“never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up”

a quick proud mom moment. oldest is a challenge, to be clear. i’m sure the fact that she’s a hormonal 17-year old has nothing to do with it *smirk*. But I will admit she does have her moments.

The video above was sent to a few parents earlier this week from another parent that we don’t know very well. He prefaced the video by saying he wished he had thought to capture what he witnessed earlier this week and this video was along the lines of what he saw. hmm… he went on to explain that he was at a local super Target (has a grocery store and pharmacy etc.) and on his way in there was a mother with two small children and the usual sign that said something akin to: “anything will help. husband and me (sic) work in fast food but can’t always covers bills. food and diapers needed most.” he said he avoided their eyes and walked into get his list purchased and get out.

on his way out he saw these teenage girls giving this woman bags with basic foods, diapers, formula and small stuffed animal for each child. the woman was overcome and said she would go and wait for the bus the group said they would take the bus with her and help her with the items. another girl in the group gave the woman a her bus card saying she can always buy another one.

Naturally, tears welled up and then the emails, texts and calls flew between the parents of the girls in question. Do we ask them about it? Why haven’t they said anything? And of course the random “you knew didn’t you?” etc. It boiled down to none of us knew our kids did this and probably wouldn’t have if it weren’t for the father of another student who recognized these girls. we checked their social media sites, nothing. We didn’t know what to do, we are proud of them and wanted to let them know yet there had to be a reason we didn’t know.

The opportunity to do some not so subtle digging came last night when my daughter came home with 4 of them in tow, deciding on a last minute sleepover.  I asked them about it, they fell silent. finally, one spoke up and merely said “mrs. smith-we try to do something like that once a month. we have been since we were freshmen. it’s no big deal, it’s just our way of trying to make a difference as friends.” and of course all of them asked if their parents knew? I had to tell them that we now knew and asked why the secret? A cacophony of female voices filled the air “not a secret really, just not a big deal” “we do it because we want to, not because we have to” “didn’t think anyone needs to know” “it’s like fight club, we don’t talk about dsg club”(dsg=do something good)  “please tell our parents to help us keep this quiet”…hmm I think that’s going to be hard, but we’ll try.

mind. blown. literally.