Kindness Of Strangers

November 14, 2014

 

Yesterday I was having one of those mornings and everything seemed to go wrong. I wasn’t feeling great, starting with a cold and not really feeling energetic enough to face the day. Lucas was running round like a whirlwind one minute then would switch and start crying at me when I gave him the wrong cup or moved his car off the table. The twins were grumpy and teething. I got them ready for the school run early because I knew I needed to get out out the house. Boo cried the whole time I was getting them ready and Lucas kept running around when I was trying to get his coat on. I stepped out the house with gritted teeth trying not to lose my temper.

I felt better in the fresh air, the twins were settled in the pushchair and Lucas was skipping along next to me. As I walked along an elderly couple moved to one side to let me past with my troop, I thanked them then the lady stopped me to look in the pushchair. She looked at the boys and Lucas and said to me what I lovely family I had; I thanked her always grateful for something other than ‘you’ve got your hands full.’ Before she moved on she looked into my eyes, patted my hand and said .’you’re so lucky’ I grinned at her like a loon then walked on trying not to cry, she might not know it but she completely made my day.

After a crappy morning I was just thinking about getting home and feeling sorry for myself with a brew. When days start off badly it’s so easy to just write the whole day off and do enough to just get through it. Instead I came home and spent a lovely afternoon with Boo and Bear, just playing and watching them cause mayhem. I got some warm juice, a snack and a blanket ready for Lucas coming home and loved his big smile as he came in and saw them. I enjoyed having all my boys cosy and warm while the weather raged outside. So, I am feeling thankful for a lady who reminded me of something I already knew, she might not know how badly I needed to hear that yesterday but I certainly am grateful. Sometimes the kindess of strangers in wonderful. I truly appreciate how lucky I am to have these three beautiful boys and on the difficult days it is even more important to remember that.

kindness of strangers
Beau Twins
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14 Comments

  • Lauryn

    Such a lovely post and so nice to receive a kind word at just the right time! 🙂

    November 14, 2014 at 10:53 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Yes it was, seemed she came along just when I needed her too 🙂

      November 14, 2014 at 8:11 pm Reply
  • Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely

    This is exactly what goes through my mind. My two can run rings around me sometimes and it really is so easy to write off days but I force myself to stop, look at them and just get on the floor and roll around with them. It soon stops me from feeling so cross x

    November 14, 2014 at 2:45 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      It really does help to just take a moment sometimes, I need to remember it more often xx

      November 14, 2014 at 8:13 pm Reply
  • The Reading Residence

    A lovely post, Hayley. I know just what you mean, I have days like this, and like Rachel, the best way I know to snap out of it is to join them! That lady would have made my day, too, and she’s quite right xx

    November 14, 2014 at 6:00 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thank you Jocelyn, she totally made me think about what is important. Think her words will stay with me for a while! xx

      November 14, 2014 at 8:15 pm Reply
  • Katie @mummydaddyme

    What a beautiful post Hayley it made me get tears in my eyes. I think the kindness of strangers is sometimes just the best thing to happen, I always remember we were out at a restaurant a few months ago and the girls were eating and just generally being quite sweet. This lady came up to me and she said ‘I just want to say your children are an absolute credit to you, they are beautiful.’ She really made my day. It definitely makes you realise just how lucky you are. x

    November 14, 2014 at 9:14 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      It’s so kind of people to come over and say something complimentary about your children, they don’t have to but it really does make you so happy! This lady definitely made me think twice xx

      November 16, 2014 at 8:57 pm Reply
  • Donna

    Oh I am so glad she said that to you. It’s hard to pick yourself up during one of the hard days. Hugs x

    November 14, 2014 at 10:51 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thanks Donna, it was definitely something I needed to hear that day! xx

      November 16, 2014 at 8:55 pm Reply
  • becky

    Hi Hayley, I don’t think I have come across your blog before, but as I sat in a silent home (2 at school/1 visiting Nanny/1 napping!!) I thought I would take this opportunity to check you out.

    I read through your posts and was taken aback by your Keep Smiling post, which then led me to this post. I totally get it, I mean how you feel about the lady. I have one boy, 4years old and three girls, ages 10, 2 and 1 very rarely get positive comments in public…just the usual ‘oh you have your hands full’ ‘oh do you not have a TV?’ (yes a stranger actually said that to me!)when actually, my 4 monsters are the best behaved children EVER in public (I mean at home they can be horrid!) they always use their manners, always move out of the way for people, very rarely do their little fingers wander when ‘looking’ at stuff, they have never had a tantrum because I say no they cant have something. But yet no body ever comments on this….except for one lady last week in Iceland, we were at the till queing for some bread or something, Elsie was screaming and the others were stood nicely with me when they asked if they could go and stand at the end near the window, I said yes and they all asked the lady in front ”please could you squidge in a little please so we can get by” no prompts from me. She smiled at them and told them all ”of course seeing as you asked me so kindly” they passed her and she then turned to me, rocking the pram backwards and forwards like a mad woman to get Elsie to calm down (it didn’t work), she must have seen my frazzled look as she said something along the lines of ”Your doing a great job as a Mummy, what a lovely bunch of kids you have, impeccable manners and so well behaved” She then bent down to Elsie and rubbed her head ”they all scream and cry sometimes, don’t worry yourself about it” I thanked her and she left, and I started crying, the girl on the till looking at me gone out…

    May 19, 2015 at 12:59 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I cannot believe someone said to you, don’t you own a TV?! That is one of the rudest things ever!! Honestly, I nearly cry even thinking about this lady. I wish I could tell her how much it means to have someone say something nice to you when you are out trying your best. Your children sound so lovely, to be asking to get by politely and it is nice that someone has finally acknowledged that, I totally understand the tears! Thank you for your comment 🙂

      May 19, 2015 at 1:42 pm Reply
  • Kat | Beau Twins

    Oh huni, I can’t believe I missed this – I am so sorry. I can totally relate to this, when I have a bad morning I don’t need someone saying ‘you have your hands full’ I guess they don’t know what else to say. It’s such a blessing to have our children indeed, but some days it can get tough. I love this post and I am so glad your day ended up a happy one. You are an amazing mummy – never forget it! Thank you so much for linking up to #WellbeingWednesday xxxx

    June 16, 2015 at 7:17 pm Reply
  • Wellbeing Wednesday Linky |

    […] This wonderful mindfulness post by the gorgeous Hayley from Hayley At Home, about how that one person can make your day with a few chosen words –  Kindness Of Strangers […]

    June 17, 2015 at 8:11 am Reply
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