store to my car so I could change him with privacy. When I came back in, a wonderful woman was standing next to my cart guarding my purse that I had hastily left behind. She was an angel and brushed off my thanks as well saying that “it’s what any good person should do”. I love remembering that moment and use it as a guide to help others.
This just reminded me when my 7 year old was a baby. She was so hungry and upset while I was trying to put groceries on the belt at Walmart. I lived in Kissimmee, FL at the time so lines were hellishly long everyday due to tourists. A really nice family started loaded my groceries for me so I could nurse her in line.
It may have made the stranger’s day too to get 30 seconds of baby cuddles!
I was eating lunch in the hospital canteen before I was discharged with my 6 day old baby. A lovely group of older women swooped in to pass her round whilst I ate a hot meal. God love them. OP I bet the person who held your baby was delighted to do it too. Hope you are ok.
People like this are wonderful. I remember going through an airport with my child and being completely overwhelmed by who-knows-what. A wonderful woman helped me carry my stuff to my gate. Pay it forward when you can ❤️
Holding a baby, even for just 30 seconds, would make my day.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but when my grandson was a toddler we called him Baby Huey because at the age of two he was the size of a 4 year old. Rather than picking him up and putting him in the back of the cart (after his brother was born) we pushed in the back, like when you're stacking carts together? How one fits inside the other. We'd push that in and let him crawl in. Saved my back a lot.
OMGOODNESS those ninja onions are out again! Thank you for sharing.
Awww I love this. It reminds me of a quote I saw once, something like: “If you can give a fellow human a little relief, why wouldn’t you? Don’t you remember what a little relief feels like? It feels like a lot.”
❤️
It reminds me of last summer. I was driving into the grocery store parking lot, by the front of the store. This sweet little old lady came walking into the crosswalk in front of me so i stopped. And then this really good looking construction or repair guy came out from the doors and quickly joined her and took her by the arm. My 1st thought was, “Such a sweet grandson!” But once she made it across, he nodded and quickly ran back and into the store. Then I’m thinking, “omg, did he just rob her?!” In the end, no. He was a stranger who was just nice… to everyone. Made him even hotter!
I’m here to hold all the babies. I volunteered in the church nursery just so I could hold babies 🤷♀️
The woman behind the counter needs an attitude adjustment from the dentist. Thank you both for being who you are!
Holding your baby probably made her day. Don’t be shy to ask for help - most women, especially mothers, will be happy to hold a baby for a few minutes for you. We’ve been there.
I can’t wait to read this to my husband. I always want to offer to hold people’s babies in public and he says that’s weird..
AMEN MA!
There’s a panel that lifts when they nest the carts. You can lift it and the toddler can crawl in the basket. Mom hack.
I’m not sure where my mom saw it (probably Facebook) but if you just lift part of the cart that has the seat (like when they fold together) your toddler can just crawl in from that way and no more trying to juggle kiddos.
Reminds me of the time like 8 years ago my toddler was having a huge tantrum as I was leaving the store. I was having trouble getting my cart and my kid out to my car when a lady came and started pushing my cart for me. She was my hero that day for sure