Strangers you remember fondly

Minapaws

Your story has touched me so much, had tears in my eyes ❤️

The man in a silver bmw in Bromley By Bow who helped me.

I'd gotten lost and ended up in the blackwall tunnel with no idea how to get home. I was a new driver, upset and nearly caused an accident. Our first contact was him yelling at me, then when I turned abruptly into a side street to to stop and cry a bit more he had followed me. He could see how upset I was, lost and pretty helpless (new driver and pre sat nav). He drove and I followed from there to the dartford bridge as it was the only place we both knew and that I knew how to get home from. He drove so slowly so I could follow. He pulled into a lay-by near to the bridge as it was the last place he could stop before not being able to turn back. He wouldn't take a penny off me for petrol. I will never forget that kindness.

When my Dtwins were 18 months old I had to take them to get shoes. I was only just coming out of the throes of PND, living in a city where I Knew no one and a pretty fucking useless DH (atm). All in all it was a struggle to have even got them dressed and into the car never mind into a bloody pram and into a shop.

Twin 2 was totally pissed off about being in the buggy and was screaming and kicking off. As we got into said children's shoe shop in was rammed and I had to get a bloody ticket. Everyone was staring at DT2 who promptly lent over and pushed a sale rack of shoes over. Shop assistant came running over and hissed at me that maybe we should return later when DT2 was a bit calmer. At which point I ran out and burst into tears in the car park.

A lady came up behind me and picked up DT2 out of pram and produced a packet of biscuits which she fed both twins till they stopped crying. She told me she had triplets (now 18) and it was fucking difficult. She hugged me till I stopped crying and then told me I was a great mum and twins get easier !!!

On a ferry to Ireland, my DS(3) was really sick. I had just got off him off to sleep on my lap, when I also succumbed and to sea sickness. I held my son and frantically looked round to DH to help.....he was fast asleep. A woman of a similar age to me appeared with a sick bag- and high she held whilst I vomited repeatedly....then wiped my mouth with a wet wipe. Then held a water bottle to my lips. And then gave me a polo mint!!!!! I sobbed with gratitude and she smiled and said - you are a good mum, and I am sure that you would do the same for me....

I had terrible PND after dc1 and struggled to get out much. I agreed to meet my mum in the city which meant a train journey. I was really nervous and the train was busy.
A very kind man gave me his seat and came back when we got to the station and helped me lift out my pram.
So very kind.

Love this thread

When I was 18 I returned to the UK after spending Christmas with my sister in the US and for some reason I took it really hard.
I took the national express from the airport back to my uni town, but just after we had pulled onto the road I realised that in my flustered state I'd left my handbag with all my documents and cards on the luggage trolley.
I jumped out of my seat, ran up to the front and basically started hyperventilating at the driver in an inexplicable American accent. The driver was so kind, he turned around at the first roundabout and I got to retrieve my bag.
I will forever be grateful to him, I would've had nothing, no money, no documents, no cards and I had no family in the UK.

I was in Madagascar travelling and I fell over and cut all my knee to buggery. This was the final straw in what had been a terrible week (lost possessions, delayed trains, illness, getting lost) and I just sat on the side of the road crying.

People either walked past and pretended not to see me or just gathered in the crowd standing around staring.

A woman who looked like the oldest person I'd ever seen (this is relevant for how comical it was) and was about 4'6 barged her way through the crowd of men and bent over to have a look at my knee. Then she grabbed a huge branch which was nearby and started swatting everyone away shouting at them (what I can only assume was "fuck off").

Then she took me back to her hut, bathed my knee, treated and dressed it, cooked me dinner, let me stay the night and sent me off the next day with a bag full of food.

When I was back in Antananarivo about three months later, I went by her hut and gave her some presents

When I was 10 my dad had died and we moved house to a new area. Our family felt lonely and small without him and in all it was a terrible time.
One of the first rainy nights in our new house in an unfamiliar area we went out for pizza. I was standing at the counter waiting and the lady that worked there got a paper bag and filled it with sweets, gave it to me and smiled and chatted to me. It made me feel so comforted when I was feeling so overwhelmed, for someone to randomly be so kind.

Watching!

