Today I wondered something to myself. I wondered this: If I was dropping my kids off at school and I saw a poor mother -- let's add poor "beautiful young" mother, no scratch that, how about, poor "striking young" mother . . . or even if it was a poor young mother with a bun in her scraggly hair, wearing sweats and no make-up; if I saw that poor mother walking away from the school after taking her own kids in, and if that young mother had a newborn in a car seat in one hand and a toddler on her hip, and if that mother was trying to walk oh so carefully through all the slush and ice, but, despite her best efforts, FELL -- dropping the car seat and toddler and covering them all in brown muddy slush . . . would I stop and help that mother? Even if it would probably embarrass the mother who was probably embarrassed anyway, and even if there were cars behind me waiting to drop their own kids off, would I stop? It seems like I would. It seems like that would be a sad enough sight to make me stop . . . but who knows. Maybe I wouldn't, maybe NO ONE would. Maybe that mother would just have to get up and, with the little dignity she had left in her, ignore her soaking, muddy behind, wipe off her crying toddler, gently remove the slush that had splashed up on her startled newborns face, and continue on. Maybe she'd feel grateful that none of the many cars had so much as rolled down their window to check on her or her kids -- because that would be embarrassing. Or, she might think it a little sad that no good Samaritan expressed their concern. Who knows. I just wondered about that. That's all. Silly of me really, because something that sad would never happen.
9 comments:
Oh Nancy.....I hope that wasn't your morning. Really, no one stopped to ask if you were ok??? I am notorious for tripping, slipping and falling. It's my natural state. I hope the new school is working out for you.
I laughed, I cried!!!! Okay, I didn't really cry - but I did feel bad for you, while I laughed. But silly you, someone did help you up . ... you didn't see them, but they were there - helping you. You're never forgotten or alone in your little slips or greater trials. Love you!
_Marzee
GASP!!!! I wonder if the strikingly beautiful young mother cried the whole way home because I know another strikingly beautiful young mother who would have had that happened to her. Boy, it sure is good that this is all imaginary or we might have daymares.
I wonder if the young mother has any bruises? That other young mother bruises really easy on her hips and other such places and then she cries once more every time she looks in the mirror at her war wounds with things like this might have happened.
that is way too sad to even imagine happening to any young mother. i would have thought it was sad if a young mother (who was 9 months pregnant and holding the other beautiful mother's one-year-old child in her arms) slipped and fell in a target parking lot on some black ice and landed on her side and her tummy and then the 1 year old bounced his head off the cement. that would be so sad if nobody helped in that situation so they baby cried and the mother (aunt of the child) cried in the car because of the inhumanity of it all and then she had to go take tests to make sure she didn't kill the unborn baby. both stories are so sad. your imaginary story is even sadder than mine, though they both involve your children. i made a pact long ago to ALWAYS stop and not just pretend i didn't see it.
Oh Shan, I forgot!! Mental note: do not ever hold or let anyone else hold your kids and walk -- in the snow -- at the same time. I mean, don't ever imagine such crazy things happening.
P.S. Tia, if that mother had any bruises, they would most likely be around her tail bone.
ok. saddest thing. i'm soooo sorry.
Oh No! I am seriously crying! What the crap!? I am so sorry that the parents at your new kids' school totally suck! I would have for sure helped you and now that I know what happened I am prepared to be there tomorrow morning and scratch every one of those MOTHERS (pun intended)faces off! Love you...
I have started to learn never to hesitate...a lesson I learned in Haiti. We can come up with all sorts of excuses but those are just stupid things used by bad to get rid of any sort of good in the world. If I had seen that young mother I hope I would have gotten out of my car,directed traffic and given out several citizen arrests.
Nancy, this broke my heart when I read it! If there were any older (I should say more experienced - not old) moms (and still strikingly beautiful) who's baby was still in elementary, she would have definitely ran to your aid! Because she has seen too many people walk by and do nothing and when it comes to kids and their safety there should be no hesitation. I'm sorry you had that experience at your new school.
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