The title is a metaphor for a story that happened last week.
We went out to dinner at a restaurant located at our mall. Afterwards we went through the mall to Target, of course. As we approached the escalator to go down a dad and two kids were ahead of us. The dad and son hopped on and down they went. The daughter froze at the top in fear and began to cry. She was maybe 7 or 8 years old.
He quickly realized he made a mistake and was in a pickle as he saw us coming up behind her and she wouldn’t move. He kept saying, “c’mon, it’s alright!”
My best guess is that he doesn’t go out with them alone much or else he would have grabbed her hand for the confidence she needed to step on it. He wasn’t anyone I’d say wouldn’t have helped her if he had known. I saw the fear and worry on his face of, “do I keep going? Do I run up? Do I ride back up?”
Before anyone comes at me for COVID rules, everyone was masked, kids included, but mine who is still too young for the restrictions.
My son was beginning to be restless himself, so my husband was carrying him through the mall, so he had him, and I was the diaper bag carrier. There was lots going on from a parent’s perspective at this moment as we got closer to the escalator and I realized the dad was stuck on what to do next.
My reaction was asking her if she would hold my hand to go down the escalator. She didn’t even look at me to know that’s all she needed. I was a perfect stranger, and she needed a hand that I was willing to offer. I did look at the dad for some form of “okay” and we rode down together.
She kept crying a bit, but she said, “I was just scared!” Girlfriend, let me tell you, I get it!
We made it down safely and back to dad and brother she went.
I relate to her in the fact that when something scary is happening, I want a hand to hold to tell me it’ll be alright, whether it’s physically or someone supporting me verbally. I want someone with the courage to tell me, “we got this!” I want someone to push me to do it even though I’m scared.
A little bit of support truly can get someone through a really tough situation. Of course, we all handle them differently but simply being there for someone can make all the difference in a situation.
I believe this goes for children, as that little story tells above that we experienced last week. They rely on us as their parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. to help them find a way through the scary and hard stuff life throws at them that they have not experienced yet.
My son is showing more and more emotion as well as using more and more words to express himself daily. We’re currently in the “no” phase.
I keep reading and watching things on how to help children develop or handle things because I don’t know what to do all the time. The things I’ve learned help in knowing that sometimes if I simply sit with him when he’s upset, that is all he needs. He doesn’t know how to handle big feelings yet and to be honest, I don’t either some days.
But if as his mom I can show him that I’m here, even after I scolded him for something, that is going to show him the support and hand is there to help him in the end to resolve the situation and I’m not simply the bad guy all the time.
I may be rambling to you, but do it, put your hand out for someone. Even if that someone is your child after a bad day at daycare or school. Show them you’re there to just sit and be there to talk about what happened and that it can be corrected or avoided.
I’ve had a few friends put their hands out for me in all forms of personal life or work life and I can’t tell you how much that’s meant to me. Also a little *high five* for my hubby because he handles me so well when I need that support.
Sometimes, we need a hand, even the little ones around us.
Two Cents Worth of Mom Life 