When I was on holiday in Rhyl when I was about 7 and got separated from my Mom, I went into one of the shops and asked for help, as I'd been taught to do at school. One of the assistants bought me an ice cream and walked me round Rhyl until we found her. If there's anyone on here who would have been working in B Wise in Rhyl about 1997ish - thank you.

The nurse who treated my dad with such kindness and respect when he was dying.

The lady in Marks and Spencer who asked me how I was when I was on the verge of a breakdown - it felt like she was the first person to see something was wrong and I was so touched by her kindness.

Bump

Bump also :)

Bump

Oh, I must have something in my eye(s).

I have been on the receiving end of many little kindnesses and try to pay it forward when I can.

I vividly remember being helped in an airport when I was six months’ pregnant with my first child. I had lots of blood pressure problems and was huge and often dizzy. I’d been overseas for a work event (with 16 hour days) after having an unexplained bleed and check up the day before I flew. I got through the week, but I was exhausted and a wreck.

At the airport, the queue for security was huge and the airport was hot. I stood for a while, dizzy and sweating, when I started crying because I felt so sorry for myself. The staff didn’t do anything, but an off duty steward insisted I cut the queue ahead of her and made my wait much shorter. She helped me through security and kept an eye on me. Such kindness!

Later in the same pregnancy, at 8.5 months, I had a work event a few hours from home. It ended late-ish and at the rail station on the way back there was a huge pile of people milling about waiting for the (delayed) train. A wonderful woman spoke to the ticket guards and made them give me a seat, and then tell me ahead of time which platform the train would be at so I wouldn’t have to run or scrum for a seat. She was my hero that day!

I now have two kids and I remember every single time someone has complimented my children for their confidence and ability to chat to people. A friend’s mum recently said she hoped her grandchildren (who are small toddlers) would turn out just like my kids because they’re so polite, kind, inclusive, and willing to chat to anyone. It was all I could do not to sob in response!

The thread that keeps on giving! Loved adding my story and love coming back and reading all the new ones that are being added.

The woman in Durham Cathedral cafe who gave me a hug after seeing me have an argument with DD's Dad.

The man who gave me a dollar so I could get a bus over the US Mexico border.

The people who helped me with my luggage when I traveled with DD as a baby.

DS2 was a couple of months old and I wasn't doing well. I realised, one day, that I had a fair amount of points on my Advantage card and, as money had been tight, I thought it would cheer me up to get some nice toiletries. When I got to the checkout I was 10 points short. I was told that they couldn't accept part payment with points so I would have to pay in full. I had to admit that I could afford to, then left the shop.

I was so ashamed and embarrassed that, as soon as I got out of the shop, I burst into tears. A woman came to ask if I was ok and I just said I was fine and headed towards home. 5 minutes later She caught up with me and handed me a bar of chocolate saying, "everything's better with chocolate." I'd never known a stranger be so kind and 3 years later it stays with me.

When DS1 was tiny, I was struggling with PND, XH had raped and battered me and I was broken. I dropped a jar of baby food at the checkout in ASDA and just dissolved into tears, real heaving sobs on the floor.

The woman on the checkout calmly called for cover and a cleaner, scooped me up and took me to the staffroom and made me a cup of tea. She just listened, fed DS1 and gave me the biggest hug at the end.

So if that was you, in the ASDA at the Jewel outside Edinburgh in April 2007. Thank you, I can never explain how your kindness touched me.

My GP when I was pg with DS at 19. I cried on him because I thought that everyone was judging me for being pregnant young. He hugged me and told me that 100 years ago I would have been classed as an older mother . I've since moved home and surgeries but never forgotten how much better he made me feel.

Thank you

I just remembered teaching English in Czech republic on year out with a few others. Decided to go on a day out, the guys decided they could read Czech and said if we could take one which we did the last one back would be at 4pm or so. Went out had a nice day, came to get bus back, hmm no bus. Guys decide they'll use their excellent Czech to explain to cafe owner and ask about bus, guy doesn't understand a word. I then go in and explain in German and they understand and explain there's no buses as its Sunday. The guy closes his cafe and drives us back to the English camp about 12 miles away and won't take any money. Really kind.