Suzie Skougard was shopping with her baby daughter Carly at the supermarket when their routine trip turned sour after she encountered three rude strangers. One criticized her for not having shoes on her daughter’s feet (Carly had kicked them off in the store), a store clerk ignored her request for help finding an item, and another customer shoved her out of the way impatiently. When Carly started to get fussy, it was all Suzie could do to get out of the store quickly. But then she was approached by a cashier who gave her a special gift and made the day better.
Here’s Suzie’s story in her own words:
“By the time I took the picture Carly had gotten upset, (it was past time for milk and nap was interrupted) but I still took this picture, because when exchanges like this happen, they are my favorite moments in the world.”
Photo credit: Team Carly Jean
“This woman works at our local grocery store, I always pick her checkout lane. Even back when I was pregnant — I chose hers, even when the line was longer. When I was pregnant, I’d talk to her in the few minutes I had. I wanted to know what Down syndrome would mean for my daughter as she got older. What would her life be like? Would she be anything like this woman?”
“Today as we were leaving the store, she said, ‘I have Down syndrome like her, and I have a big heart.’
‘You definitely do have a big heart.’ I replied.
‘Does she know sign language?’ she asked as she pointed in Carly’s direction.
‘She knows a few signs!’
‘When I was a baby I did this one (she signs more) and this one. (She signs please.)’
‘Yes! Carly knows those ones!’
‘I also know one more for her, I can teach her!’ And she signed ‘I love you.’”
“I interacted with a lot of people at the grocery store. There was a woman who scolded me for not having shoes on Carly on a cold day, (she kicked them off), a clerk who was less than interested in helping me find an item, and an impatient person that shoved past because we were following behind an elderly gentleman that was moving slowly when they were in a hurry.
“Some people feel like people with Down syndrome don’t contribute anything meaningful to society, but amidst all the Grinches today, she stood apart. And just being her, she gave us an amazing gift. A smile.”
No wonder Suzie wanted to share her story.
By the time I took the picture Carly had gotten upset, (it was past time for milk and nap was interrupted) but I still…
Posted by Team Carly Jean on Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Share this lovely interaction if you believe smiles are amazing gifts too!
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