Never
judge a book by its cover. Better yet – just never judge.
The
couple in this story certainly learnt that lesson fast when visiting Walmart
one day. They cruelly made fun of a woman surrounded by her children, assuming
she had several “baby daddies”, couldn’t clothe her kids properly and was
taking advantage of their hard-earned tax dollars to take care of them.
But
another woman in line, Lindsay Rae, recognized the woman for whom she actually
was: a brand new foster mom, struggling to make sense of the special cards
needed to make her much needed purchases. Among those purchases – warm jackets
and shoes for the three foster kids she had just bravely and kindly taken on.
This
story brought tears to my eyes. It made me realize just how brave and giving
foster parents are. They are sometimes criticized and accused of trying to make
money off vulnerable kids – but we must remember that this is a gross
generalization. Just don’t judge.
Thankfully,
Lindsay gave that couple a piece of her mind that day. And I don’t think they
will forget it!
Here is Lindsay’s story, which she shared in a powerful
Facebook post following the incident.
“WARNING:
Insensitive people at the Walmart rant ahead.
Last
night I found myself sandwiched in line waiting to check out, this is not an
odd occurrence. The woman in front of me had 5 children she was wrangling
(which did not seem odd to me), as well as the fact that the children were a
mix of Caucasian and Hispanic short people. (again hmph…didn’t notice until it
was pointed out to me).
Yes,
I said pointed out.
The
people behind me as I wrestled my own whiney toddler, began very loudly
whispering things like:
“How
many baby daddies do you think she has?”
“Can’t
even dress those kids for weather.”
“Just
wait until she whips out the food stamps.”
I
calmed my 3-year-old with old altoids found at the bottom of my purse and
looked incredulously back at the well-dressed, normal couple spouting such,
well, total CRAP.
I
looked forward to see a woman fumbling with seperating clothes items; coats and
shoes socks and underwear from the food items with the black plastic
seperators.
There
five kids, two that shared her same blonde hair with jackets and warm shoes and
three, beautifully dark haired and deep brown eyes, sad, eyes;wearing shorts,
and flip flops.
It
was true she was struggling with a food stamp card. Didn’t know what buttons to
use to complete the transaction.
As
the class act behind me deeply sighed and said, “There’s our tax dollars neatly
at work.”
I
shot them what I can only imagine was the death glare only a mother of 9 can
execute to perfection.
I
stepped forward and kindly said, “Can I help? These things are so confusing.”
She
looked at me.
I
quietly asked “Foster or adopted? I have 9 kiddos… two bio… I get it, please
let me help.”
She
smiled, embarrassed. “New foster mom; this is my first time using one of these,
they came 3 days days ago, gonna be with us for a while. They gave us food, but
the kids needed clothes, but no stipend has come through yet.”
I
looked at the kids and smiled, and turned to her and said: “Beautiful children.
I am glad you all have each other. “
I
showed her how to use her card as the jackholes behind us snorted.
I
explained to her how she doesn’t have to seperate items and that the items get
separated by the computer at check out and how she pays the balance after she
runs her card.
She
handed each child a new coat, loaded up her cart. As she left, I side hugged
her and told her, “You have got this.”
After
they were out of ear shot… I turned with tears to the smug well-dressed man and
woman behind me.
“Those
children? They lost the right to live with their parents just days ago, those
clothes? Probably the only clothes they own, or got to leave their home with.
THAT
woman? Opened her home to kids, kids that needed a safe place to go, when the
one they lived in no longer prooved safe enough or secure enough for them. The
food stamps? Something health and welfare help an already mother of two feed
three new mouths.
There
are not nearly enough women or people like her in this world.”
I
whipped back around and started slamming my groceries on the belt, and then
turned back around…
Voice
shaking:
“AND
even IF those kids were all hers, and she had a dozen “baby daddies” and was on
food stamps… no child in this country or any other deserves to be cold or
hungry. I am sorry, but your behavior? Poorly done, VERY poorly done.”
My
new ‘friends’ left my checkout aisle and joined another, silently.
I
grabbed a bag of damn peanutbutter M&Ms…
As
I finished checking out the girl checking me out smiled and winked: “Single
mother on WIC, what you said? Rocked!”
I
grimaced and said, “Thanks, I wasn’t sure I should have gone off like that… Hug
those babies of yours tight tonight.”
She
said, “I will, you have a nice night ma’am and do the same.”
I
cried hard as I found my Tahoe, buckled the baby in the car, loaded up… and
opened those damn M&Ms.
You
foster mama’s out there… Hold your heads high, you are the hands and hearts
that are the strong and the steady for small ones when they need it most.
Hats
off and so much love today to you.♡♥♡”
Read Lindsay’s original Facebook post here:
Please share Lindsay’s powerful words with everyone you know
to help spread better awareness of the amazing work foster parents do!
Source : en.newsner.com