The people you briefly love when you have children.

[Psammead]

Because they make your or your children's day.

I was thinking about this today when DD was waving madly at a bus driving by, and a woman waved back. Thank-you, woman. DD was very happy.

So.

1. People who wave from busses/trains etc
   
2. People in shops who give your children something free (balloons, slice of luncheon meat, bit of deformed criossant etc)
   
3. People who smile/wave/make funny faces/chat to your child in a queue, or on a bus, train, plane etc.
   

You are all brilliant human beings. Add to the list!

[PeppermintPasty]

Oh and the manager at ASK in Exeter who saw my friend and I approach with our 4 crazy children and led us to a "special" table. I thought it would be a crap one out the back, but it was the best table in the place with the most room. He then proceeded to make a massive fuss of the children, making them "cocktails", showering them with cool free stuff (cool to 4, 5 and 7yos), then later on "judging" the pics they drew, handing out prizes left right and centre. He was as mad as they come, and we have never had such a relaxed meal with 4 kids.

[tostaky]

the tube drivers who wave back at my DSs when we take the tube.
same for firemen in their trucks and bus drivers in their buses when we stop next to them at the traffic lights.

[Voidka]

The lady at our local cafe who signs to DS.

[PoppyWearer]

The lovely people who give my 3yo DD their green Waitrose tokens so that she can put them in the charity boxes.

[ComradeJing]

ANYONE who has ever commented on how well behaved DD is on long haul flights. Especially if we are in business. She's a chatty little thing too so not exactly the quietest flight companion.

The hostess who upgraded us to business on DDs first long haul because they had forgotten to pack the bassinets.

Anyone who helps with a pram without having to be asked.

[rockinhippy]

BIG YY for the people who compliment their unprompted good manners & behaviour, especially to DCs themselves - my own DD was always so proud of herself I swear its made a difference & she is always very polite & well mannered with everyone --bar DH & I of course

To DDs wonderful Godfather & his boyfriend, who are the only real help we ever had, they dote on her & steal her away for days on end, buy her the best clothes & gifts & take her places we can no longer afford & best of all, have convinced ouralready getting TOO much attention from boys at only 9 DD that when she's old enough to go drinking & clubbing, the ONLY places worth going to, are Gay bars

Those who helped with buggies & stairs, you will never know what heros you are, as my painful back & numb legs were invisible, but your help saved me days of pain.

To all our local Pub Landlord that make this a wonderful place to bring up DCs, by inviting them in & not only making us ALL very welcome for long leisurely Sunday lunches, but for the extra free treats of lollies, sweets, ice cream & lots of giggles & smiles you give our DCs, so that Sunday afternoon in the pub is a treat for them too

[WorrisomeHeart]

The lovely old man in th supermarket who admired my baby DS and gave him a pound for his money box, made me weep a little! [hormonal emoticon]

[Kaloobear]

This thread has made me all emotional! I hope all the people who make our days know what a difference they make.

[sleepychunky]

Briefly - the London Marathon runner at London Bridge who let my DS wear his medal. DS(4) had spent the whole day with me cheering on our marathon runners (my charity had 33) and was an absolute star, but being allowed to wear the medal which I'd been talking about all day was the highlight of his day when he was really tired waiting for the train home.

Ongoing - the train drivers who blow the horns and/or wave when I take both the DSs to the railway bridge nearby when I can't think of anything else to do. A "good" driver waves or toots and a "great" driver does both, and it makes their day.

Echo previous posters who love strangers complimenting them on their DC's behaviour when out and about - it really does make a difference!

[WorrisomeHeart]

Oh yes marshmellowpies the student mw (not sure if she was a 'student' like yours or not!) when I had DS was amazing too - she found me awash with tears coming back from NICU and gave me a huge, proper, hug. Meant a lot in those early days.

psammead this is a great thread!

[Francagoestohollywood]

Oh and yes to sport coaches!

[rockinhippy]

Oh & the lovely Lady in what was then Safeway, who backed me in fibbing to my DD that all the junk food aimed at kids with character wrapping that had her obsessed & wanting it, wasn't for humans, but for whatever character was on the pack -

on my DD announcing she didn't believe me as she'd never seen Tony Tiger in the the supermarket, the Lady piped up - really, you must come in at the wrong time, he's often in here, along with the Tweenies, Booba etc etc - DD never argued again
With DD very intolerant to additives, she will never know what a star she was that day :)

[MissBetsyTrotwood]

People who ignore us when the tantrums occur.

The train driver at Kings Cross who let DS1 sit IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT of one of those high speed trains. DS1 nearly imploded with excitement and couldn't speak for about 3 hours afterwards.

