Make a mum smile
May is a great month. Smack bang in the middle of autumn (the Fall for my northern followers) we celebrate Mothers’ Day (Sunday, 10 May). This significant day allows us to celebrate and appreciate the mums and mum figures in our lives. But this year, I want to think beyond it being just one day.
I am dedicating the month of May to kindness. I am dedicating the month of May to celebrating mothers. I am dedicating the month of May to acts of compassion. I am dedicating the month of May to….
‘Make a mum smile in May’.
And I want you to join me!
The concept of this initiative is very simple. I am urging you all to be mindful in may; mindful of cheering up a mum who needs it, mindful of helping a stranger out, mindful of supporting one another and mindful of sharing the love.
Often the simplest acts of kindness have a lasting impact. You can literally make a mum’s day with one small gesture or a few comforting words.
Here are seven ways you can play along:
- Cook a mum a meal. Hands down this has to be one of the most stressful times of the day for any mum, especially a new mum, and it’s a stress you can take away from someone. Have a think about someone you know who might need a dinner taken off her hands. Perhaps it’s a new mum, or perhaps it’s someone who’s having a rough time of it lately.
- Show someone you care. Let the mum wrangling three toddlers go before you at the cash register. Offer to help someone carry their bags to the car. Tell the mum whose child is having the mother of all meltdowns in the department store that you understand and ask her if there’s anything you can do to help.
- Think of a mum who’s having a particularly rough time and needs a little pick me up. Offer to babysit her kids so she can go for a walk, send her a gift voucher, drop off a little hamper of goodies or flowers just to make her day that bit easier.
- Ask someone if they are OK. This one is my favourite, as so often we like to appear that we are capable and able to juggle multiple balls. In reality most of the time we are all paddling madly like ducks underneath the surface, trying to stay afloat. So, check in with one another. By asking the question, it will allow a mum the opportunity to say she’s not feeling okay. Expressing your vulnerability is confronting for many but it is always very liberating.
- Tell someone they’re doing a good job. How easy is this? And how good is it to hear? I remember a time a passer-by in the park stopped to tell me I was doing a great job. I nearly cried. Don’t just wait for mothers’ day to tell your own mum she’s important either.
- Simply smile to someone who looks like they’re having a tough day. You may not have to exchange any words, but sometimes a quick smile is enough to improve their day.
- There is also kindness in not doing things too. In other words refrain from engaging in idle gossip, reserve judgment, don’t criticise other mums’ choices or parenting styles and refrain from comparisons.
Small acts of kindness don’t have to cost anything, or even disrupt your day. Please join with me and make a conscious effort to make a mum’s day. I’ll be using these hashtags and encourage you to use them also #makeamumsmile #makeamumsmileinmay #makeamumsday #mothersday
hardtofind giveaway
To celebrate ‘Make a mum smile in May’, the lovely team at hardtofind are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a $100 gift voucher for their online store just in time for mothers’ day. Treat yourself, or someone you know, to something special. It’s so easy to enter.
Tell me about a time when you have been the recipient of an act of kindness, or if you have performed such an act. Or share an idea below about how to make a mum smile. Good luck!
Conditions of entry:
- Answer the competition question below in the comments section.
- Like the NASD Facebook page.
- One entry per person.
- Open to Australian residents only.
The giveaway will close at midnight on Sunday 3rd May 2015. This is a game of skill. The winner will be awarded a hardtofind gift voucher on the strength of their answer and will be announced on the NASD FB page on Monday 4th May.
I’ll never forget the morning I was the recipient of a random act of kindness. A stranger noticed I was having trouble and with a few kind words and a helping hand she responded with tenderness. You can read about her act of kindness here.
Good luck and please remember to “Make a mum smile in May”. Remember, little gestures = big impact. Thank you 🙂
Postscript: Half-way through writing this post, I paused to answer the door to a dear friend of mine who popped in to bring me a bunch of flowers. She knows that I am going through a difficult patch, and she has brightened up my day immeasurably with this act of kindness. True story. I’ve just put the tulips in a vase and they are sitting next to me as I type!
If you liked this post, why not join me over on Facebook. I’d love your company!
