Motherhood can be grueling at times. And when moms are overwhelmed, often the people who step up to help without hesitation are other moms.
Amanda Jennings shared one such story on Twitter. Twenty-one years ago, she was a new mom in a hospital. Another mom crawled through the curtains to comfort her as she sobbed.
If there's a lady out there with a 3rd child aged 21, born around 25th Nov, who 21yrs ago crept through the curtains in a ward at Queen Charlotte's to comfort a sobbing new mum who felt overwhelmed, hugged her and said 'you are the best and only mum your baby wants'. THANK YOU.
— Amanda Jennings (@MandaJJennings) March 5, 2019
Over two decades later, Amanda still thinks of her often.
“I think about that lovely woman a lot,” she wrote in a follow-up tweet. “It was such a simple gesture. So lovely. I felt very lost, unsure how to soothe my baby, out of my depth, and she was an angel. I often pass her message onto other new mums. These small acts of kindness are so important.”
In response to Amanda’s tweet, other women chimed in with their own stories of kindness from fellow moms.
After my Caesarian I was afraid to look at my scar The woman in the next bed showed me her scar, which made me less afraid. Apparently when she was afraid another woman showed her her scar. So later I showed my scar to someone else. I hope the chain is still going on.
— Melanie Rimmer MSc SFHEA MBPsS (@Melanie_Rimmer) March 6, 2019
Sometimes, these angels are female health professionals who seem to have a sixth sense for how to make challenges easier to bear.
When my daughter was 2 months old she got a high fever and severe congestion. The emergency room sent us home but I was beside myself with anxiety. A former NICU nurse I knew only through Facebook stayed up with me all night texting reassurances & instructions.
BLESS THAT WOMAN
— Kaz Weida (@kazweida) March 6, 2019
Like a NICU nurse or an “orderly.”
Photo Credit: Twitter
But often, they’re just regular old moms. Moms who have been at it longer than you, and who can offer a reassuring word of advice.
My moment was when my toddler daughter wouldn’t stay at a restaurant table. We were in early – few other customers. A woman came over and I braced myself. Instead she said ‘Don’t worry, the behaviour that’s stressing you now, will make you proud when she’s older.’ She was right.
— WorkforceHospiscare (@HROD_Hospiscare) March 6, 2019
If these stories make anything clear, it’s that a simple “You’re doing great” can go a LONG way.
Photo Credit: Twitter
Particularly when you’re in public, trying to keep it together, and your kids didn’t get the memo.
Sounds like the lovely lady who approached me in a supermarket when my two daughters aged 10months and 2years at the time were both having a tantrum from hell. She touched me on the arm and said ‘It does get easier I promise ‘ while others were glaring with disapproval. Saviour x
— Sally ? (@rosetintedlass) March 5, 2019
Motherhood ain’t easy, but it’s amazing to see how moms can have each other’s backs.
Alright, so those are some pretty awesome stories… do you have any of your own to share?
Do that in the comments, fam!
