As my readers know, things have been extremely hard for us financially lately. I should be thankful that I still have a roof over my head right now, but I'm not. Well, I am but I still want more. Isn't that so American? We're never happy with what we have. Anyway, let me get to my story.
Our son Kael had an appointment today (his 2-year) and it went horribly. I had to wake him up to go in, then some kid attacked him with a toy, then he had to be measured (he has a fear of laying on tables), then they wanted to weigh him on another table, he had to stay naked in a cold room, the doc wanted to check his weenus and THEN give him fluoride. You cannot force this kid to put ANYTHING into his mouth. He will bite you and then throw up. After all of that trauma, he had to get two shots and the nurse wanted to force feed him Tylenol while he was screaming and didn't believe me that he would just spit it out and then vomit. Which is exactly what happened. He's my kid and I am preeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetty sure that I know what he is going to do if you inject cherry syrup into his throat, Bitch! That's what I wanted to say. Instead, nice mommy won-over the crazy-pregnant-ferocious beast mommy-- I just told them to hurry up and get it over with so we could leave. He screamed and I cried. I hated it. That was bad situation numero uno.
We get home and of course, he doesn't want to nap. He was in a good mood though, so I let the nap slide and we hung out. Since we've become so poor, grocery shopping is like getting a tooth pulled and to be honest, Mother Hubbard's cupboards are bare. So, I decided to suck it up and go to the food pantry. When I arrived, it was 3:45p and the sign said that they close at 4p. There was no one else there, so I just went in
and sat down thinking that it wouldn't take too long. Another woman walked in and went to the back and got help immediately! I had been there for ten minutes. Then, another woman came in and sat down. The lady that was helping the woman who had walked in and went to the back comes out and asks if I can come back tomorrow. Mind you, I have been there for ten minutes waiting AND it is not 4pm yet. I reminded her of this, told her that I will be gone tomorrow while they are open and will not have the chance to come until next week and also that I have no other options, a two year old at home and (it's obvious!!) I am pregnant. She tells me to have a seat and that she will be right with me. I'm not a whiner, if I could go tomorrow I would but I was already there and really-- it was 100 out today and my pregnant ass was not about to truck up those stairs empty handed. That's what happened, though. In the next two minutes that I sat in silence, I could hear two other women in the back discussing the time and as one said, "she can come back tomorrow. we leave at four and she should have been here sooner!". She then came out and told me to leave. Not asked. She toooooooooooold me......to.....leave. She stated that I should have been there before four o'clock. I had had just about enough of people not listening to me and being rude for one day. First of all, she VOLUNTEERED to HELP at a FOOD PANTRY. Staying an extra ten minutes would not kill her. Secondly, the other lady had told me to sit. I wouldn't be there if I didn't need the help.
I lost it.
I stood up and said "Thank you so much for your help. That's what you're here for, right--to help? Do you think that I want to be here? Don't you think that coming here and asking someone else to help feed my family isn't embarrassing? (I put my phone in her face) It isn't even four o'clock yet! But still, thank you SO much for your help..."
I left with what felt like flames shooting from my head. How can you claim to be a Christian and volunteer to help someone when you can turn someone away who needs that help? I am not a charity case and I abhor asking people for things that I feel I can obtain on my own. Until yesterday, my checking account had been negative 2.76 for over twenty days. I hadn't put in the money because that is a gallon of gas and that was what we needed more. How pathetic is that?
What I am getting at here, is that you never know what someone's day has been like, what they are going through or the things that they have seen. One kind act a day can change the way people see the world around them and two rude people can make the world seem bitterly cold to live in. It goes both ways and I do believe that what goes around, comes around. I make it a point to tell strangers something positive about themselves. If I see a woman with a nice necklace, I will tell her. She may not have had a compliment in a while and that could really brighten her day. I bet that she'd be more likely to pass on that kindness if I extend it to her. So the next time that you're feeling a little down, just remember that what goes around comes around. Spread the Love.
I love your brassy balls Mrs. Harrington! I wouldn't've say a word, just storm out and have a bitch feast in my car. Good for you. I swear places like that and people who work there get their jollies by kicking people when they're down. Horrible. You're a great person with tons of good karma headed your way. Just be patient. I totally believe people in the end get what's coming to them, good or bad. Call it God, Karma, or the cycle of life, it's a force not to be ignored. I hope things pick up for you guys soon!
ReplyDeleteI really look forward to reading this blog. It's helpful, insightful, funny, and echoes back thoughts I keep to myself for fear of sounding crazy. Thanks for making me feel like I'm not alone. And for reminding me that being a mom is a huge part of who I am, but I'm more than that, and I'm not alone. ;)
in the morn u should call them ask to speak with someone in charge and tell him or her how rude their help is and that u have no money for gas to come back and u feel that they should deliver u some food to help feed ur son and that u are preg . and if they could completly ignore u and help other people that had just walked in the door u would be more then happy to call the tv staiton and left them know how unhelpful that they realy r. i have worked at the food bank many years ago so i now for a facted that them women could have helpedu they just wanted to get their free food and go home . people like that do not belong in a place that is suppose to help . we all need a little help once in a while and some times its hard we have to put our pride aside and ask for help but what some people dont understand how hard it is for some of us , when we are use to doing for our selfs . i agree carma will come back and bite those two bitchs right in the ass who do they thing they r they r probley on welfare and are just there so they dont have to get a real job . and mrs H we love what u are doing u keep it up
ReplyDelete#1--These ladies give thier time there, how about you?
ReplyDelete#2--How did you know they were Christian?
#3--Why not go to an atheist food pantry? (Ooops, they don't have any??
#4--Why didn't you go there earlier?
#5-- Don't condemn the hand that feeds you
To the Anonymous person that posted Sept.9th:
ReplyDelete#1- I have personally volunteered at this food bank and also donated food to them before, when I was working.
#2-The women are members of this church, I know this because of my volunteer experience there.
#3- Whereas I am unaware of any local "atheist" food pantries, if there were one, I would attend. I do take advantage of an atheist woman that offers nutritional guidance and education though, she is a wonderful woman and I believe all the better for her lack of faith.
#4- I did not go earlier because our son had an appointment and we returned home later than expected. Also, as was posted, I arrived 15 minutes before they closed. I could not return the next day due to my husband having training and having no one to carry the items up the two flights of stairs to our apartment. That would have left me without food items for nearly 5 days until they re-opened.
#5- As far as "condemning the hand that feeds". I feel it is perfectly reasonable to complain about a "volunteer service" that would treat someone asking for help in such a manner. I would NEVER turn away someone (much less a visibly pregnant someone) that was asking for my help. I have seen my fair share of Christians who act very unbecoming and exemplify the very things that they claim we non-believers to represent. Having faith does not make you a good person, believing a fairytale does not make you a good person and 'volunteering' your time does not make you a good person. I believe that her actions and words toward me and the other woman present proved that to be true.
Also, I would like to add that my disapproval of her behavior was not due to her faith but to her misrepresentation of that faith and her service.
ReplyDelete