What an awesome initiative NASD. It should be something we do always but sometimes it doesnt hurt to devote an entire month to this cause. I LOVE IT ! Kindness is often forgotten in our busy lives i hope this “make a mum smile in May” campaign changes the way we all view each other not just for the month of May but everyday going forward.. Well done NASD this is my favorite campaign to date : ) thanks for sharing it ..
Yes, totally agree and I think that most of us do it anyway but why not dedicate a month to be mindfully kind. So glad you’re so enthusiastic about this campaign. I have bigger plans for it next year but for now I am hopeful people will respond with enthusiasm and “make a mum smile” many times over in May. Thanks for your support 🙂
I’m sorry to hear you have been having a tough time of it lately but pleased you have good friends who are watching over your happiness. As it should be 🙂 What a lovely initiative!
Thanks so much Emily. Yes, it’s amazing how a problem shared is a problem halved. I think too many of us are often reluctant to share our pain, but just by telling someone it can be alleviated. So glad you like this instigative. I hope lots of people will get on board – it’s also a sign of solidarity amongst mums, and I think we need that sometimes 🙂
Michaela, what a wonderful initiative! My most memorable and welcomed acts of kindness have always involved public transport. Like yourself I have 3 young girls and negotiating a trip on Melbourne public transport with them alone always requires a lot of forethought. Even after planning the ‘easiest’ route etc things don’t always play out that way. I remember very clearly an unscheduled stop at Kew Tram terminus (where car traffic is stopped waiting for passengers to disembark). I had a double pram (full of baby and toddler) and a 4 year old’s hand to hold and 3 tram steps that looked like the descent of Mt Everest! A man helped me carry the pram and another lady held my daughters hand and encouraged her across the road. It took but a moment of their time and effort but I was so VERY thankful. They also helped me back on the next tram 3mins later.
Thanks Celia. I love your kindness story. A real “team” effort. Public transport is very tricky to navigate with offspring and so I totally get how helpful this was to you. I remember being terrified to take the train into the city with my newborn baby in her pram. I worried that the doors would close before I got the pram in, and I realised that things like escalators were a “no no” with a pram. Finding the lift and appropriate wide exits adds a lot of time onto one’s journey. Not fun with a tired, hungry baby!!
What a fantastic initiative! Count me in to help spread the word and bring back acts of kindness.
Thanks so much, Emma. I am thrilled you are excited about it and will help me spread the kindness word. Small gestures can have a big impact and you’ve already made me smile by being a part of it. Thanks 🙂
I had a really tough time shopping when my twins were newborns. They hated being in the pram and one in particular just wouldn’t put up with it in the supermarket, so I had to carry him round while I pushed the pram. When I got to the self-serve check out, the staff member looking after that bit took it upon herself to scan all my thing sand pack them away for me. It was a lovely touch and really helped with my stress levels. I also had dear friends cook for me while the babies were young. One of these friends is due to give birth mid-May and I look forward to returning the favour for her by dropping over a pre-cooked meal or two.
What a lovely act of kindness from the checkout lady. I cannot even imagine how hard supermarket shopping must be with twins. I find it stressful enough with one toddler. Try hard not to ever take all three! Isn’t it lovely that you will return the cooking gift to your friend when she gives birth in May 🙂
Great post Michaela, everyone needs a random act of kindness!
I received a random act of kindness a few months ago when I was just about to enter the Melbourne Flower & Garden Show. A mum (who was a complete stranger to me), offered me a free ticket to the show. I thought it was so kind of her!! And thinking of the day now, two ladies helped me when my daughter fell over and I let go of my pram to grab her. Those beautiful ladies caught my pram, so nice of them! Makes me happy just thinking about it 🙂
That is a beautiful story Catherine. I bet it still makes you smile. How lucky were you to have those two ladies grab hold of your pram! There are some very kind people out there. Thanks for sharing your story 🙂
Last Christmas when i was lining up to pay for my petrol I noticed a mum stressing out, telling off her kids a bit at her car after filling up her tank. she looked exhausted and sad.
I paid for her petrol and told the staff to tell her a stranger says Merry Christmas, you are doing a great job, don’t worry.
I quickly left and walked past her on my way out.
As I drove away I saw her at the counter crying with her hand over her mouth.
I know I did a great thing and hopefully she has felt a lot better since then.
