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Parenting
Angels Are Real (At the Grocery Store)
by Jessica Lane
Updated: April 7, 2021
Originally Published: November 25, 2015
Every time I venture out to the grocery store with my children, I find myself returning home not just with a week’s worth of groceries but also a heavy burden of regret. The internal debate starts again: Why didn’t I simply order my groceries online?
Last week, I took my kids shopping right after picking up my 3-year-old, Mia, from preschool. I had a mere 80 minutes before we needed to be home for lunch, which seemed totally doable in my mind.
I arrived at preschool a few minutes early. As soon as Mia spotted me, she exclaimed, “I wasn’t expecting you!” A promising start, right? But as soon as we headed to the car, she took off running.
“I need you to get in the car, please,” I called out.
In response, she flung herself into a pile of leaves.
“We don’t have time for playtime. Get in the car, please,” I insisted. Instead, she buried herself deeper in the leaves as I scooped her up and placed her in her seat. She resisted, hitting my arm in defiance. Deep breaths turned into frustration. “We don’t hit,” I reminded her, but I knew a timeout was necessary.
In the garage, I directed her to sit on an overturned bucket, facing the wall for three minutes. I watched from the car as my favorite podcast played in the background—oh, the irony. When I finally buckled her back in, she apologized. I felt drained, and we hadn’t even reached the grocery store yet.
Upon arriving, I found the parking lot buzzing with activity. After a few loops, I finally parked and unbuckled the girls, making my way across the lot while carrying my 17-month-old and holding Mia’s hand. As we approached the store, Mia exclaimed, “They have the race-car cart!”
Her beloved cart, however, was soaked from the morning rain. I pretended to be disappointed. “Oh no, it’s wet! Let’s find another one.”
By the time we entered the store, my arm ached from carrying the baby. I set her down to search for a dry cart, only to turn around and see her heading straight for a towering drink display. I quickly scooped her back up, told Mia to stay put, and dashed outside for the race-car cart, pushing it up the ramp with one hand.
Inside the store, I placed the baby down, instructed Mia to hold her hand, and sprinted off to find a towel, glancing back to prevent another drink disaster. I grabbed a box of tissues from the service desk and hurried back just in time to avert a Gatorade avalanche.
With the baby in one arm and tissues in the other, I tilted the cart to drain some water. In theory, it made sense; in practice, it created a puddle. I threw some free newspapers over the wet spot and assessed my options. With only one hand free, extracting the tissues from the box seemed impossible. Lunchtime was creeping closer. The thought of returning home weighed heavily on me.
And then, an angel appeared.
She had long, curly hair, glasses, and a loaf of bread in her hands. When she approached, it felt as if harp music drowned out the store’s background noise.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
Tears of relief almost came to my eyes. “Um, yes…”
“What can I do?” she inquired, genuine concern in her eyes.
Just then, a staff member appeared with a roll of paper towels. He handed them to my angel, and I stood there, awkwardly holding the baby and Mia’s hand while they wiped the cart.
“You’re both being so patient,” she said, addressing my children. “I’m a mom, so I know how tough it can be.”
We exchanged a knowing glance, and in that moment, she truly saw me—not just a frazzled mom struggling with two kids and a mess, but a parent in need of a little support.
That small act of kindness had a profound impact on me. It didn’t mean my kids stopped asking for snacks or that I suddenly became a grocery-shopping pro, but it did remind me why I sometimes forgo online orders. If I hadn’t gone to the store, I wouldn’t have experienced this moment of compassion.
To the kind stranger, thank you. Your kindness made a difference on that hectic day.
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Summary:
This article illustrates the chaos of grocery shopping with young children and highlights the unexpected kindness of a stranger that transforms a stressful outing into a reminder of the support available to parents.
Keyphrase: Angels at the Grocery Store
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