I made a run to the Post Office not too long ago to mail off a drawing. I'm sure we make quite the spectacle. The kids like to hide behind the display cases that hold stamps which seem to require a second mortgage on your house in order to purchase them.
The kids know they aren't suppose to play with or touch anything. But still, they are just kids and every once in a while I have to remind them that the mailing tubes aren't swords, the Express labels aren't coloring paper, and they can't take the boxes with the brightly printed flowers home with them.
I was waiting my turn in line. Savannah starts laughing rather loudly as she exclaimed,"Help! I'm stuck! I'm stuck!"
She couldn't fit her head between two display cases and she thought it was just SO funny. While she was doing that, I turned to look at her. She was just as happy as could be. But she was looking at an older lady who was probably in her late 60's to early 70's, fully expecting to receive a smile from this "grandma" looking person.
I looked at the lady who was watching Savannah.
She didn't smile back. In fact, her mouth didn't do anything but pull down a bit in the corners as her eyebrows lifted up in obvious disapproval.
That's when I felt it.
This overwhelming desire to protect my daughter from this lady's disapproving glare. I didn't want Savannah to feel hurt, or sad or even have that memory there. It was the strangest moment. I just wanted to glare back at this little old lady and ask her what right she has to disapprove of my sweet little girl's happiness!
Perhaps it was because I feared disapproval so much myself as a child, I don't know.
Its been several days and I still can't stop thinking about this lady.
Was she the "children should be seen and not heard" type?
Did she have a bad childhood?
Did she have a bad child-raising experience?
Had her life been hard and is she lonely?
I just can't help but wonder what it was about this lady's life that turned her out as it did.
Its silly really. Something so small and fleeting should leave such a lasting impression in my mind.
So I just want to take this moment to say, thanks to anyone who has ever smiled at a struggling parent, or at that screaming child. For even that happy little girl seeking the smiles and attention of others.
It makes a difference.
Well, it does to me anyway.