[ICompletelyKnowAboutGuineaPigs]

I personally love firemen who, when parked outside a house/supermarket, put the lights on the fire engine - very cool and DS and DD loved it.

I remeber going to Asda once and my DS was allowed to go in the fire engine and put a helmet on! It was typically the one day I'd left my phone at home so got no pictures, but it was a lovely thing to do and my DS still remembers it.

I love this thread btw - so nice to think about and share the good things .

[Francagoestohollywood]

OK then, the owner of the Dinosaur Cafe in Exeter, who has always welcomed me and the dc with open arms, making us feel at home, especially in the first years, when living in the UK felt a bit lonely. I miss youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

[ICompletelyKnowAboutGuineaPigs]

Rockinhippy that's fab!! I hope to be that woman someday!

[McKayz]

I agree with the posters who've said the people that give you that knowing look that says everyone goes through the screaming toddler in street/shop/bus stop etc. much better than the people that tut at you.

[PoohBearsHole]

Oh and to the lovely man in First Class on a flight from France, me with under 1 yo having had every one push past me, the buggy taken from me and travelling solo to eventually get on the plane as the last person (to much tutting - yeah you lot who pushed past me and didn't let me on the plane!!!) who held dd when the bitchy air hostess told me to get my ticket out and actually show her and no she couldn't hold my dd I would have to put her on the floor near the open plane door and no she couldn't put her hand the side pocket of my bag to get out the tickets. Man in first class held dd and let her play with his tie whilst I got the tickets out. He also gave said stewardess a piece of his mind. Travelling alone with a small child isn't easy and you made my day.

[ItsallGreektome]

I am reading this at work and it's made me very emotional.
I have been on the receiving end of help but can be often found pulling faces at little ones etc and worry what parents think of some stranger amusing their kids.

[NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes]

The firemen and one firewoman who came to fit our smoke alarms but also whisked DS out to the fire engine so he could sit in the drivers seat and switch the lights on etc, then brought him back inside and let him climb the ladder to press the test buttons on the alarms, and who all waved madly as they drove away.

The driver of the steam train we went to see, who tooted at DS when he made the 'honk the horn' gesture, even though DH insisted they were not really allowed to do it at that part of the track.

And any lorry driver who will also honk the horn when DS waves.

And the man at Clumber park who was just finishing reading a book to his own young daughter in the visitors centre when he found himself being presented by DS with a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar to read next. He read it very nicely, included both children in the story and then...best bit...told them to choose just one more because they were being so good. DS was delighted to find friends.

The girl working in the cinema on DS's first visit, who made a big fuss of him and who was surprisingly delighted to find out it was the first time he had ever been. He liked her very much and she gave him lots of little bits and bobs, postcards, his own ticket etc, and it made his day.

[sanguinechompa]

What a fantastic thread ...[sniff] at marathon medal ... that's so lovely!

The man on the fruit and veg stall who always gives dd a banana/or a slice of fresh mango or melon and some free carrot tops for her pets and (in season!) hangs cherry "earrings" over her ears!

The man in the wine shop who gave her a beautiful miniature basket made out of dried vine branches

The lady on the sweetie stall who always gives her gummie bears

The butcher who gives her a slice of salami

The cheese ladies who always offer a little wedge of "stripey Jack"

The baker who always gives her a warm freshly-baked "elbow" from the end of the baguette

The man in the newsagent who always greets dd with "Bonjour Mademoiselle Chompa", and offers her - very seriously - a choice of unwanted/out of date children's magazines

The hurdy-gurdy (sp?) man who walks around the area on a Saturday afternoon and always stops outside our house to wait for dd (OK - we do offer a small donation!)

The old man in church who always makes funny faces at dd when the sermon is particularly long and boring (but does it just enough so that she doesn't misbehave)

(Mainly food-related here in Belgium but lovely nonetheless!!)

[sanguinechompa]

[Takes ages to do the shopping btw ]

[treefumaster]

Greeks. Especially Greek soldiers. It was such a revelation to be in a Greek airport waiting for hours for our plane - with the extended family (7 children). And these cool young hot Greek men were very happy to play with the children while we waited. It was lovely. I wish the equivalent British man could be like that.

YY to people who wave at my DS who is 2 when he waves at them.

People who just catch your eye to sympathise or just make a human contact when you are wrestling children onto a bus or whatever.

[Meglet]

The people in queues or checkout staff who take my side and tell off my kids / back me up when they are raising hell. Never had anyone say anything judgy to me TBH.

[PoohBearsHole]

Oh and to my lovely cleaner from many years ago who beautifully made up dd's moses basket one day and put money under her mattress for good luck. I didn't know for ages and she still has the money in her bed now, under the mattress. A very sweet and lovely thoughtful gesture to include dd in her culture.