A New York Tale
That first trip through New York City was nerve-wrecking. I’ve ALWAYS said “I will never put my child on public transportation!”
“ Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion”
And there I was, standing up on MTA’s LIRR gripping onto my baby’s stroller for dear life. I was relieved to have made it through my first hurdle— getting up the stairs with a stroller and no elevator in sight. As I approached the stairs, so did a young man deeply engrossed in his telephone conversation. “Yo, hold on,” he abruptly paused his conversation. “You need help?” He questioned without hesitation. “Please?” Pride who? I had no time for that in this moment. With a quick swoop, he held onto the top of the stroller while I grasped the top and we rhythmically made it up the stairs. I thanked him.
“Excuse me Miss...Miss?” I glanced over. “Do you want to stand here with your stroller?” It was in a space reserved for the handicapped. I was at a loss for words as my brain tried to catch up and process the kindness of this man. He probably wasn’t a New Yorker... or a New Yorker at heart, at least. Was he really willing to give up his seat? After him basically pleading with me, I agreed to take his spot. While standing there he leaped at the opportunity to tell me that he was the father of a 7 month old and would appreciate people making the same gesture. Well, things quickly became clear to me. Empathy.
Walking through the smelly city streets, I dodged in and out of those going nowhere fast, the entertainers, aromatic scents of cultures lining the sidewalks, bicyclists and our beloved tourists.Honestly, I felt like I should’ve won a medal as that can easily be considered an extreme sport. You’d think people would make it easy for a woman walking through with a stroller. Instead, New Yorkers were New Yorkers and it was business as usual. Once I made it to my destination, the New Yorkers there were in awe of a baby, my baby. This was what surprised me most on our first trip into the city. Within two blinks of my eye, we were trapped. Full grown adults stood in a circle around us feigning over my son; the first baby to ever dawn their doorway. They all talked of how cute and precious he was while I stood in disbelief that anyone even cared. After handling business and about forty five minutes of adult eyes locked in on my sleeping baby, it was time to face the real world again. We had seven minutes to get to the train station, make it all the way down stairs and onto the train. As a single person minus the stroller, I would have had no doubt about making it. Now, I had some added weight to me. Could I do this?
Once the doors of the elevator opened it was go time. I just my same hurdles to actually get to the station within four minutes time. Once in the station, I made it into one elevator but with only one minute to spare, I knew there was no way we’d make our train if I fought the crowds again for a seamless ride down in the elevator. In that moment, I gathered up all of my mommy strength, held on tight to the sides of the stroller and swiftly made my way down the stairs. Phew! Right before the doors closed, we glided on.
I can’t say that I am looking forward to doing that again, however, I am really proud of myself for surviving that first trip to and the city on public transportation. I’m also still in awe of the kindness extended to us on this trip.
