This morning I took my kids out to brunch at Village Inn before having to drop my son off to get ready for his first choir performance of the year.
As we were eating and Brandon was regaling me with tales from his play rehearsals and latest video game conquests, I was also watching the table behind him. A Mom, Dad, and 5 kids all under the age of 8. Three girls, a young boy and a toddler boy in a high chair.
The Mom and Dad were arguing about something. Not loud, but it was heated. Next thing I know the Dad gets up and says, "Let's go Girls." The three girls stand and leave with the Dad as the Mom says, "You can't leave me here. I have no way to pay for this."
The little boy starts silently crying as the Mom, with her back to me puts her head in her hands. The Dad comes back and bends down to argue a little more with the Mom, as the girls sit back down. A few minutes go by and both parents get up and leave the kids. A few more minutes roll by and their food arrives at the table. One of the little girls stands up, starts cutting food for the toddler, and the other kids start eating in silence and tears.
Fifteen minutes and still no parents. As my kids and I get ready to leave, I flag my waitress down and ask her to hand me their check. I stand up and the little boy looks at me with a trembling bottom lip and wipes his tears with the back of his hand, breaking my heart.
Our waitress grabs the ticket off their table, hands it to me quickly and I walk up to pay both checks. The young guy, who was their server, ends up ringing me up. As he does, he says, "Is everything okay? Do you know them?" I respond with, "Nope. I don't know them, but I'm worried about those kids and this is the only way I know how to help them in this moment." I pay, hand him money for his tip, and ask him to take extra care of those kids. Then I leave him with his mouth hanging open and my son saying, "Yup. That's my Mom. It's okay to be jealous. ;)"
We walked out, as the parents were walking back in.
I'm not sharing this story for accolades or a pat on the back. I share it because NO child should have to have that weight on their shoulders. I know what it's like to have to grow up fast. Maybe they will pay it forward, maybe they won't. Who knows? All I know is that my kids will remember that moment and will know what compassion means.
~AM
