Crazy Fox Marketing Specialists

It was Mother’s Day in 1982 and I was at a shopping mall in a large city with my not quite 2 year old daughter.  We had done a bit of shopping and I was carrying several bags in the cart.  My sister was supposed to meet us at the mall doors to give us a ride to our mother’s home for a mother’s day BBQ.  I put my cart away, thinking I could manage the baby and the bags for a few minutes until she arrived.  

My toddler kept opening the door and running outside, which was a dangerous thing with so much traffic there.  I was getting a little frustrated with the game of preventing her from getting outside, while balancing my parcels.  There was an older lady standing near us, obviously waiting for a ride as well.  She would smile and chuckle, which made my daughter all the more playful.  I think I probably shot her a frustrated glance on one of the occasions that I was grabbing for the child. 

The woman made some kind of a comment, I don’t actually remember what she said, but I responded by saying, “I can’t wait until she is old enough to understand”.  The lady smiled at me and said, “my dear, don’t wish it away”.  She went on to tell me how precious these times are, and while some moments are trying and difficult they speed by so quickly.  She told me that one day I would look back on this day and muse about how spunky my daughter was.  I can remember thinking to myself that there would be no way I would ever look back fondly at this!  The woman went on talking about children and how quickly they grow up… all I was thinking was how quickly I wanted this particular moment to end.

The woman no sooner stopped talking when a young woman carrying a huge bouquet of flowers came through the doors where we were waiting.  She approached the older woman with a huge smile and said in a loud cheerful voice, “Happy Mother’s Day Mom!”  The older lady appeared genuinely suprised as she hugged her daughter.  It was truly a moving scene.  Even my little girl stopped her running game to watch. 

The older woman turned to me, “you see my dear”, she said as she wiped her tears, “it’s all worth it”.  And the two women left the mall arm in arm.  I actually had tears in my eyes as well.  It was really a Hallmark moment, but her words really fell on deaf ears.  As soon as the two women parted, my toddler started playing her game again, and I was once again very frustrated. 

Over the next few years, I would remember the lady’s words from time to time, especially on Mother’s Day.  I came to understand what an amazing gift she had given me, when I would reflect on how fast my little girl was growing up.  Now that my toddler is 26 years old, I often think about that woman and what she taught me that day.  I had no way of understanding then just how quickly those years really do go by.  24 years have passed, yet it seems like only yesterday. 

I learned to treasure the moment - no matter what that moment holds, in no small part because of the words of wisdom that woman shared with me.  I often wish I could get a message to that woman, and her daughter.  I wish she knew what an impact she had on a young stranger in a big city mall on an ordinary Mother’s Day.

I wish all women everywhere a wonderful Mother’s Day.  I hope that someone else will be impacted by the wisdom the lady in the mall shared and will treasure every moment, even the tough ones, as your children grow, so whatever you do, “Don’t Wish It Away”