Some days, you never quite know what you are going to run into but for some people, such as Suzie Skougard, life can get a little rough. She took her daughter to the supermarket but it turned into what appeared to be a free-for-all, where everybody had a bone to pick with her.
The first woman to say something was complaining about her daughter, who wasn’t wearing shoes. She had already kicked them off, as children often do. A store clerk had no interest in helping her and a rude woman even shoved her out of the way. Her daughter was ready for a nap and was getting kind of fussy.
In the middle of all this, something rather amazing happened. A cashier took the time to give the mother a wonderful gift.
You can see the moment captured below.
By the time I took the picture Carly had gotten upset, (it was past time for milk and nap was interrupted) but I still took this picture, because when exchanges like this happen, they are my favorite moments in the world.
This woman works at our local grocery store, I always pick her checkout lane. Even back when I was pregnant – I chose hers, even when the line was longer. When I was pregnant, I’d talk to her in the few minutes I had. I wanted to know what Down syndrome would mean for my daughter as she got older. What would her life be like? Would she be anything like this woman?
Today as we were leaving the store, she said, ‘I have Down syndrome like her, and I have a big heart.’
‘You definitely do have a big heart.’ I replied.
‘Does she know sign language?’ she asked as she pointed in Carly’s direction.
‘She knows a few signs!’
‘When I was a baby I did this one (she signs more) and this one. (She signs please.)’
‘Yes! Carly knows those ones!’
‘I also know one more for her, I can teach her!’ And she signed ‘I love you.’
I interacted with a lot of people at the grocery store. There was a woman who scolded me for not having shoes on Carly on a cold day, (she kicked them off), a clerk who was less than interested in helping me find an item, and an impatient person that shoved past because we were following behind an elderly gentleman that was moving slowly when they were in a hurry.
Some people feel like people with Down syndrome don’t contribute anything meaningful to society, but amidst all the Grinches today, she stood apart. And just being her, she gave us an amazing gift. A smile.
Via: Little Things
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