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Panicked pregnant mama in front of me at the store had $5 to spend on bag of potatoes that WIC wouldnât cover.
Her final bill: $14.
She apologized for my wait as she frantically tried to find the offender hidden among cheese, yogurt, milk & other groceries sheâd bought.
1/n
Her final bill: $14.
She apologized for my wait as she frantically tried to find the offender hidden among cheese, yogurt, milk & other groceries sheâd bought.
1/n
She asked the self-scan assistant to help her figure out where she went wrong & fix it.
She apologized again & my heart hurt for her. Iâd been trying to give her space & not be intrusive but as she started to go towards the bags her son had so carefully bagged I got pissed.
2/n
She apologized again & my heart hurt for her. Iâd been trying to give her space & not be intrusive but as she started to go towards the bags her son had so carefully bagged I got pissed.
2/n
Pissed because the government dictates what she can & canât eat, what she can & canât feed her children. Pissed because a fucking bag of shredded cheese and yogurt is apparently a LUXURY in the United States.
Not wanting to embarrass her any further I
3/n
Not wanting to embarrass her any further I
3/n
Got closer & offered to pay her balance. I told her I used to be a mom of little ones on an impossibly tight budget.
I remember the stress of grocery shopping & the guilt of not being able to afford better food.
I didnât care what food she bought - no one should.
4/n
I remember the stress of grocery shopping & the guilt of not being able to afford better food.
I didnât care what food she bought - no one should.
4/n
She asked if I was sure. I told her I am certain that some day she will be in a position to pay it forward & that I was happy to help take a little added stress out of an already stressful time.
I donât want pats on the back for being a decent human being. If you read this-
5/
I donât want pats on the back for being a decent human being. If you read this-
5/
I want for you to remember what life was like at your lowest point and remember that for some people that day is happening today (in the middle of a pandemic & political chaos).
Be as kind to those around you (even strangers) as you once needed others to be kind to you.
6/6
Be as kind to those around you (even strangers) as you once needed others to be kind to you.
6/6
Note: If you ever find yourself in this position donât minimize the amount of money they need help with By saying, âOh $__ is nothing, donât worry about it.â
For her, not having $14 was a huge thing today. Minimizing it would have been dickish & classist.
For her, not having $14 was a huge thing today. Minimizing it would have been dickish & classist.
