What has been the nicest thing a mom you didn't know did for you?

The advice & encouragement was more around the "don't worry, we all do that". You can feel like a bad mom sometimes when you lose patiences, yell at a child, don't buy all the right things, don't have time to set up a million playdates, etc. Its nice to know that we all mess up sometimes. We try our best but we are human. I love it when other moms are confident enough to not project a super mom image.

A few weeks ago, I had both kids, trying to wrangle the toddler while also convince the preschooler to get his shoes back on after an OT appointment and head out to the car to go home. I had my hands totally full with bags, toddler, etc., and the preschooler was decidedly not listening - and in fact verging dangerously close to full-on tantrum on top of the disobedience. I knew I couldn't put the toddler down, or else I'd lose him to wandering, too, and I was starting to have that panicked, helpless feeling of a total lack of control over my kids and the situation at hand. Another mom in the waiting room where we were saw what was going on and got the preschooler's shoes, took them over to him, and made a game out of having him put them on and then racing me to the door. She never really said anything to me, just gave me an encouraging "we've all been there" look and pitched in to help. It absolutely made my week. I almost cried out of gratitude. I hope I can return the favor to someone else sometime soon.

My daughter is starting preschool soon and a mother of one of the girls in her class held a party at her house to introduce all the kids. It was such a generous and helpful gesture.

Carried bags of groceries to my car when I shopped a grocery store that didn't allow shopping carts into the parking lot (what kind of store does that?). It was the brightest light for me that day, gave me renewed faith in people.

This from a mom I barely knew (friend of a friend; we'd just been introduced) ... our family had just moved in the middle of the school year. Trying to find a new preschool for daughter in December -- impossible, of course. 2-3 year waitlists, blah blah blah. And this mom, learning of our situation, offered us her own son's spot at a terrific preschool just blocks away, starting in January. (She said she'd keep her nanny for the remaining 8 months until my daughter entered kindergarten.) Honestly, I was flabbergasted. I still think this is the most spontaneous and heartfelt gesture of generosity I've ever experienced. Needless to say, this fabulous woman is now a great friend of mine and I would do anything for her or her family no matter what.

sent me a book (a very meaningful one) about loss after going through a really rough/terrible time losing twins late into a pregnancy.

Several woman helped me through the airport when I was traveling with just my 1 year old. I had a baby, a bag and a car seat. What was I thinking? But thank goodness for the women that carried the car seat for me!

On my first day back to work, I was standing in line at a coffee shop with tears in my eyes, when a kind mom whom I recognized from the neighbourhood, bought me a coffee and said "It will get easier". It took a while but eventually it did and I will always remember her kindness. On another occasion, I was taking 3 children to ski for the afternoon. Upon arriving in the parking lot after an hour drive, I was trying to dress 3 kids in full ski equipment. 2 of them declared that they had to pee another began to have a tantrum about the colour of her socks. (laying on the floor of the car) Out of nowhere another parent came over and started to help them to put on snow pants, ski boots etc All with a little toddler of her own in tow. We managed to get them dressed, make it to the toilet and to the classes in time. Thanks to a kind mom who stopped her day to help me get through mine.

Blocked the people on the Times Square Shuttle from bumping into my ninth month pregnant belly.

I was traveling alone with 8 month old twins. As murphy's law would have it they were both hungry and fussy at the same time. A mom behind me offered to take one of the twins and bottle feed one as I was nursing the other one. She not only did that - she kept my daughter for almost one hour entertaining her on the flight. She then even helped me off the plane w/ all the garb that one has and helped me at baggage claim to load it all onto the cart. I had never met her and she went all that way for me and my fussy twins - Seriously she deserved an award and all I could do was thank her profusely.

A meal delivered by a mom from our local Mother's Club that I have never even met. And also just the little things... a smile when I really needed it, or sharing a "I've been there" story that made me feel like I wasn't the only one struggling.