Oh this is gold Xzavia. What a lovely gesture and to think she was so touched she cried at the counter. You made her day, and quite possibly had a lasting impression on her. I hope she had better days following this lovely act of kindness. Great story!
While pregnant with my 3rd little one and very unwell, a group of girlfriends put together a roster and each delivered a cooked meal for my family to help out. Given how poorly I was felling, this was heaven!
YES! What fabulous friends you have Melissa. This is exactly the thing you need taken care of when you’re pregnancy and feeling horrible. The dinner meal is the best gift in these situations. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have been short listing 300 applications for a position at work. I noticed one of the applicants was to be automatically disqualified for being too experienced (it’s a graduate position). I opened the application and noticed this woman had gone to extraordinary lengths to qualify in Australia but had been unable to secure sponsorship and had needed to return to her native India whilst she applied for permanent residency here. She has now obtained permanent residency but has been unable to find a job, despite a wealth of experience.
Instead of just placing her application in the unsuccessful pile, I checked the other vacancies at my workplace and forwarded her application directly to the manager with a suitable position. She had a successful interview and will start her new job in 2 weeks. It would have been so easy to just ignore her application but it feels good to know I have made a huge difference to a hard working woman who just needed someone to give her a break.
That is a wonderful story Natalie. I reckon this is one that can easily slip into the “too hard pile” for many people recruiting. It takes someone with compassion and vision to actually think about how to further an opportunity for someone. And you did just that. I love this. My hubby is currently looking for work and he is getting crickets from employers and recruiters despite being experiences and qualified for the positions he is applying for. He needs someone like you to actually THINK about his application, instead of dismissing it because one small thing may be lacking. Thanks for sharing 🙂
A few years ago a single mother friend of mine with 3 small children had scraped together enough money to buy a house. This was a new home in an outer suburb. The land after the builders left was just full of builders rubble, so it was not safe for kids to play outside in the back yard. She worked full time and had to put her little ones in care morning and night. This didn’t leave much time on the weekend for anything but housework. One day I organised for an excavator to come in and clear away the rubbish, level the land and throw down grass seed. It was a day when I babysat the kids for her and it was so beautiful to see how excited they were to surprise their Mum.
Oh Janet that is just gorgeous of you! What a lovely gift to give your friend who was trying to tirelessly to look after her kids. A great friend you are and I bet just seeing the excitement in her kids’ eyes was heart melting. You are a terrific friend.
A dear friend lost her cousin to cancer at a young age. To celebrate her life, her family has instituted “random act of kindness” days each year on her birthday. They get hundreds of people all over the world to do a random act of kindness in her honor. I love thinking about the wave of smiles and fellow feelings spread across the world in honor of a lovely spirit gone too soon. The first year I participated, I had a hard time thinking of what to do, and finally I thought of something mundane I do everyday – riding the bus. I bought a few extra bus passes and left them at the bus stops I frequented with a little post-it note saying, “please take this ride on me, and pass along a random act of kindness.” Of course, I never got to see the recipients, but I like to imagine that finding a little surprise like that added a sprinkle of magic to their day and that they felt inspired to spread it around in their own way.
Oh I am just blown away by this. What a gorgeous thing thing to do in someone’s honour. I love that you thought about how you could perform this act of kindness and you chose something that was part of your daily ritual, as it’s often these very things that give people a big pick up! And I especially love the note you left for the passengers. Very cool indeed 🙂
This is so great Thank you! A few months ago I was in line at Iga and the lady in front of me was very upset and embarrassed that her bank card kept declining… it was something like $30 total. People in the same line were getting impatient so I told the checkout girl to put my items through and I will cover the total cost… unfortunately the embarrassed lady was not impressed but took her items that i paid for anyway with no thank you just a few unpleasant words. I was so confused. But ya know what I would do it over and over again and would like to think if one day I am in that position someone would do it for me! 🙂
Kristy, that is a lovely thing that you did and I am sorry to hear the recipient wasn’t very thankful. It’s likely she was confused, and perhaps embarrassed and just didn’t know how to handle the situation. She was probably struggling in many ways and that’s exactly why your kindness was so appropriate and touching. Lovely story, thanks for sharing 🙂
Beautiful idea!
