Some years ago, maternal tribes were commonplace. Whether in the park near home or in the neighborhood, we could see groups of mothers accompanied by their children, chatting with each other while the little ones played. Times have changed and those old maternal tribes seem to have disappeared.
But the beautiful gesture of a group of unknown women, supporting a mother in a time of crisis at an airport, reminds us loud and clear that the tribe still exists.
The tribes and their evolution
Perhaps at first we think that the moms' tribes have been disappearing with the constant changes that the mother's rhythm of life has been having. Today many work outside the home, and among all our responsibilities and obligations, It is difficult to have a free time in which we can agree to meet with other mothers as it used to be before, when it was common for everyone to stay at home.
But no, the tribes have not disappeared, they have simply evolved. Today, the tribes are not limited to our neighbors or the mothers we see on a day-to-day basis when we accompany our children to some activity. Mother tribes today cross borders, finding many of them in support groups in social networks and creating new bonds of friendship between women living on the other side of the world.
Perhaps with the rushed life we lead today, nearby tribes or support networks have also been affected. But although our lifestyle is in constant motion, in the end, the boss is the instinct. Y A strong instinct that exists between mothers and women in general, is to help each other, as shown by the beautiful experience that I will share below.
The spontaneous tribe
Those of us who have traveled by plane with young children know that it can be a wonderful and peaceful experience in which everything runs smoothly, or have some chaos due to discomforts that they may have and that are manifested through a tantrum.
When the latter happens, we may feel a little pressured or stressed by the situation. If we add to that traveling alone with a small child and being pregnant, it is very likely that we feel overwhelmed by the situation, which was just what happened to a mother while waiting for her flight at an airport.
Beth Bornstein was at the same airport and witnessed what was happening. The mother in question, after trying to calm her son on different occasions, He simply couldn't take it anymore and sat on the floor next to his son, while he continued to make a great tantrum, and began to cry.
In a post on his Facebook account, Beth tells in detail what happened next, and shows us once again, that when it comes to joining together to help others, wonderful things happen.
Something extraordinary happened today at the Los Angeles airport ... (I write this from the plane). I was in the room to board, waiting to take my plane to Portland. Flights to two different cities were boarding on both sides of the flight hall to Portland.
A boy, who seemed to be around 18 months old, was having a huge tantrum, running between the seats, kicking and screaming, and then lying on the floor, refusing to board the plane (which was one of those who were not going to Portland).
Her young mother, who was visibly pregnant and traveling alone with her son, felt completely overwhelmed ... she could not lift him from the floor because he was very upset, he kept running to get away from her, then back to the floor, kicking and screaming again.
The mother finally sat on the floor and put her head in her hands, with her son next to her still having the tantrum, and began to cry. Then, something extraordinary happened (I'm crying just writing this) ...
The women in the terminal, that we were about six or seven, unknown women that we had never seen before, approached and surrounded the mother and her child, kneeling and forming a circle around her.
I began to sing to the child ... one woman had an orange that began to peel, another gave her a toy that she had in her bag to play and another gave the mother a bottle of water. Someone else helped the mother take the little boy's trainer out of his bag and give it to him.
It was so wonderful, there was no discussion and nobody knew each other, but we were able to calm both of them and the mother was able to get on the plane with her son. Only women approach.
After they boarded the plane, we all returned to our seats and did not talk about what happened. We were unknown, joining together to solve something. It made me think that a circle of women, with a mission, can save the world. I will never forget that moment.
Experiences like this remind me of something I've always thought about and what I agree with Beth: when we join with the firm and sole purpose of helping others, we can make a real change. The way in which these women, being totally unknown among them, came together to help another who needed support, is a great example of this.
I think what I like most about the story is that it seems that nobody thought about judging or criticizing the mother, as has happened on other occasions when people see a child doing a tantrum. They simply showed a gesture of humanity, that much is missing today.
Applause those women, because they may not have been able to talk to the mother anymore, they helped her selflessly. For them maybe it was just showing a little support, but I'm sure for mom, It was a true act of empathy and understanding when I needed it most.
