Parent Support
Last week I was at the grocery store with ⅔ of my kids. I had to get them a snack and acknowledge the random, weird questions (“Mom, what if I had 1000 arms? I would probably need a shirt with 1000 arm holes”) before any actual shopping occurred. A fellow mom started playing with my kids from afar while I grabbed produce.
The woman later asked how old they were. 4.5yrs and 2+years. She said hers were 5, 3 and 1. They were at home with her sister who was visiting from out of town. She took the opportunity to shop childless and was loving observing someone else’s parent/kid interaction. It was clear this mom loved her kids and spending time with them, but it was also clear that she needed some breathing room...even if it was at the grocery store. Aaah, the joys of parenthood. Going to the grocery store alone.
The playful manner of this lovely woman had my kids looking for her at every turn in the produce section. We soon moved to another area and they forgot about her. But I won’t forget.
The smiles and chit chat with her that day were a proverbial “Parenting High Five.” It was parent support out in the community, the way we should all be treating each other. Especially if someone else’s kids are misbehaving.
A “you got this” look to a struggling parent might just give them the strength they need to make it to the check out line rather than abandon their cart. Offer to help put their stuff on the conveyor belt. Load their car with groceries. Distract their kids so they can get stuff packed up (don’t be a creeper). Take their cart back for them.
There are a lot of things you can do to support parents. How will you give a Parenting High Five?
P.S. I know the poem is not inclusive of those who do not identify as mothers. I don’t want to change the author’s words, but I would make it say “people” and “parent.” And you don’t have to be a parent to support a parent. You just have to be nice.
