Going out in public with two children under the age of 5 is a feat of bravery for any parent. Anything can happen, and let's face it, you're outnumbered. It's hard to divide your attention between the needs of your kids and to do so without drawing too much attention to the situation.
If you're a celebrity, it can be impossible. Many people looked on as Olivia Wilde tried to manage a situation with her kids during a recent outing. Only a few stepped forward to offer help, and for that, she's thanking them.
Olivia was out with 5-year-old son Otis Alexander and 2½-year-old daughter Daisy Josephine. They were at a restaurant when Otis began having a meltdown. Olivia wasn't upset with her son for having had it after a long day, but she was overwhelmed. She had her hands full, both literally and metaphorically. Olivia felt herself on the verge of a meltdown herself until two people stepped in and offered help. She was so touched by the gesture that she shared the story on Twitter.
Olivia Wilde is part of a very special group of women. She's not only a working mother but a working mother of two children under the age of 5. It makes for a chaotic life, but it's clear that she wouldn't have it any other way.
Olivia and fiancé Jason Sudeikis are parents to 5-year-old Otis Alexander and 2½-year-old Daisy Josephine. The easygoing couple acknowledges that parenting isn't an easy road. The two joked about parents needing time to themselves with a cute video made when Jason was guest-hosting The Ellen DeGeneres Show in June.
Olivia recently opened up about a parenting experience that we've all had. She was out alone with her two kids and took them to a restaurant after being out and about for the day. Her son, Otis, had had enough and began having a meltdown.
You can imagine how many people might be watching as a celebrity mom tries to calm her 5-year-old in the midst of a tantrum. It's also one of those situations where you might feel like everyone is watching you (even if they aren't).
Thankfully, two strangers approached Olivia and asked if they could help her. She felt a little self-conscious about accepting the help, which is understandable for anyone in that situation. She accepted anyway and let the two people help her and her kids to her car.
She thanked them for their help, and they were very understanding that sometimes these things happen. She was really touched by their lack of judgment and their offer to assist. She was also happy to have her kids experience such a moment of kindness. Olivia mentioned that she hopes to get the opportunity to pay it forward.
Many moms replied to the story, happy to see that people are willing to help each other without judgment. It's how it should always be, but people on both sides can make missteps that keep us from helping each other out.
As a few people pointed out that these kinds of acts of kindness can go a long way for any caretaker. It isn't always someone with small children who need your help. Caretakers of the disabled and the elderly can use the kindness as well.
It's promising to see this kind of solidarity between people, especially in times where it feels like we're more divided than ever. There are a lot of commonalities in the human experience, and we should offer each other a helping hand where we can.
Olivia and Jason know that parenting isn't always easy, but they also appreciate the miraculous little moments that happen when you're raising humans. In May, Olivia told People about a heartwarming moment that happened around the time that Booksmart, her directorial debut, was released.
The moment was between Olivia and Otis. "The other day I said, 'Otis, do you know what I do for a living?' You never know if your kids really understand," she explained. The 5-year-old's response filled his mama's heart.
"He said, 'Yeah, Mom, you’re a director.' I got full-body chills and started crying," she recalled. "Hearing it from him made it real." She may only have one directing credit under her belt so far, but she's got quite the team rooting for her at home.
As much as they love their little family, Olivia and Jason also know that making time for each other without the kids is important, too.
"We go out and have a lot of fun," she told Us Weekly. "We were both really social people when we met, and we didn’t want to give that up when we became parents, so we’re really consistent about our time with them, but we also prioritize a couple of date nights a week.”
Olivia is crushing it in so many areas of her life. She's a wonderful partner and mom and is just beginning to explore all the possibilities her career has to offer. Seeing that she's like everyone else and has days where she falls short is an important reminder that we're all just trying to get by and live our best lives.
