Do you have a story of a time when you stepped in to help a parent and child having a tough time? Are you a parent who received help from others? Do you have any stories or ideas that you'd like to share?
Click here to share your OneKindWord Story!
"Laughter is the best medicine" submitted by Pat S. on 5/12/09
My daughter was five and I took her to the store with me - I told her that she could pick one candy for being so good. Well, she took a bite out of one then and put it back to "taste another one". I told her "no" and she threw a fit - kicking, screaming and crying on the floor. I had to get in line to pay for the candy she had bit into. I was white knuckling it on the cart when I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned around and a little old lady asked me if I wanted her to run my daughter over with her cart for me. That little bit of humor was exactly what I needed and I was able to get control of my emotions and chuckle. Laughter CAN diffuse a lot of the stresses of being a parent. Sometimes all it takes is a stranger to remind you that there is a humorous side to the situation.
"Stressed Out in the CheckOut: OneKindWord was just what I needed" submitted by Lynne D - Pittsburgh, PA on 6/18/08
I was at the grocery store with my baby and I knew that he was getting tired and hungry, but I still needed to go through a few more aisles. I got to the checkout line and he started crying and crying. I was getting more and more stressed. I paid for the groceries and was trying to calm the baby and get to the car with my cart, when one of the cashiers noticed and said, "I know the baby needs you right now. Why don't you go to the car and feed him, and I'll bring the cart out in a minute for you. Where are you parked?" I can't tell you how much that meant to me and how much that helped. Here I was living in a city with no family here to help me, but that day I knew that I had a kind community around me, and someone who noticed and cared! I actually went back a few days later and brought a gift card & a thank you card to the cashier and asked to speak to her supervisor to let him know how much she helped me through such a tough time! Thank you!
""But I don't want to leave!"" submitted by Mike S - Pittsburgh, PA on 8/2/08
We were getting ready to close the Zoo when I saw a parent struggling with their child. The child was crying, "But I don't want to leave, yet! I want to ride the rides!" The parent was trying to be patient, but I could tell she was at her wit's end, and she started pulling her daughter towards the exit. I walked over to them and said to the child, "I know it's hard to leave sometimes, but the Zoo is closing, the animals need to get some rest. I promise, the next time you come the rides will still be here!" The little girl looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and said "Okay, Mommy, I'll go now." The parent smiled and was able to walk to the exit in peace.
