Parents know: Tantrums are the worst.
Videos by InspireMore
If you’re nodding your head knowingly, then you’ve seen/tip-toed your way through more than a few in your day. Moms and dads know that making it out the other side of an eardrum-crushing tantrum requires a delicate balance of being stern, ignoring the screaming child, and calming their emotions.
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When you read that aloud, it’s hard not to think ‘How is that even possible?’
Before Sherry White became a stay-at-home mom, she was a third-grade teacher, but she admits that “nothing in all those years of teaching other people’s kids, prepared me for raising my own.”
That probably became especially evident on a recent shopping trip to T.J. Maxx. The mother of two recently shared her experience in a Facebook post.
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“My daughter just had the worst tantrum of her life. And of course it was at home so I could have home court advantage.
Just kidding it was at T.J. Maxx .
She was irrational and every parenting trick I had fell to the wayside. My heart was beating fast and I was trying not to lose my cool.
I scooped her off to the bathroom, trying to recoup, and I realized I was going to have to just hold on and wait for it to pass because she was so far gone.
I continued to try to control the situation but it was beyond my control. That’s saying alot because I rarely feel that way in any situation.
Person after person walked passed us and I could feel the judgement like the sun burning a hole in me. I just knew they had to be thinking what kind of brat have I raised because I was thinking the same thing. She was being defiant and angry and it was not pretty.”
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A smile and an encouraging word goes a long way:)”
“But then, this lady a little older than myself walked by and smiled and she came over and squeezed my arm and whispered it’s okay, you’re doing great.
I quickly turned away from her before she could see the tears forming in my eyes and falling down my face.
Because without knowing it, I needed to hear that. Because I didn’t feel like I was doing great. I felt like a total mommy failure with an out of control kid. So, there we were both crying.
She eventually calmed down and we continued our shopping. I was hoping I’d see that lady and say thank you, but she was gone.
I know a lot of times we don’t know what to say to people when we see them going through a moment like this, but from now on take a cue from that lady at T.J. Maxx.
They say it takes a village to raise a child and for Sherry, this kind stranger’s encouraging words truly helped her get through a tough moment.
It didn’t take much, just a thoughtful comment, but it meant the world to Sherry.
We can all stand to consider this when we see someone struggling through something – reach out and offer a kind gesture. It might just change their whole outlook.
Share this wonderful story to spread a smile today.
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