In Another Moms Shoes
Monday, September 29th, 2008
How would it be to walk in another Mom’s shoes? To go thru hard times and heart ache? To feel helpless and unable to take care of our own child the way we want to take care of our little ones?
Something happen to me today when I was at the bank. When I arrived I saw in the parking lot, a lady with a toddler in her arms and her car had a tire off as a tow truck was trying to tow her car. As I passed them into the bank, she smiled greeting me but I could tell she was sad. She looked tired and worn out. The little boy in her arms must of been about 7-9 months old and he looked dirty and had no shoes.
I went into the bank and finished my business. I came out and she asked me for assistance. She went on to say that she needed $10 dollars to finish paying the tow truck driver. I had no cash on me but asked her to wait. I came back with some money but trying not to be intrusive, I started asking her questions. She then again gives me that same sad smile as she tries to tell me how she ended up in that parking lot. This Mom is actually living in a homeless shelter with her husband and baby. Another homeless woman in the shelter helped her to the storage facility near where she is sharing storage space with to get clothes and shoes for her child.
So here is this woman living in a homeless shelter with her family , standing in front of me asking me for $10. She is unemployed and is having a hard time finding a job. She continues to say how ashamed she was about asking me for money but I told her what my Dad used to say to me when I was a little girl “There is no shame in asking for help, but there is shame in taking what is not yours”.
I could not help it but try to imagine what I would do if I was in her shoes. At that point I wished I had lots of money and houses available to me to help people like her. I considered extending my help by inviting her to stay at my house. Not knowing if what she was saying was true or not and afraid of the risk I could possible put my own children at, I refrained myself. I did give her my number and told her that I could not do much as I handed over $40 but that if she was ever in a situation and had no one to turn to, she could give me a call. I told her that I didn’t know how I could help her but If I could I would.
I saw her get in to the tow truck and drive away.
My heart goes out to those Moms that are going thru a hard time and have little ones that depend on them