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Original poster

What’s the nicest thing a stranger has ever said to you?

147 replies

Magik01 · 30/10/2021 09:02

Following on from the thread about the strangest thing said, I thought it would be nice to hear some positive stories!

I was at a theme park with DS2 who was about 8 weeks old at the time. We were walking one of the character live shows and he was hungry so I sat and fed him (I’m BFing). A woman came up to me after the show and said “it’s so lovely seeing someone feeding their baby, your doing a really great job.”

It honestly made my day, sometimes it’s the little things!

OP posts:
1forAll74 · 30/10/2021 15:00

I was in a supermarket some time ago,and lifted a largish bag of small new potatoes up from the veg shelves, the bag was faulty, and all the potatoes fell onto the floor all rolling about all over.A very elderly lady, who was a bit stooped over, and walking with a walking stick, was passing by, and she said, oh dear love, then stooped a bit more, and upturned her walking stick, and began to stretch it out, to drag some little potatoes all together in a little pile as such, while i was rescuing some more that had rolled away. I was worried that she would topple over, with her back or hip problems whatever, but she seemed to enjoy the little scene in the supermarket aisle. nice one though, !

Gwenhwyfar · 30/10/2021 15:03

[quote vampirethriller]@Gwenhwyfar going by the pictures I don't Smile[/quote]
What, the photos? lol
How would anyone know what she looked like? She's not even described physically in the Bible is she?

secretbookcase · 30/10/2021 15:04

When DC were both tiny and I was really struggling. PND, sleep deprived etc I was changing DS in a shopping centre and a woman came up to me and said, 'I often see you around with your babies. You are such a good mum. They look so clean and well cared for' and once a librarian said, 'I love how you speak to your children so gently.'
I was really desperate at the time and those kind words helped so much.

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Breast & bottle feeding
WithRosesAroundTheDoor · 30/10/2021 15:06

DD1 started school in September and was absolutely shattered by the second week in. She had a massive meltdown over nothing walking home from school one night and I had no choice but to sit down on the pavement and cuddle her until she calmed down.
I had DD2 in the sling so (a bit cheekily) put Dd1 onto a low garden wall so that I could attempt to piggy back her as well.

A lady came out of the house and I thought that she was going to tell me off for using her wall as a leg up.
Instead, she gave me a huge smile and said how lovely it was to see a mummy who clearly knew what their child needed and gave cuddles instead of getting cross when DD was obviously just tired.
She said that she watched us walk past every day and loved that we chatted the whole way, that I was a lovely mum and that my children were delightful.
I was actually feeling incredibly low at the time and she had no idea how much her comments meant.

DD1 and the lady have struck up a lovely friendship and now often leave little gifts and notes/pictures in the garden for eachother. Smile

Evenstar · 30/10/2021 15:11

Someone who was a vague acquaintance said they had seen me with my children in town, she said “I knew they were yours because they all have the same beautiful smile as you”

A man stopped to chat yesterday when I was waiting for my husband to post a parcel, he made a fuss of my little dogs. He turned to go and said “I hope you don’t mind me saying but you have beautiful features and such a kind face”

vampirethriller · 30/10/2021 15:14

@Gwenhwyfar Grin you're right. I mean the paintings, but I suppose nobody knows.

Chargreen · 30/10/2021 15:29

I was on a train home after a day’s shopping in the city and a guy sat next to me and told me how lovely I smelled. We got chatting and at the end of the 45 minute or so journey he said “I wish this train was going all the way to Florida” It was the sweetest, most innocent experience I’ve ever had with a random man! I still think about how lovely it was to this day.

Another time I was waiting for my date in a pub/ restaurant place and this older guy came over and said that I was beautiful. he loved my dress and that he wished I was there to meet him. It was totally non-sleazy and heartfelt. And halfway into the actual date, I wished I had been there to meet the older guy too.

Walkingthedog46 · 30/10/2021 15:33

A complete stranger asked if my two infant daughters were mine. I said yes. She said ‘ if you can produce such beautiful children you should have 6 more’. I was walking on air for the rest of the day! Forty years later I still remember her.

ScottishNewbie · 30/10/2021 15:34

@squashyhat would you mind sharing what the body lotion is? I've had a bit of bad news and need a treat. This is such a lovely thread by the way!

Alicesays · 30/10/2021 15:45

Someone told me DD is well behaved this morning and I nearly cried!

PlanetMJ · 30/10/2021 16:10

Not directly to me, but said about me to my younger brother in a fervent tone of voice by a random bloke in the pub when we were at uni.

"You're PlantMJ's brother aren't you? Tell her I would drag my dick through a mile of broken glass just to wank in her shadow"

DB just said, "err, ok, will do". Never found out who he was Grin

notthemum · 30/10/2021 16:34

Sorry not quote pressed wrong button.
Dds youngest child (6) has Significant autism and can be prone to huge meltdowns with no warning at all. She took him for a visit a zoo quite recently and almost as soon as they were inside the gate he went into one. Many people walked past, staring at them and tutting and my daughter was near to tears, when a lovely lady with a small child went over and asked if she could help, she couldn't really but stayed whilst my daughter calmed lo down and told her that she was doing a wonderful job with him. (That was the bit that made Dd cry but she was so grateful for the kind words) Dd phoned me later to tell me and that was the bit that stuck with her.

