Making a Stranger's Day

So earlier today, Taylor and I were standing in line, waiting to check out, at the grocery store. A stranger, a woman in her 20s, comes up behind me and places her hand on my shoulder. I turn around thinking "uh oh, what did we do?" when she says "Ma'am, I was in several different aisles with you when you were shopping and I just wanted you to know how impressed I was with how patient and gentle and calm you were with your son. You are a really great mom!" I swear to you, I almost kissed this woman! It made me feel so good and I told her she made my day and that words like that mean more to a mother than anything else. It's true too - since I became a mother, I realize that the reason it feels so amazing when someone compliments your parenting skills is because it's the one thing in your life that you sink 100% of yourself into...your emotions, your hopes, your love, your time, your money, your physical self - every thing you have. So every now and then, if someone notices and says something good about it, well it feels like you are so happy you could fly. Of course the truth is that Taylor was just being well-behaved today and if he had not been, I am sure the nice stranger would have seen my not-so-patient side! :) For now, I have resolved to pay this compliment forward to another needy mom really soon...