I still well up at the memory of the anonymous act of kindness around a month after my bub was born – I received a gorgeous, bright happy and very cool necklace and earring set in the mail with a message that said:
“Being a new mum is bloody hard work. You are doing an amazing job and it will get easier. Ignore the housework etc, that stuff is not important. Remember that you’re AWESOME and you’re doing a great job”
It was sent directly from the artist that made the jewellery and when I asked who it was so I could thank them, they replied “I’m really sorry but she has sworn me to secrecy as she doesn’t want to be thanked! I don’t know if it helps as I’m sure all of your friends are lovely but from what I know of her she seems to be just a gorgeous person..”
I told her it made my day and she promised to pass on my gratitude.
I guess it was obvious I was struggling a bit, and I now know most new mums do, but at the time it really touched me, and helped me get through a tough few days and I smile every time I wear those earrings and necklace.
I plan to pass on the AoK to new mums in the future 🙂
Oh WOW, Natalie! What a gorgeous story and what a lovely act of kindness from….well, someone who was very humble and happy to be anon. I just think that’s incredible. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Beautiful x
Hey Natalie, are you following my FB page?
I was recipient of an act of kindness a few weeks ago – two of my friends came by and made up my ikea furniture while I was at work! Heros!
Oh Julia, now nice is THAT?! They are keepers :-). Thanks for sharing.
Peak hour traffic, stuck at a red light, watching people crossing the busy road and an elderly man in a motorised wheelchair was crossing when he somehow dropped his shopping bags. NONE of the morons crossing the road with him stopped to help, so I got out of my car and picked everything up for him and got him on his way. Not so much an act of kindness, just common decency shown to a fellow human. I was disgusted than no one crossing that road helped him, all turning their heads the other way or beginning to walk faster. The poor man, how I felt for him. And the cars who beeped me when the light changed green, well don’t get me started on that.
Gosh, people can be so uncaring sometimes, but luckily there are people like YOU who demonstrate common courtesy and respect, especially for the elderly. Shocking that cars beeped you when the lights changed green. Seriously????? Thanks for sharing your story, Di 🙂
Hey Di, just checking if you are following my FB page?
At the vets recently and an older lady who reminded me of my gran came out of the consulting room in tears. Her 18 year old dog had been put to sleep, and it turned out her husband had recently passed and the poor old dear couldn’t afford to settle her account. When she left I sorted it out for her. One night a week later she appeared on my doorstep, the clinic had given her my details so she could thank me. She’d baked me a cake, it was very sweet of her. I’ve been calling in on her weekly since that day to see she’s ok.
Ern, that is SUCH a nice story. What I love about it as how you generously settled her account without needing thanks and yet she tracked you down and responded with cake and kindness. And now you have developed a friendship. Beautiful. That is just lovely. I’ll be announcing the winners of the comp tonight. Have you liked my FB page?
My neighbors were paralyzed with grief following the death of their young son. Everyone rallied of course with meals and support. After about four weeks, I rallied the neighbours for an afternoon of gardening. We weeded, planted up some cheery seedlings and drank coffee. It was their first much-needed glimpse of normality.
Years ago my best friend was left destitute after a marriage break up from a husband who had a secret gambling problem. All was revealed once the property settlement was underway, with devastating consequences. Another very good friend of ours was turning 40, and I surprised my best friend with a return ticket to Melbourne for the birthday celebrations. She was so overwhelmed that she only thank me through sobs on the phone. It was transformative for her and for our friendship, which has never wavered in the years since.
That is a lovely story Jennifer. The poor parents. I can’t imagine their grief. You are a kind neighbour and friend. People never forget those acts of kindness.
Having strangers always helping me and my oversized pram onto the bus..and off! I dread bus trips but there kind strangers make it so much easier.
Oh yes, public transport can be very hard with kids and prams. Luckily there are kind people who are willing to help make travelling with kids that little bit easier. Thanks for sharing 🙂
A friends husband lost his job and they were struggling, we were doing well. So I encouraged her to enter some comps and bought a $1000 dollar eftpos card and mailed it to her like she won. You see I never wanted the money back, nor did I want her to think she owed me. Till this day she talks about how that one thing was a bright spot in some dark days,