Yesterday, I almost cried in the Starbucks bathroom.
I know it sounds odd.
But I experienced a moment – one of those that come at you out of nowhere, where you realize just how precious life is.
I was with my four year old, who needed to do some business. As we were coming out of the stall, the larger stall door opened with an elderly woman in a wheelchair, pushed by two women, who I assume were her daughters.
I couldn’t help but watch their reflection in the mirror – they were so loving and gentle with her. They pushed her up to the sink, and pulled up her sleeves, just as I did the same with my daughter. Almost simultaneously, we helped them with the soap and used our hands to wash theirs. My eyes briefly met her daughters’ eyes in the mirror and we shared a moment – for me, a moment of realization that what they were doing for their mom, and I for my daughter, was all that life is – all that matters.
What I was sharing with my daughter, was a moment that mom must have shared many years before with hers, and now their roles had reversed. Instantly, I saw myself in that mother and her daughters – and it was a very humbling, emotional moment.
In the bathroom.
At Starbucks.
Motherhood can be such an unexpected ride sometimes.
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
what a precious moment!
i would never do that at starbucks.
i don’t drink coffee.
i’m more of a target and movie-theater bathroom kind of sentimental cornball.
(love this!)
Kirsten (Results Not Typical Girl) recently posted..ww propoints foods- how many would i get as an elf
Oh. Oh. Oh. That gets me all choked up and tight in the heart parts.
Nadja recently posted..Things I cant do
What an awesome moment you captured. You had my eyes welling up. Thank you for your post!
I have chills…
Love.
Love is so beautifully expressed in these little care taking moments.
tattytiara recently posted..Thats what I get for staying up all night to finish writing this title
Life goes by so quickly doesn’t it. We’ll close our eyes for a minute and open them to see our children grown. That was so beautiful, thanks for sharing your moment.
Ummm Kleenex warning would have been nice. What a powerful post. I feel like I should go call my Mama now:)
ModernMom recently posted..Jewel Kade-Giveaway!
Life is Beautiful…
It is amazing to see the circle…
I would have cried in the bathroom too.
Brittany at Mommy Words recently posted..Co-Sleep or No Sleep
Oh Maria…this made me do the ugly cry. This is one of the most beautiful posts you’ve ever written. Exquisite.
Love this post. I am on the other side, where my parents are old and I am taking care of them. It is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. Sadly I get angry and mad at them often. I so want them back. They are supposed to take care of me.
It breaks my heart beyond belief, I want my Mommy, I want my Daddy. But they are gone. It sucks, big time, but we must give back and try to make a dent in what they did for us.
Diana, The Doggy Mommy recently posted..Childhood Thanksgiving Memories
Don’t you just love when moments like that catch you off guard? Beautiful post.
Allison @ Alli ‘n Son recently posted..Mint Chocolate Delights- Christmas Cookies
Since our country in general finds the elderly more of a bother than a treasure, moments like these are truly precious.
blueviolet recently posted..Entertain Me Ill Use You Like That
Maria, this post made me cry, because I totally understand this feeling you are talking about. I get so emotional sometimes, and something as simple as what you described can be so moving and so powerful. Being a mom is the most incredible thing ever.
Beautiful moment. I love this.
Sarah Carmichael recently posted..Being Alone- Liberating- not lonely
Tears. OMGosh what a beautiful moment in time. It really is amazing how these parenting moments sneak right up on us. Thanks for sharing this.
Jen A Busy Mommy recently posted..Hallmark
What a moment and such insight. It also reminded me of an opposite moment my husband and I caught at a restaurant a week or so ago. It was an elderly woman and her daughter or DIL and granddaughter. The way she was spoken to and yelled at was abhorrent…
Wow. Crying now….great post!!!
This totally made me cry! What a beautiful thing you saw.
I was picturing myself in that bathroom in your position and started to tear up. Motherhood is a crazy ride but then so is life. Wow.
Thanks for sharing your moment with us.. .
Elaine recently posted..Thanksgiving is evil
That was a very sweet and moving post to read first thing this morning (as my coffee brews), thank you for sharing this with me!
Multi-Testing Mommy recently posted..BOOK REVIEWs- Books for Baby by Candlewick Press
Beautiful. Thank you.
Cheryl recently posted..Yankee Candle Giveaway!
Wow.
I’ve thought about such role reversals recently, as I’ve thought about my parents and in-laws and how they’re aging. It’s a little sad to think about how different things might be in decade or so.
What beautiful moment–thanks for sharing.
Shannon @ AnchorMommy recently posted..Time for a deep breath
That is so sweet and so true. It seems like we all start out in life being helpless and then come full circle and rely on others to take care of us again. I only wish I still had my mom to take care of.
Kameron recently posted..Arielle at 1 year
The beautiful circle of life. Great post. XOXO
Tiffany @MomNom recently posted..Boom Week Not EFF’ing Kidding
oh man – you got me.
so beautiful. and so true.
Vera @ Lady and the Blog recently posted..Rocking Red Heels For Every Budget
It’s incredible how the role turns around. I saw my mom and my aunt take care of my Nana (groceries, cleaning, doctor’s appts), and just let her relax and enjoy life. It really was amazing that they did that.
I hope my kids are just has loving and amazing to me when I age.
I’ve had moments like that before and sometimes they’re at the oddest times and places … Happy Earth Day!
Food Stories recently posted..What’s Your Food Story?
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