No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - Aesop
As I am writing this, I have a trashcan full of gross tissues. Not because I’m sad and crying, but because I have a terrible sinus infection (gross) and upper respiratory infection. The last few days have progressively gotten worse feeling. During the night, I woke up with my head throbbing due to the sinus infection and chest hurting from coughing all night. Thankfully, I was able to get into my local urgent care center who is just amazing. You call in or schedule online and they call you 30 minutes before you need to be there. So no waiting in a germy waiting room with all the other sick people desperately seeking help. My wait is usually 45 minutes until they call me. This morning, the wait was about 3 hours or so. That was a very long 3 hours. I am not a huge fan of just treating symptoms, but treating the actual issue. I do not typically take medicine with the exception of my thyroid medication. Without that, I am miserable and so is anyone I come in contact with. Just sayin’. I was so thankful when I saw the doctor and received two steroid shots and antibiotics. The staff at the urgent care center is always so nice. They always understand that this is the last place you want to be. They try their best to get you in and out as quickly as possible.
After I received my shots, paid my co-pay, I was on my way to the grocery store before picking up my antibiotics. Grocery shopping when you are running a fever, snotty, coughing and generally looking like death is not fun. There was no way I would make it back out this evening. I just want to be still and sleep. A quick shopping trip turned into a longer one just because of the possibility of having to leave my house again. When I was waiting in line, the front end manager noticed me and a shorter line. He lets me know the line is shorter and actually pushes my basket over for me. So grateful! As I am putting my items on the conveyor belt, the cashier looks at me and asks if I’m okay. I tell her I just left the urgent care and needed to get groceries bought before I go home. I will not want to leave again and I’m a single mom. There isn’t anyone to go to the store. She immediately says ‘I’ll get you out of here as quick as I can. You don’t look like you feel well and are struggling to breath.’ So grateful!
I make my way home with my carload of groceries. One of my best friends texts me to check on me. She says that she is going to the grocery store and wants to know if I need anything. This meant so much to me. As a single mom, you really have to do everything on your own. There isn’t a ‘backup’ to help when things get stressful and you need to ‘tag’ out for a few minutes. There isn’t anyone to pick up the two things you need for dinner or forgot during the weekly shopping trip. There isn’t anyone there to help with listening to your long crazy day at work while cooking dinner. It can be a lonely world. For example, one of my other best friends was hosting her son’s birthday party Friday night. Our sons have been best friends since a year old. She is a single mom, too. Boy was she brave hosting her son and his 3 best friends for a sleepover! I stop by to drop off his birthday present. The intention was to just stay a few minutes. I could see that she might need some adult company. We tackled the group of boys together. Feeding pizza and ice cream cake and fitting in some adult conversation in between interruptions and disruptions. It was a great Friday night! It was loud and crazy with kids running around, but it’s our life. While not every moment is rainbows and puppies seeing the boys have a great time makes it worth it.
I guess my point is before I go back to bed, the next time you see a person whether it’s a mom struggling to get kids in a door, please hold the door open. Check on that friend that’s not feeling well. Ask a friend if they need help. You’ll be surprised at the impact of even a simple smile on a weary mom or dad can help brighten their day and maybe just be what that person needs to tackle the next thing coming at them.