Sunshineonarainydayy · 30/10/2021 16:37

Such a sweet and innocent thread.... Oh wait Grin

Pebbledashery · 30/10/2021 16:37

I was at a checkout packing our big shop. This was last year just after DD and left s refuge and moved into our own house, DD was royally playing up and I was close to tears, checkout assistant whispered I was bossing it and told me I was amazing.. So stupid but I burst into tears because I really needed to hear it and I don't think she'll ever know how much I needed to hear that at that particular moment.

secretbookcase · 30/10/2021 16:38

@WithRosesAroundTheDoor

DD1 started school in September and was absolutely shattered by the second week in. She had a massive meltdown over nothing walking home from school one night and I had no choice but to sit down on the pavement and cuddle her until she calmed down. I had DD2 in the sling so (a bit cheekily) put Dd1 onto a low garden wall so that I could attempt to piggy back her as well.

A lady came out of the house and I thought that she was going to tell me off for using her wall as a leg up.
Instead, she gave me a huge smile and said how lovely it was to see a mummy who clearly knew what their child needed and gave cuddles instead of getting cross when DD was obviously just tired.
She said that she watched us walk past every day and loved that we chatted the whole way, that I was a lovely mum and that my children were delightful.
I was actually feeling incredibly low at the time and she had no idea how much her comments meant.

DD1 and the lady have struck up a lovely friendship and now often leave little gifts and notes/pictures in the garden for eachother. Smile

That's gorgeous!
Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 30/10/2021 16:48

This thread is making me cry and bringing me some relief on what has been a really trying day. Thank you for starting it OP and everyone for sharing your stories. Truly.

Pebbledashery · 30/10/2021 16:50

Have to admit I've got tears streaming down my face reading some of these.

Original poster
Magik01 · 30/10/2021 17:06

All these stories are so heartwarming. I’m going to try and compliment more strangers now and try and make their day!

OP posts:
LimeJellyforBrains · 30/10/2021 17:07

Went to visit a friend at Uni when I was about 18. At a party, a chap came up to me and asked me in an awe-inspired voice "Are you a goddess?" I was so blooming shy at that time I just didn't know what to do or say! Grin He didn't try to chat me up any further. It was just lovely, and has (obviously) stayed with me for 40 years!

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 30/10/2021 17:21

Not (just) a human, and not something said, but also a train story.

One evening, quite late, I was heading home from an exhausting week working away, and suffering from a lot of stress and ill health at the time. The only other inhabitants of my carriage were an elderly lady and her English bull terrier. I love dogs, so I smiled at him, and tears came to my eyes as I did so. The lady let her dog off the lead and he came and sat beside me and put his big head on my lap. He stayed with me for most of my journey, just looking up at me with his big, dark, kind eyes, while I stroked his head. It was so comforting and I felt so loved and so much better. (The lady was very sweet, too, letting her dog keep me company. If she's reading; thank-you!)

hiptobeasquare · 30/10/2021 17:22

Two things;
When I walk home with DD age 3 from nursery we see the same crowd of people getting off the train every day. One day a man stopped us and said to DD “I want to be like you Mum, because she is doing a great job.”
The other is a hen party with people from work who are mostly ten years younger and childless. When I met them at the train station one of them said, “here’s Hip looking the coolest out of us all” it really made my day.

fizzandchips · 30/10/2021 17:28

What a lovely thread. Thank you for starting it OP and to everyone for sharing their stories. A few times when my children were small strangers commented on how well behaved they were or how good a job I was doing. I make a point of smiling at new mums and telling them how well they’re doing. It’s such a small think to say, but as this thread shows it really can make an enormous difference.

siegriedswaistcoat · 30/10/2021 17:30

DS1 was born with some medical problems which meant that although I thought he was the most beautiful and wonderful baby to have ever existed he did look quite unwell for quite a long time. I can still remember a young girl of about 13/14 who looked into his pram and told me how cute he was. She was the only person who ever did that.

InTropicalTrumpsLand · 30/10/2021 17:42

I just remembered one.

I was 17 and in Chile for a holiday. In the subway, a Chilean child starts peeking from behind her mother and whispers something while giving me a shy but very sweet smile.

Her mum kindly translated: "She's saying you look like a princess."

She couldn't know, but I had missed the entire previous month of lessons due to crippling depression and could barely leave my bed, and in the next months I would miss many more. Frankly, I can't believe I actually forgot it for so many years! It was so kind of that child, to compliment a depressed, overweight teenager who merely exchanged some glances in the subway.

TSSDNCOP · 30/10/2021 17:51

Lots of people comment on my hair and often photograph it.

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