The power of kindness

Be kind to her.

You never know how many times she’s beaten herself up today for where she feels she’s fallen short.

Or how many things she needs to get done she still hasn’t been able to.

You never know whether it’s that time of the month for her.

Or whether she’s been struggling with health issues, physically or mentally.

Be kind to her.

You never know whether she’s in the throes of a miscarriage.

Or whether she’s had another unsuccessful IVF attempt.

You never know whether she’s been told she can’t have children at all.

Or whether she’s unlikely to be able to have another like she’s so desperately been wanting.

Be kind to her.

You never know whether she’s just had an argument with her partner.

Or whether she’s been given some bad family news.

You never know how heavy the load she carries is.

Or how much support she doesn’t have.

Be kind to her.

You never know whether she’s been placed under considerable pressure at work.

Or whether being at home with the children is testing her more than usual lately.

You never know how late she’s been up working after the children have gone to bed.

Or how many times she’s cried at the sink throughout the day.

Be kind to her.

You don’t how much she has been doubting herself lately.

Or whether she’s just too overwhelmed to think straight.

You don’t know how lost she may feel right now.

Or how much she has been missing her old life.

Be kind to her.

You never know how desperately she needs a break.

Or how hard she’s finding everyone else’s opinions.

You never know how lonely she’s been feeling recently.

Or whether she’s struggling to be out in public at all.

Be kind to her.

You don’t know how many tantrums she’s had to face today.

Or how hard she is finding it to break generational patterns.

You don’t know whether she’s just been thrown up on.

Or whether she’s had to bath her child twice before noon.  

Be kind to her.

You never know if she’s on the verge of a break down.

Or if she’s just had her first day back at work.

You never know if she’s just dropped her child at day care for the first time.

Or whether she has just had to collect her child from school for being bullied.

Be kind to her.

You will never know all of what’s going on for her.

Or what may be going on for her children.

You will never know all the details of her life.

Or some of the hardest struggles she is having.

Be kind to her,

That mother you see.

It doesn’t need to be much.

It could be a smile when you pass her.

Or telling her she’s doing a good job.

It could be helping her pack the groceries.

Or buying her a coffee.

Be kind to her.

That mother you see in the reflection.

You know exactly what she’s going through.

And just how much compassion she needs to keep going.

You know exactly what she’s not seeing in herself today.

And what she needs to hear every day.

Be kind to her.

Always.

Because kindness costs nothing.

But it can change everything.

* Written by Emma Heaphy for Mumli