My daughter just had the worst tantrum of her life. And, of course, it wasn’t at home where I had the advantage. Nope—it was at TJ Maxx.
She was completely out of control, and nothing I tried worked. My heart was racing, and I was doing my best to stay calm.
I carried her to the bathroom, hoping to get a handle on the situation, but I quickly realized I just had to wait for it to pass. She was too far gone.
I kept trying to stay in control, but there was nothing I could do. And that’s not a feeling I’m used to.
People kept walking by, and I could feel their judgment like the sun burning a hole in me. I just knew they were thinking, Wow, what a brat. Because, honestly, I was thinking the same thing. She was defiant, angry, and it was a mess.
Then, a woman a little older than me walked by. She smiled, came over, gently squeezed my arm, and whispered, It’s okay, you’re doing great.
I quickly turned away so she wouldn’t see the tears forming in my eyes.
Because, without realizing it, she said exactly what I needed to hear. I didn’t feel like I was doing great. I felt like a total failure with a kid who was completely out of control. So, there we were—both crying.
Eventually, my daughter calmed down, and we finished our shopping. I hoped I’d see that woman again to say thank you, but she was gone.
Sometimes, we don’t know what to say when we see someone struggling. But from now on, I’ll take a cue from that lady at TJ Maxx.
A smile and a kind word can go a long way.