Traveling with kids is never easy. Anyone who’s tried knows the chaos—tiny hands pulling in every direction, luggage that suddenly feels ten times heavier, and the eyes of strangers as you struggle to keep it all together. For me, it happened on a day I thought I could handle it: flying alone with my two boys, a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old.

By the time we reached the security line, I was on the verge of tears. Wyatt, my youngest, was screaming uncontrollably, and James was exhausted, tugging at me as we waited. I could feel the stares, the impatience behind us, the judgment. My chest tightened with that familiar feeling every parent knows—the sinking belief that you’re failing in front of everyone.

And then, something remarkable happened.

Out of nowhere, another mom stepped forward, stopped the line, and said with a knowing smile: “Here, jump in front of me! I know how it is.” Just like that, the weight lifted a little. As Wyatt finally fell asleep in my arms, I tried to juggle all the carry-ons, fumbling and overwhelmed. That’s when another mom appeared, stepping out of her place in line. She looked at me firmly and said, “Hand me everything, I’ve got it.”

She wasn’t kidding. She not only helped me get everything through security, she picked it all up again and walked us straight to the gate. Before I could even process the kindness, she reassured me: “Don’t you worry—we’re going to make sure you get on that flight.”

It should have ended there, and it would have been enough. But kindness has a way of multiplying.

When the plane finally took off, Wyatt woke up screaming again. I braced myself for the long, painful flight. But about 45 minutes in, an angel appeared—this woman, a stranger to me, came to the back of the plane, saw me drowning, and said the words every overwhelmed mother longs to hear: “You look like you need a break.”

She reached out and took Wyatt into her arms, soothing him with patience and warmth. And she didn’t stop there. She held him for the rest of the flight, giving me the rarest of gifts: a moment to breathe. When we landed, she carried him off the plane, walked us all the way to baggage claim, handed him to my husband Blake, hugged me tightly, and whispered: “Merry Christmas.”

I’ll never forget that day. Three women who didn’t know me chose to step in, to carry not just my bags, but my burden. In a season that can feel rushed, stressful, and overwhelming, they reminded me that kindness is the greatest gift of all.

Sometimes, angels don’t wear wings. Sometimes, they wear jeans and sneakers, stand in security lines, and sit in the next row on the plane. And sometimes, they remind a tired mom that she is not alone.