Last nice comment was from a stranger

[Schoolrunrum]

I'm probably feeling sorry for myself but I'm in a bad place.

I was thinking about the last time anybody said anything nice to me. Don't get me wrong, I get positive feedback from work and the customers I deal with. My children's teachers praise me now and again on their wonderful manners. Sometimes their behaviour isn't as it should be but I've always taught them that manners are priceless so when I get positive feedback feedback I run with it!

I've had a bad day. Nothing in particular has gone wrong but it made me think about the last time somebody said something nice about me.

It was about 5 years ago. I was on a train from Bristol to London with DS1 3y and DS2 6m.

I had to breastfeed DS2 standing up. I've never been brave enough to ask for a seat. There was barely enough standing room.

I was beyond stressed but I tried to remain calm. DS1 was also frustrated having to half perch on the pram.

2nd stop to last a man got on the train. I can only assume he was on a business call judging by the way he was talking and the laptop precariously perched on a handrail. By this point, both DS's were in full melt-down mode. I just prayed and prayed he wouldn't say anything or look at me funny. I made an effort not to look in his direction and continued to try my best to settle the kids.

We both got off at the next stop.

He walked off then turned back. I expected him to tell me to keep my 2 little shits quiet in future!

He said, word for word 'You're a fantastic mum, don't you ever forget it'

It was totally unexpected after all the horrible looks I got for the almost 2 hour journey.

I'll never forget it, or him. I cried when he walked away.

Nobody has said anything nice about 'me' since.

Anybody else had any positive comments from a complete stranger?

It wasn’t a nice comment.

But I was sat in A&E with my dad last year, he was screaming (dementia but undiagnosed at that time). The staff just kept coming over to tell me to shut him up (those words from three of them over ten hours).

I was trying to hold it together.

A woman came up to me, held my hand and said “just one step at a time”.

Then she handed me a handful of pound coins and said “I bet you’ve had both nothing to eat or drink. I’ll sit with him while you go to the vending machine”.

I had no money on me or anything, she was a mind reader and just lovely.

She left after that and I wish I had taken her number so I could pay her back at least.

Since when was telling someone they are a fantastic mum not a nice comment ?

sorry was that about my first line?

I meant me! In MY situation, it wasn’t a nice comment it was something that someone did.

Must have been the way I laid it out. I wasn’t talking about the comment made to
the OP. I was talking about the lady who was nice to me in the sea of shit that is my life.

Note to self - never type while supervising a toddler tantrum.

One of my patients yesterday said "I'm always glad to see you"

Was out in Stirling and a lady came up to compliment me on my Lucy and Yak dungarees.

(I am fat and fast approaching 60, but I’ve never had so many strangers compliment me when I’m wearing Lucy and Yak.)

In tescos and old lady had dropped something to the floor and DD ran over to pick it up for her and gave it back to her (DD nearly 4)

Full disclosure it was biscuits and my DD always has her eyes on the prize (even in tescos) but I had a really tough day that day and it really brightened my afternoon.