The Power of a Simple Smile to a Stranger

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I recently went on a jungle excursion I like to refer to as “grocery shopping with small children.” It was there, in Super One, that I discovered how truly significant of an impact a simple smile has on a stranger. I was that stranger. When we first entered the store, my toddler threw her usual fit over getting to ride in one of those obnoxiously big, hard-to-steer car carts they so willingly display. I agreed because I was also lugging my infant who is still in the car seat. I needed the space to, you know, fit actual groceries. My “mom bun” was in full force. I was ready to tackle this session of cardio. I was determined and focused to get out quickly, racing through an aisle while my toddler was reaching through the car window playing with the display of glass bottles known as the pasta sauce aisle.

My infant is currently a big, drool-filled, teething hot mess. I was juggling trying to avoid having to purchase an entire aisle of shattered Ragu with consoling my baby, and I rammed head-on into a quiet couple trying to purchase their groceries in peace. In other words, they did not have children along with them. Great, now I was labeled as the mom who crashed her children into strangers. Let the judgment commence.

The man gave me a passive aggressive attempt at a polite nod and the woman did not even try to mask her glare. I felt a wave of despair wash over me. I felt myself sink into a place of loneliness where I’m sure every mother who has experienced managing small children while shopping knows all too familiar. Why else would shopping alone feel like a vacation?

Moving forward throughout the store I had a new mission. Forget the groceries; we have enough Annie’s Mac n’ Cheese and frozen vegetables to last us the rest of the week. We can salvage our bodies with that. It is now about survival and survival only. Only the strong and successful mothers are successful because they’ve survived and persevered through the struggles, despite being tempted to give up. I decided to move forward.

The Power Of A Simple Smile To A Stranger | Duluth Moms Blog

A few aisles later, when my toddler is putting up an epic fight for the box of princess fruit snacks, a fellow mom noticed my struggle and smiled. I felt my tensed up body start to go loose. My anger and frustration now subsided. My pessimistic thoughts started to escape me. It hit me as all of the negativity washed away and out of my body. Why don’t we do onto ourselves as we do onto other mothers? Why do we not let our friends degrade themselves through motherhood but we degrade ourselves? We need to grant ourselves the grace we effortlessly grant our friends. The grace to stumble; the grace to be unfiltered. We need to start sharing the light within ourselves onto our village and onto our friends. Especially in a time of visible struggle like I was experiencing, it’s important to say, “I’m here, and you are not alone.” Whether you are merely showing a small gesture or reaching out, always share your light.

I’ve learned on my “excursions” to Target or other stores that it’s always best to say something encouraging or humorous, and to simply smile to other moms in distress. Not to offer advice, but to just acknowledge. It’s the acknowledgment or smile of “I’ve been there tired mama. I see you.” You aren’t alone, and this too shall pass.

Reminders of our kids don’t always reflect the energy we cast onto them. You are not as lonely as you feel some days. Reminders of these days are hard and the nights can be so brutally long, but the years are SO undeniably short. I needed to be reminded to breathe and keep myself in the present because I won’t always be sporting graham cracker crumbs and spit-up as my hottest accessory. These designer bags I wear will not always be located under my eyes. I won’t get to look in the rear view mirror to see my babies safely smiling at each other from across their car seats forever. My body won’t always be reliant on nourishing my infant, and although that is demanding, one day I will miss it.

So the next time you are at a store, her kids are acting up a circus and she looks like she wants to crawl under a rock, remember what a smile or comforting signal can do for that deserving mama. It can heal her and get her through. It can give her the strength to finish doing what needs to get done, which can seem impossible in the present. When she is questioning if she’s been doing it right with her kids this whole time, it can lift her up from that deep and exhausted place we all know too well. It can make her day.  

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Sarah Pohl
Meet Sarah Anne; She is an endorphin chasing adventurer. Believer in the power of positivity. Raised down South, but she grew wise up North. Happily married to a beautiful soul. Currently on a mission to do adventures vs. collecting things. You will catch her and the family (yes,even the toddler!) strapped to a snowboard on Spirit Mountain. She's convinced sunshine, a good cup of coffee and exercise can cure anything. If obtained unlimited expendable cash, she would use it for traveling and wandering through thrift stores. You will most often find her exploring places around this beautiful city with her two littles, Ara (2) and Orion (5 months) in tow. Passionate hairstylist turned stay at home mom for the present. You will mostly find her family outdoors no matter what season it is, chasing both sunrises in their backyard and sunsets throughout the city. You can catch almost all of their adventures through her Instagram.

10 COMMENTS

  1. Bravo! The power of positive interaction with strangers in those dark moments makes all the difference! I never avoid eye contact with the Mom who needs that smile, we have all been there! Great piece Sarah!!!

  2. We never realize how powerful a smile can be to someone who is going through those inevitable public breakdowns. I try to send as much joy to others when they are in that moment because that is what they need. They don’t need the sneers or scoffs; they don’t need under-the-breath comments. We all just need a little joy!

  3. Grace, understanding,smiles and love–what great gifts we can all share with each other? Thanks for reminding me of true things. Good post!

  4. Ah! I had a similar experience recently…. at the liquor store. Looking classy as ever, of course. It reminds me to be kind to everyone. Always. Because I never know what their going through, or even more: when our paths will cross again! Anyway, I got my beer as my almost-3-year-old shouted “no more wine, mama!” and then drug him across the parking lot because he wouldn’t walk. I imagine the thoughts crossing people’s minds… oh well. We live to see another day!

  5. lol “mom bun.” I am currently rocking this look.

    I try to smile at other moms, but they’re usually to busy managing the chaos to notice. I’ve often wondered if it seemed less comforting and more patronizing, so it’s good to see it from someone else’s point of view.

    Stay strong, sister. *fistbump and explosion sound because that’s how my toddler learned to do it*

  6. Beth you are so right. Ironically I had this happen at super onevthe other day. I was solo and another mom was struggling with her toddler. I said something comforting and she snapped back passive aggressively. Then I realized not all people need to hear it. Read the body language and go from there. Perhaps I should’ve just bought her a bottle of wine lol

  7. Wonderfully written. And a great reminder to give ourselves a break. Also…way to go with venturing out alone with your littles! That is a feat all on its own! I try as hard as I can to not venture out with my 3 (ages 4.5, 3, and 6 months) if at all possible!

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