I think a woman thought I was a panhandler/beggar using my two babies in a bakery to prey on people's sympathy. Or maybe she just thought I was a poor struggling mother. I definitely struggle, but, fortunately, we're okay financially.
But it must not have looked like that (despite the Marc Jacob bag and bags of baby food, formula, and diapers) because she gave me money.
Let me back up. It had been a rough morning. I had to get the boys (and myself) ready for an appointment with the pediatrician. When I walked out, pushing Jack in the single stroller and carrying Will in the Ergo baby carrier, I realized it was raining. It wasn't too bad and while I didn't have an umbrella, I didn't have a spare hand to carry one anyway. Then it started raining more. Luckily, Will kept on his hat and hood. I had neither to put on me.
We miraculously arrived at our appointment on time (a few minutes early even). The waiting room was packed but there was one seat open. We sat down. And waited. And waited. Eventually, the boys wanted out of the stroller and out of the carrier. I gave in knowing it was going to be tough to maintain them both. They had a blast playing with the toys. They also had a blast trying to touch a six month old baby and her carseat with germy hands (from a common cold), trying to grab a toy ball hanging from a purse (that ended up belonging to the mother of the six month old baby), trying to steal a book from a boy and his father, and discovering other children by grabbing and touching them. I hovered over them the whole time to try to keep the mayhem somewhat under control. Ha!
When we finally got into see the doctor almost an hour later, I noticed that the people who had previously been in the waiting room (that slowly emptied) were all in the reception area by the front desk. I pondered the possibility that they had left to escape the crazy American family (that would be mine) and that they could not all be checking out at the same time...
There was more craziness chasing the boys around in the exam room (that has toys and non-toys the boys wanted to play with), undressing the boys for their exams, re-dressing the boys, etc.
Finally, we were finished! I knew there was more work ahead - the walk home, getting them up the stairs, getting their jackets and shoes off, and feeding them before I could throw myself on the couch and just sit in peace but the end was in sight...
Then the boys fell asleep on the walk home. Dilemma. If I continued home, they would mostly likely wake up when we walked in the door. There was a good chance that they would not go back to sleep and I would have no break whatsoever. I decided to go to a bakery to get a pretzel and Cola light - the boys could get more rest and I could have a few moments of peace. Or so I thought...
As I sat down, a woman noticed Will's shoe was coming off (remember Will was in the Ergo baby carrier asleep). She came over and, I guess in an effort to help, put the shoe back on Will. That woke up Will... She then oohed and ahhed over him. I can't say I blamed her and my maternal pride overrode my disappointment that I now had one boy awake and not the peaceful moment I had wanted and needed.
Then, her son and husband came to her and she pointed at Will. Her son (8 or 9) started to play with Will (who still seemed pretty sleepy despite all the stimulation). Her son handed Will a little plastic container that made noise when Will shook it. It sounded like there were coins in the container. As we got ready to leave, I handed the "shaker" back to the boy. His mom gave it back to me and the boy cried over losing his "shaker". I said no, and handed it back. We were getting ready to leave when the mom came up to me and gave me 2 Euros.
Huh... I didn't know how to respond. I handed it back to her but she waved it away. I was in such shock, I don't think I even said thank you.
I do think she intended to give the money to Will, or for Will - that wasn't clear as she didn't speak English.
I am not sure what to think....
But the story isn't over. I finally made it home only to discover that Will was missing his shoe. Ugh! I was so close to home base but had to go back and search for the shoe. And I had to go back to the bakery! What if that family was still there? And they thought I was back for more money??? Worse, because I couldn't speak German and the English skills of the people working at the bakery didn't seem so great, I was going to have to gesture.
Imagine it. The ragged looking foreigner coming back to the bakery after having just successfully panhandled there, pointing at her son's bare foot, saying something about a shoe.... I worried they were going to think I was begging for more money to buy my poor baby a shoe for the cold weather!
Luckily, I think they understood I was looking for a shoe - not begging. Unluckily, we did not find Will's shoe.
Oh well, I guess the 2 Euro I unintentionally panhandled could be used to purchase new 87 Euro shoes....
(I looked for the shoes later that same day to no avail. We bought Will new shoes two days later. Hours later, my husband miraculously saw Will's "lost" shoe on the sidewalk by a crosswalk. Now we have two pairs of shoes for Will. We only use the ones with laces since he take off the velcro ones though.)
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