Your words and actions have the power to make or break someoneโs day. This should be known and the reason why people choose kindness โ however, not everyone does.
A mom named Lindsay Rae saw first hand how cruel and insensitive some people can be while waiting in a checkout line. Much to her surprise, a couple behind her began spouting out nasty comments about another customer who was at the register with her five kids.
Lindsay was horrified to hear what they had to say about the woman (a stranger to them), judging her on appearances. The couple whispered loud enough to be heard, questioning โhow many baby daddiesโ she had, her ability to dress her children properly, and made an assumption that she used food stamps.
Understandably, Lindsay was outraged. Not only because the people were passing judgment โ but also because they didnโt understand the real truth behind the womanโs situation. Like a hero in a movie, Lindsay eventually went off on the rude couple and gave them a good dose of reality!
She described her detailed story in a Facebook post thatโs gone viral:
โWARNING; Insensitive people at the Walmart rant ahead.
Last night I found myself sandwiched in line waiting to check out, this is not an odd occurrence. The woman in front of me had 5 children she was wrangling (which did not seem odd to me), as well as the fact that the children were a mix of Caucasian and Hispanic short people.(again hmphโฆdidnโt notice until it was pointed out to me).
Yes, I said pointed out.โ
She couldnโt believe what she was hearing.
โThe people behind me as I wrestled my own whiney toddler, began very loudly whispering things like;
โHow many baby daddies do you think she has?โ
โCanโt even dress those kids for weather.โ
โJust wait until she whips out the food stamps.โ
I calmed my 3 year old with old altoids found at the bottom of my purse and looked incredulously back at the well dressed, normal couple spouting such, well, total CRAP.I looked forward to see a woman fumbling with separating clothes items; coats and shoes socks and underwear from the food items with the black plastic separators.โ
Lindsay knew the truthโฆ
โThere five kids, two that shared her same blonde hair with jackets and warm shoes and three, beautifully dark haired and deep brown eyes, sad, eyes; wearing shorts, and flip flops. It was true she was struggling with a food stamp card. Didnโt know what buttons to use to complete the transaction.
As the class act behind me deeply sighed; and said โTheres our tax dollars neatly at work.โ
I shot them what I can only imagine was the death glare only a mother of 9 can execute to perfection.
I stepped forward and kindly said, can I help? These things are so confusing. She looked at me. I quietly asked โFoster or Adopted? I have 9 kiddosโฆtwo bio, I get it, please let me help.โ
She smiled embarrassed, โNew Foster Mom, this is my first time using one of these, they came 3 days days ago, gonna be with us for a while. They gave us food, but the kids needed clothes, but no stipend has come through yet.โ
Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes.
โI looked at the kids and smiled, and turned to her and said; โbeautiful children I am glad you all have eachother.โ
I showed her how to use her card as the jackholes behind us snorted.
I explained to her how she doesnโt have to seperate items and that the items get seperated by the computer at check out and how she pays the balance after she runs her card.She handed each child a new coat, loaded up her cart as she left I side hugged her and told her โyou have got this.'โ
Lindsay could no longer hold back.
โAfter they were out of ear shotโฆI turned with tears to the smug well dressed man and woman behind me.
โThose children? They lost the right to live with their parents just days ago, those clothes? probably the only clothes they own, or got to leave their home with. THAT woman? Opened her home to kids, kids that needed a safe place to go, when the one they lived in no longer proved safe enough or secure enough for them. The food stamps, something health and welfare helps an already mother to two feed three new mouths.
There are not nearly enough women or people like her this world.โI whipped back around and started slamming my groceries on the belt, and then turned back aroundโฆ
Voice shaking.;
โAND even IF those kids were all hers, and she had a dozen โbaby daddiesโ and was on food stamps..no child in this country or any other deserves to be cold or hungry, I am sorry, but your behavior? Poorly done, VERY poorly done.โMy new โfriendsโ left my checkout aisle and joined another, silently.โ
The cashier had something to say to Lindsay.
โI grabbed a bag of damn Peanutbutter m&msโฆ. As I finished checking out the girl checking me out smiled and winked, โsingle mother on WIC, what you said? Rocked!โ
I grimaced and said โthanks, I wasnโt sure I should have gone off like thatโฆhug those babies of yours tight tonight.โ
She said โI will, you have a nice night mamโ and do the same.โ
I cried hard as I found my Tahoe, buckled the baby in the car, loaded upโฆand opened those damn m&mโs.
You foster mamaโs out thereโฆhold your heads high, you are the hands and hearts that are the strong and the steady for small ones when they need it most. Hats off and so much love today to you.โกโฅโกโ
Lindsayโs Facebook post went viral and has been shared more than 287,000 times.
According to the Childrenโs Rights website โ in 2017, over 690,000 kids spent time in foster care in the United States. There are almost 443,000 kids in U.S. foster care โon any given day.โ
Thank goodness there are selfless foster and adoptive parents in this world โ not to mention, courageous people like Lindsay who arenโt afraid to stand up for whatโs right.
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